Ideas of India

Rajmohan Gandhi, a historian and biographer, offers rich insights into India's founding fathers, including Vallabhai Patel and Mohandas Gandhi. He discusses their contrasting visions for unity and governance, and their pivotal debates with figures like Ambedkar and Nehru. The conversation dives into the legacies of nonviolence, the role of civil rights, and the importance of non-coercion in a pluralistic society. Gandhi also reflects on the nature of hope and the evolving dynamics of India's democracy, tying historical narratives to contemporary challenges.

Prachi Mishra is a Professor of Economics and Director at the Isaac Center for Public Policy at Ashoka University, previously serving at the IMF. She discusses the current state of the Indian economy, focusing on growth trajectories and the potential overvaluation of the rupee. The conversation delves into trade policies, the stagnant manufacturing sector, and the vital role of services in addressing trade deficits. Prachi emphasizes the need for structural changes to align economic growth with India's development goals for 2047.

Sajith Pai, a Partner at Blume Ventures and author of the Indus Valley Report, dives deep into India's evolving digital landscape. He discusses the stratification of consumer markets and the impact of COVID-19 on startups catering to diverse income groups. The conversation explores India's AI boom, stressing the need for foundational models and nurturing local innovation. Pai also highlights the interplay between education, financial empowerment for women, and the historical context of land records in shaping modern governance.

Justice Jasti Chelameswar, a former Supreme Court Justice of India, shares his insights on judicial independence and electoral qualifications. He dives into landmark cases that influenced constitutional rights, particularly addressing privacy in the digital age. The discussion highlights the importance of dissent in legal interpretation and navigates the ethical implications of technology, stressing the significance of transparency in judicial processes. Chelameswar's experiences provide a deep understanding of the balance between judicial conduct and democratic principles.

In this discussion, Akshay Jaitly, a founder of Trilegal and expert in energy law, dives into India's electricity regulation challenges. He highlights the dysfunction within DISCOMs and the urgent reforms needed for a successful energy transition. The conversation also covers the surge of renewable technologies like wind and solar, alongside the complexities of nuclear energy regulation. Jaitly discusses the role of privatization, the intricacies of tariff negotiations, and the potential of innovative contracts to reshape India’s energy landscape.

Today my guest is Christopher J Coyne, who is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University, the Associate Director of the F.A. Hayek Program at the Mercatus Center. We talked about the economics of conflict and peace, history of the US security state, the US intervention in Afghanistan, domestic consequences of militarism abroad, and much more.  Recorded January 15th, 2025. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Follow Christopher on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Today my guest Katherine Butler Schofield who is a professor of South Asian Music and History at King’s College London. She is the author of the recent book Music and Musicians in Late Mughal India: Histories of the Ephemeral, 1748–1858.  She also hosted a podcast series called The Histories of the Ephemeral on the same theme. We talked about the history of classical music in India - from Natyasastra to Dhrupad and to khayals and qawallis. about Aurangzeb’s relationship with music, the sacking of Delhiand it’s influence on hindustani classical music, the powerful tawaifs of that time, and much more. Recorded January 24th, 2025. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:17) - The Nāṭyaśāstra and Tasting Music (00:09:29) - Raga Style and Persian Influences (00:18:35) - The Influence of Intoxicants (00:19:42) - Aurangzeb and Other Courtly Characters (00:33:37) - Aurangzeb’s Demise and Its Effect on Music (00:43:15) - Traveling Musicians and the Spread and Rise of Different Forms (00:49:49) - Development of Tomri (00:55:37) - What Makes Punjab So Different (00:59:17) - The Tawaif (01:02:06) - The Stories of Sophia Plowden and Khanam Jan (01:18:07) - Outro

Today my guest is Anton Howes head of innovation research at The Entrepreneurs Network, and the historian-in-residence at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. He is the author of Arts and Minds: How the Royal Society of Arts Changed a Nation and the excellent Substack Age of Invention.  We talked about salt trade in India, the Dutch culture of innovation, the Royal Society of Arts, endogenous versus O-ring theories of growth, why the Industrial Revolution took place in Britain, and much more.  Recorded November 11th, 2024. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Follow Anton on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:29) - History of the Salt Trade and Salt Tax in India (00:11:12) - Harvesting Salt in Bengal (00:17:140 - The Great Hedge of India (00:23:58) - The Rationale for Taxing Salt (00:25:49) - The Western European Salt Trade and Land Control  (00:34:22) - The Dutch Golden Age (00:39:44) - Baltic Salt and New Forms of Sleeching (00:45:51) - Maritime Trade (00:48:24) - Why Did the Industrial Revolution Take Place in Britain and Not Elsewhere? (01:03:14) - Solving the Problem of Debasement in Britain (01:08:33) - The Path to the Royal Society of Arts (01:16:39) - A Culture of Tinkerers and Improvers  (01:20:49) - The Society of Arts’ Aims and Legacy (01:31:15) - Theories of Progress (01:40:20) - The Society of Arts and the Tool of Status (01:47:43) - Outro

Anant Sudarshan, an expert in environmental economics from the University of Warwick and the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago, discusses critical issues of air pollution in India. He sheds light on the challenges posed by crop burning and vehicular emissions, advocating for market-based solutions. The conversation delves into the intertwined effects of agricultural subsidies on groundwater and pollution management. Sudarshan also discusses the alarming decline of vultures, emphasizing their ecological importance and the ripple effects on public health.

Today the roles are reversed. Producer Dallas Floer interviews Shruti for the annual end of year episode where they look back at key themes and episodes from the past year, address listener questions, discuss the job market series, and share some questions from previous guests.   On behalf of Shruti and the entire Ideas of India team, thank you for listening to the podcast this year. We’re excited to bring you more episodes in 2025.  Recorded November 26th, 2024. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:23) - Listener Questions (00:02:27) - Essential readings on the Indian economy (00:04:19) - The economy of eastern India from 1970 to today (00:06:18) - Achieving a “Developed India” (00:09:20) - Alternate paths for economic students (00:014:56) - Suggested dissertation topics for PhD students (00:18:57) - Revising stances on COVID shutdowns (00:24:42) - Problematic TV news programs in India (00:27:57) - Predicting the economic impact of AI (00:30:11) - The South Korean chaebol model (00:38:24) - Karthik Muralidharan: reimagining state capacity (00:41:02) - Aparna Chandra: institutional checks on judicial bias (00:44:03) - Arjun Ramani and Thomas Easton: critical reforms to maintain growth (00:47:29) - Ruchir Sharma: the state of American capitalism (00:51:00) - The Job Market Series (00:54:01) - Questions from Past Guests (00:56:59) - Shifting stances on schooling and drugs (01:02:11) - Law and economics (01:05:36) - “Home” when living in many cultures (01:09:44) - Next up for The 1991 Project (01:11:31) - Personal goals for 2025 (01:16:26) - Thanks and Good Wishes (01:18:29) - Outro