What's your ism?

Who are the real hands behind India’s clean cities? Sudipto reflects on the civic workers we rarely see, Dalit and migrant labourers who segregate waste, drive garbage trucks, and often live without rights or recognition. This episode follows the money, the power, and the politics behind urban sanitation. Anchored in his conversation with Du Saraswathi, and framed by Shailaja Paik’s work on caste and morality.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik and Edited by Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 What happens when movements don’t speak to each other? In Episode 45 of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal is joined by Du Saraswathi — who has spent decades bridging Ambedkarism, Marxism, and feminism. A conversation about caste, cleaning, theatre, and what it takes to be seen in a world that looks away.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Reflections episode, we return to Dandakaranya — a region where governments change, but the war stays the same. From banned militias reborn in uniform, to Maoist martyrdom that costs young Adivasi lives, this episode unpacks the contradictions inside the State, the rebels, and civil society. Featuring the voices of Prof. G Haragopal and Degree Prasad Chauhan, with reflections on who speaks for peace — and who keeps dying in its name.Like Sudipto’s Ism show? Support him: https://rzp.io/rzp/tnm-wyi Or become a subscriber: https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, human rights activist Degree Prasad Chauhan discusses how Adivasi identities have been appropriated by Maoist movements. He delves into the symbolic use of figures like Hidma, highlighting the lack of genuine representation and decision-making power for Adivasis within these movements. Chauhan also critiques civil society's role in sidelining Adivasi voices, emphasizing the need for authentic leadership and inclusion in dialogues about their own futures.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

G. Haragopal, a veteran human rights defender and peace negotiator, discusses the ongoing conflict surrounding tribal land rights and the complexities of the Maoist movement in India. He highlights the role of civil society in peace negotiations and the painful consequences of broken promises. Haragopal also addresses the influence of corporate interests in politics and advocates for the representation of marginalized voices within revolutionary movements. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes hope and the necessary pursuit of dialogue amidst structural violence.

Dive into a thought-provoking exploration of how toilets reveal cultural ideologies and societal values. From ritual purity and the complexities of caste systems to philosophical insights on spirituality, the conversation challenges conventional views on cleanliness. Discover how common experiences reflect deeper human truths, as well as the intersections of divinity and the mundane. Expect compelling discussions that confront what society often tries to hide in its pursuit of purity.

In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal sits down with Dr. Raees Muhammad—formerly Ravichandran Bathran—the founder of Dalit Camera. A pioneer in grassroots video journalism, Raees speaks candidly about his departure from Hinduism, his conversion to Islam, and how casteism pushed him to reshape his identity and politics.From his early days as a student activist in EFLU to founding Dalit Camera as a counter-media platform, Raees reflects on the violence, erasure, and faith that shaped his journey. This is a story of dissent, survival, and resistance from the margins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of What’s Your Ism? Reflections, Sudipto Mondal re-opens his conversation with Anand Neelakantan by focusing on a striking excerpt from Asura—where Ravana, in victory, still yearns for caste validation. This leads to a deeper reflection on who the Shudras really are and what status they occupied in Indo-Aryan society. A philosophical and political unpacking of what Ambedkar understood that Ravana could not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal hosts Anand Neelakantan, bestselling author of Asura and Ajaya, to discuss how mythology is shaped by caste, politics, and power. Neelakantan dissects dominant narratives in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, questioning why some figures are remembered as heroes while others are cast as villains. From caste-coded storytelling to Hindutva’s mythmaking, he explores the ways in which history is rewritten to serve contemporary ideologies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first edition of What’s Your Ism? Reflections. Sudipto Mondal looks back at his conversation with János Orsós, founder of a Roma school in Hungary inspired by Ambedkar, and reflects on what was left unsaid—from statelessness to social segregation across continents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.