Bharatvaarta

India’s tax system is once again at a crossroads with GST 2.0. What began as the biggest reform in independent India was riddled with compromises, complexities, and billion-rupee disputes — but what do the new changes really mean for ordinary citizens? Tax lawyer and founder of Tax Compaas, Ajay Rotti, joins us to break it all down. In this insightful conversation, Ajay explains why GST was born more political than economic, how disputes over popcorn, KitKat, and cosmetic creams exposed deep flaws in the system, and why rate rationalisation today is less a revolution than a course correction. We also dive into what GST 2.0 means for the real middle class — from grocery bills and dairy products to insurance and savings — and why simpler compliance could finally give relief to businesses and MSMEs. Ajay sheds light on how tax tribunals might speed up litigation, why expanding the tax base is essential, and how trust, not just revenue, is the true foundation of a fair tax system. Finally, we turn to the larger picture: how taxation shapes India’s growth story, the balance between states and the Centre, and why reforms must go beyond collections to building confidence in governance. Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – From Popcorn to Shampoo: Making GST Rates Simple 10:00 – Why GST Had So Many Slabs in the First Place 20:00 – Inside the GST Council: How India Decides Taxes 30:00 – One Nation, One Tax: Logistics & Compliance Gains 45:00 – Insurance, Housing & Middle Class Impact 55:00 – The Future of GST: Can We Get to One Simple Rate? ⸻ 👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe to Bharatvaarta! We bring you deep, thoughtful discussions on politics, policy, and culture every week. 📢 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bharatvaarta 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/Bharatvaarta 👤 Follow the Host – Roshan Cariappa 📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/RoshanCariappa 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carygottheblues/

India’s foreign policy faces new challenges as the US shifts from calling us a “partner” to branding us “problematic.” What does this mean for India’s place in the world? Abhijit Chavda breaks it all down. In this explosive conversation, Abhijit Chavda breaks down how Washington’s view of India has shifted from “most important partner” to “problematic.” We examine Peter Navarro’s outburst, why tariffs are no longer trade tools but geopolitical weapons, and how the deep state often pulls strings behind elected governments. The discussion also covers Trump’s possible return and what it means for India, China’s long game of boxing us in, and the uncomfortable truth that superpowers have no friends—only interests. Abhijit explains how globalisation and the dollar are used as levers of control, why Europe is losing relevance in the emerging order, and how technology has become the new battlefield. Finally, we turn the focus back to India: why we lack long-term strategic will, why short-term politics keeps us on the defensive, and what it would take for India to start thinking in centuries, not election cycles. ⸻ Chapters 00:00 – Intro 07:48 – Why India Is Suddenly “Problematic” for the US 15:51 – From Partner to Pawn: Washington’s Mask Slips 24:02 – Tariffs as Geopolitical Weapons 32:09 – The Deep State and Its Global Games 40:08 – Trump’s Return: What It Means for India 48:06 – China’s Strategy: Boxing India In 56:06 – Superpowers Have No Friends, Only Interests 01:04:11 – Globalisation and the Dollar Trap 01:12:17 – Europe’s Decline in the New World Order 01:20:24 – Technology and India’s Crossroads 01:26:40 – Final Thoughts: Can India Think in Centuries? ⸻ 👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe to Bharatvaarta! We bring you deep, thoughtful discussions on politics, policy, and culture every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2slDFL5jAFh8k0XK3yR2sQ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/bharatvaarta/id1510599852 📢 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bharatvaarta 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/Bharatvaarta

In this hard-hitting follow-up, author Medha ji dismantles pop-culture myths around the Mughals and revisits why Ch. Shivaji Maharaj’s revolution mattered. She challenges romanticized screen portrayals (Salim the “hero,” Akbar the “liberal”) with court chronicles and references, then contrasts them with Ch. Shivaji’s governance—protecting civilians, punishing molestation, and easing agrarian burdens. We also examine the human cost of imperial monuments—extraction from farmers, enslavement, famine—and ecological shifts like poppy displacing native crops, alongside Jahangir’s own tally of mass hunts. Finally, we address textbook narratives that blur the Maratha handover to the British—and why remembering accurately matters now. Chapters- 00:00 – Intro 01:07 – Why History, Not Religion, Matters in This Discussion 03:12 – Bollywood Myths: Salim the Drunkard, Akbar’s Scouts & Harems 10:18 – Babur’s Atrocities & Guru Nanak’s Testimony 17:26 – The Massacre at Chittorgarh: 40,000 Killed 22:12 – Jahangir’s Hunts, Addictions & Obsessions 28:25 – Slavery, Eunuchs & Exploitation under the Mughals 34:47 – Ch. Shivaji Maharaj's Moral Code: Protecting Women & Civilians 35:14 – The Tax Burden: 50% vs 10% Under Shivaji 39:50 – What Did the Mughals Really Give India? 41:05 – Monuments, Temples & the Cost of Glory 43:15 – Distorted History: Who Really Ruled Before the British? 48:20 – Broken Temples, Opium Cultivation & Ecological Collapse 50:18 – Skull Mounds, Famines & Forgotten Horrors 52:30 – Final Message: Reclaiming India’s Story 👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe to Bharatvaarta! We bring you deep, thoughtful discussions on politics, policy, and culture every week. 📢 Follow us on Twitter for updates: twitter.com/Bharatvaarta 📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/Bharatvaarta

In this honest and deeply inspiring episode, IPS officer and bestselling author Amit Lodha — the real-life hero behind Netflix’s Khakee: The Bihar Chapter — shares raw insights from his journey of justice, storytelling, and service. From chasing hardened criminals across Bihar to writing bestsellers in stolen moments of silence, Amit Lodha reflects on what it means to stay principled in a world that rarely rewards it. He talks about crime, leadership, failure, and finding purpose — not just in uniform, but in everyday life. A must-watch for anyone seeking courage, clarity, and conviction in their own journey. 👮‍♂️📚

In this stirring episode, author Medha Bhaskaran uncovers the brutal history of the Hindu holocaust, forgotten battles, and the rise of Shivaji — not just as a warrior, but as a revolutionary leader who transformed barren land and broken people into a thriving Swarajya. From centuries of invasion to the emotional rebirth of nationhood, she shares vivid, unflinching stories of enslavement, resistance, and the magical connection between Shivaji and his people. A must-watch for anyone interested in Indian history, forgotten narratives, and what it really took to build an empire from scratch. 🏹🔥

In this incredible conversation, Intel technologist and grassroots leader Ananthan Ayyasamy shares his astonishing rise—from farm labor and caste barriers in rural Tamil Nadu to becoming a top 1% realtor in the U.S. and writing patents at Intel. But the story doesn’t stop there. Ananthan gave it all up to return to India—fighting for clean politics, rural upliftment, and systemic change through his foundation and public service. This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, service, and impact. A must-watch for anyone who believes in the Indian dream—and wants to build it. 💪🇮🇳

In this bold and wide-ranging conversation, investor and author Saurabh Mukherjea explains how artificial intelligence is triggering the biggest shift in India’s white-collar workforce in decades. With powerful data, historical insight, and personal anecdotes, he unpacks how job roles, education models, and middle-class ambition itself must be reimagined. From creative destruction to entrepreneurial reinvention, from social conditioning to skill-based survival, this episode offers a roadmap for anyone navigating careers, identity, and opportunity in the AI era. A must-watch for professionals, students, parents, and policymakers who care about India’s future. 🎙️🚀

In this insightful conversation, economist Neelkanth Mishra (Chief Economist, Axis Bank) breaks down how India can unlock its true growth potential—and the invisible challenges holding us back. From workforce participation to capital cycles, from China’s competitive lessons to India’s fiscal discipline—this is a masterclass in decoding the Indian economy. Neelkanth also pulls back the curtain on India’s bureaucracy, governance bottlenecks, and the difficult balance between good economics and winning politics. A must-watch for anyone who cares about India’s future and wants to understand how we can rise faster, smarter, stronger. 🇮🇳📈 A must-watch for every founder, policymaker, student, or citizen with a stake in India’s economic journey. 🚀 ⸻ 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – India’s Potential Growth: Workforce, Capital & Productivity 07:07 – The Invisible Roadblocks to Reform 13:52 – How China Forced India’s Bureaucracy to Wake Up 20:35 – Good Economics vs. Bad Politics: Can Fiscal Prudence Win? 25:20 – How India Can Become Export Competitive 30:32 – City-Led vs Distributed Growth: What’s Better for India? 34:31 – Why Managing Urban Growth is Critical 34:42 – Rapid Fire: Past Economic Myths & Books That Changed His Thinking 35:50 – Closing: Markets vs Institutions & Final Thoughts

In this explosive conversation, public intellectual and Infinity Foundation founder Rajiv Malhotra reveals how India is sleepwalking into a new era of digital and ideological colonization. From the failure to build indigenous AI platforms to the dangers of caste-based politics and woke education, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone who cares about India’s sovereignty and civilizational identity. Rajiv ji also shares personal insights from decades of activism, his experience with US policymakers, and the need for a long-overdue Ministry of Civilization in India. A must-watch for students, policy thinkers, technologists, and cultural warriors. 00:00 - The Failure of Indian Elites in R&D and Technology 01:18 - Introduction to Rajiv Malhotra & His Work 02:00 - Why Tit-for-Tat on Terrorism Won’t Work 04:00 - Baluchistan as a Strategic Counter 06:00 - India’s Narrative War and Liberal Media Blackout 07:30 - The Cost of Speaking Out: Rajiv’s Personal Journey 09:00 - Caste Census & the Collapse of Meritocracy 12:00 - Quotas vs. Quality: How India Is Losing the Talent War 14:30 - Fixing Education: Start from Kindergarten, Not Quotas 16:00 - Inside the Trump Administration & US Policy Lessons 18:30 - India’s Strategic Blindspots in Diplomacy 20:00 - AI Colonization & India’s Tech Dependency 23:00 - Why No Indian LLMs Exist—and Why It Matters 26:00 - Breaking India 2.0: Targeting Kids & Cultural Roots 29:00 - Language, Identity & The Problem With English Education 31:00 - What a Real Bharatiya Education Policy Should Look Like 33:00 - Elites Selling Out & The Ivy League Obsession 35:00 - Hindu Phobia on US Campuses & Rajiv’s Fightback 37:00 - The Rise of Intellectual Sepoys 39:00 - How Should India Engage With the West and China? 41:00 - Why India Needs Its Own DARPA for Defense Innovation 42:00 - What Can Hindu Parents Do Today? 44:00 - Future Plans: Rajiv’s Books, School of Thought & Legacy 47:00 - Meditation in the Kurukshetra: A Daily Practice 49:00 - If Rajiv Met PM Modi Today—What He’d Urge 52:00 - The Need for a Ministry of Civilization 53:00 - Final Reflections & Misunderstood Figures

Join us for an unflinching conversation with Vikram Sood, former Chief of R&AW (India’s foreign intelligence agency), as he decodes the deeper layers behind the recent terror attacks in Kashmir and the shifting geopolitical chessboard. This episode explores the nature of modern asymmetric warfare, the role of local collaboration in cross-border terror, and the strategic motivations of Pakistan’s military establishment. Mr. Sood also analyzes why India’s response must be calibrated, cold-blooded, and economic—and not always kinetic. He explains how China’s shadow looms large in the region, why Russia’s silence is worrying, and how the average Kashmiri today sees more value in integration with India than ever before. A must-watch for anyone interested in intelligence, national security, and India’s foreign policy in a multipolar world. 00:00 - Introduction & Recap of the Recent Terror Attack 01:10 - Tactical Breach or Strategic Failure? 04:00 - Why Pulling Troops Now Would Be a Mistake 06:00 - Kashmir’s Economy Beyond Tourism 08:00 - Political Unity vs. Opportunism After Attacks 10:00 - How the State Asserts Control Post-Attack 13:00 - Strategic Incentives Behind Proxy War 16:00 - Cold-Blooded Attacks and the Logic of Escalation 20:00 - Pakistan Army's Deep Interest in Prolonged Conflict 23:00 - Post-Article 370 Progress in Kashmir 26:00 - Can Kashmiri Pandits Return? 29:00 - China's Role and Strategic Interests in Kashmir 32:00 - Russian Ambivalence and Global Alignments 36:00 - The Problem with Emotional Responses 40:00 - When Should India Opt for Kinetic Action? 44:00 - Lessons from Balakot & Sri Lanka’s LTTE Strategy 48:00 - Media Narratives vs. Reality on the Ground 52:00 - Pakistan’s Motivation: From Obsession to Provocation 55:00 - Psychological Warfare and Narrative Control 59:00 - Kashmir’s Future and the Need for Inclusive Development 01:03:00 - China's Influence on India's Strategic Calculus 01:06:00 - Final Reflections: IPL, Humor, and Hope 01:07:00 - Thank You & Closing