ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Gaddam Dharmendra, former Indian Ambassador to Iran, and Waiel Awwad, a Syrian journalist with extensive war reporting experience, dive into the complexities of the Iran crisis. They explore the impact of U.S. strikes and discuss the potential fallout for the Khamenei regime. The conversation highlights grassroots protests, Iranian public desires, and the challenges of external intervention. They also assess the stability of Iranian institutions and the regional implications of a regime change, all while noting the historical context of U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

Sukanta Majumdar, a Lok Sabha MP and Union Minister of State for Education, dives into the intricacies of West Bengal politics ahead of the 2026 polls. He discusses controversial ED raids on the TMC-linked I-PAC and critiques Mamata Banerjee's governance, alleging lawlessness under her rule. Majumdar addresses concerns over changing demographics and border security, while emphasizing the need for long-term reforms to tackle the jobs crisis. He also reflects on the rise of new parties and the BJP's strategies to reshape the political landscape in Bengal.

Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar, a seasoned Indian diplomat, shares insights on the unfolding crisis in Venezuela and its implications for global politics. He critiques the legality of US actions in Venezuela and discusses how China's military equipment failed during the turmoil. The conversation dives into Trump's controversial Greenland purchase idea and India's strategic balancing act in foreign policy. Sajjanhar also explores the surprising phenomenon of Indian godmen's popularity in South America, drawing fascinating connections between cultures.

J. Sai Deepak, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India and author, dives deep into the pressing issues of demographic changes and illegal immigration in India. He argues for a dedicated Immigration Task Force, highlighting how these shifts could threaten national security and democracy. The discussion extends to the North-South divide, local politics surrounding migration, and alarming historical trends in census data. Deepak succinctly frames demography as a critical battle for protecting civilization, calling for a comprehensive approach to citizenship and immigration laws.

Constantino Xavier, a senior fellow focused on South Asian politics, joins former diplomat Dinkar Srivastava to dissect rising Islamisation in Bangladesh and the political climate heading into upcoming elections. They delve into the role of Sheikh Hasina, internal divisions within the Pakistan army under Asim Munir, and the persistent terror threat from Pakistan. The discussion also touches on the Rohingya crisis, regional security dynamics involving China and the U.S., and how India can navigate its relationships in this evolving landscape.

Gaur Gopal Das is a life coach, author, and motivational speaker. He studied at the College of Engineering, Pune, and briefly worked with Hewlett Packard. Soon after, he chose a very different path and became a monk and has been living in an ashram in Mumbai for the past 26 years. Over the years, he has studied ancient Indian philosophy along with modern psychology. For more than two decades, he has travelled across the world, sharing his thoughts with students, professionals, charities, and institutions. He has also spoken at the United Nations. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Gaur Gopal Das talks about whether religion and spirituality can be separated, and whether marriage is becoming an outdated idea. He shares insights into the life of a monk and explains why he chose this path. In this New Year special episode, he also speaks about the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and explains, in simple terms, what dharma truly means.00:00 – Introduction00:52 – Life of a Monk07:56 – Understanding Spirituality14:30 – Why Monks Wear Orange?19:29 – Controlling Desires23:03 – Dealing with Anger30:49 – Spirituality vs Religion34:38 – Power of Chanting Mantras45:25 – Why Modi Gifted Gita to Putin?57:39 – Who Should One Read Gita01:03:33 – Spirituality and Politics01:09:47 – Living with Differences01:12:36 – Gen X vs Gen Z01:17:43 – India and Its Adversaries01:25:09 – Parenting in Digital Times01:36:26 – Importance of Family Love01:38:42 – Marriage an Outdated Concept?01:46:33 – Gaur Gopal Das Married?01:50:43 – How Relationships Grow01:54:51 – Fixing Broken Relationships02:00:04 – Couples Staying Together for Children02:07:15 – Real vs Fake Gurus02:09:44 – Handling Others’ Pain02:14:36 – Does Fame Change Friends?02:19:02 – Healthy Habits for Life

Sanjeev Sanyal is a historian, economist, author, and currently serves as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.In this edition of the Podcast with Smita Prakash, he uncovers colonial ‘lies’ in India’s history. He talks about his project on INSV Kaundinya, showcasing India’s ancient maritime exploration.He speaks on the IndiGo crisis, freebies, pensions, and the future of India’s economy. He also explains urban challenges in Indian cities and GDP measurement tools.*Timestamps*00:00 – Introduction01:08 – INSV Kaundinya Sailing Vessel History04:54 – Sailing Training for INSV Kaundinya09:12 – The Forgotten Chapters of Indian History13:53 – Kalinga War & The Myths About Ashoka16:55 – Indian History and Language18:58 – India vs Big Tech: The Battle for Narrative31:13 – Can India Build Its Own Tech Platforms?33:44 – Indian Democracy37:12 – The West on India’s Growth41:42 – India Growing Without Creating Enough Jobs?46:05 – India’s Skill Development in the 20th Century51:44 – Universalisation of Education & NEP53:32 – Bureaucracy & the Changing World01:00:09 – Delhi Pollution01:04:40 – Infrastructure Crisis in India01:07:54 – Millionaires Leaving India01:10:55 – Indigo Crisis & Monopoly Problem01:11:53 – India’s Financial System01:15:58 – Impact of Freebies & Pensions01:22:03 – India’s Role in the Global Power Order01:27:25 – Is India’s GDP Data Reliable?

The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus –Edition 7.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations.Joining the panel are:Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORFTehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analystAnand Ranganathan, author and scientistAbhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict StudiesThis episode dives into issues like illegal immigration and demographic changes, rising radicalisation in Bangladesh, the Vande Mataram debate, the SIR showdown, internal security threats and India’s foreign policy challenges.The panel also talks about propaganda in cinema, marriage in the modern world, and much more.Don’t miss the sharp arguments and witty banter in this episode!*Timestamps*00:00 – Introduction06:00 – Kangana, Mahua & Supriya at Jindal Wedding11:48 – India’s Road Safety Crisis18:35 – TV Panelists vs Anchors28:36 – The ‘Godi Media’ Label41:06 – Demography vs Democracy48:28 – Congress Leadership & Rahul Gandhi01:01:15 – India’s Education System01:16:20 – Hindu Temples01:26:48 – Islam in India01:35:03 – Radicalism in Bangladesh01:48:17 – Idea of Marriage in India01:59:31 – Media & Celebrity Culture02:10:20 – Putin’s Visit to India02:22:45 – Karnataka Hate Speech Bill02:30:18 – Hybrid Threats & Internal Radicalisation

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Lt. Col. Pavithran Rajan, a former intelligence officer, academic, and tech entrepreneur, and Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian Foreign Service officer and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation.Together, they discuss India’s narrative war against Pakistan and why winning this battle is crucial. Should India’s armed forces have a dedicated team to counter Pakistani propaganda in real time? Why does India still lack a strong and organised information-warfare system? How can India protect its global image?They also examine how Western think tanks publish anti-India reports that shape global opinion, and how India should respond.00:00 – Introduction01:17 – India vs Pak: Information Warfare07:06 – India vs Pak: Social Media Battle11:57 – India’s Fact-Checking System18:34 – Information Warfare: What Should India Do?23:10 – India vs Pak Narrative During War27:24 – Red Fort Attack & GPS Spoofing33:00 – Sanchar Saathi App & Surveillance Concerns40:54 – Phone Tapping44:56 – How Terror Networks Avoid Detection46:23 – Freedom of Speech vs National Security50:24 – Open-Source Intelligence and Data Leaks53:13 – National Security Rules for Tech Companies56:10 – Disinformation During Operation Sindoor01:00:18 – Western Media Bias Against India01:03:48 – Rise of Anti-Drone Systems01:06:28 – India’s Drone Challenge01:13:06 – Gaps in Internal Security01:16:01 – Grey-Zone Tactics & Diplomacy01:17:33 – Role of AI in Information Warfare01:22:36 – Need for a Unified Tech Framework01:26:29 – Hybrid Warfare Challenges with Pakistan01:28:19 – Possibility of Operation Sindoor 2?01:31:26 – Public Trust & Security Strategy

Bina Ramani is a fashion designer, author, and entrepreneur. She pioneered India’s boutique culture, played a key role in shaping Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village, and was a key witness in the Jessica Lal case.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Bina Ramani recalls memories of the Kapoor family, including Raj Kapoor, and speaks about her romantic association with Shammi Kapoor. She also talks about her friendship with Rekha and her role in introducing her to Mukesh Agarwal.Bina Ramani shares anecdotes from her interactions with Indira Gandhi, including gifting her jewellery. She also reflects on her encounters with global icons such as Jackie Onassis and Yoko Ono.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction01:29 – Breaking Years of Silence02:37 – 'Bird in a Banyan Tree' & the Night of 199908:02 – The Jessica Lal Murder Case17:42 – Allegations of Evidence Tampering21:31 – Tihar Jail and the Reopening of the Case24:15 – How Fame Turned into Public Backlash26:25 – Media Trial & ‘No One Killed Jessica’ Movie28:49 – When Bollywood Sidelined Bina Ramani31:17 – Life Inside Tihar Jail36:44 – Ram Jethmalani and the Turning Point44:43 – The End of ‘Page 3’ Culture49:52 – Early Life & Raj Kapoor56:28 – Relationship with Shammi Kapoor01:06:16 – Why Shammi Kapoor Lived for His Audience01:08:27 – Binatone: A Product Named After Bina Ramani01:11:32 – Marriage, Affairs, and Turmoil01:19:37 – Her Career with the Taj Group01:22:12 – The Man Bina Ramani Connected with the Most01:36:11 – Who Was Pamela Bordes?01:44:06 – What Made Asha Puthli a Global Icon?01:51:46 – Interviewing Indira Gandhi01:58:24 – Chandraswami and Spiritual Scams02:08:06 – Money Laundering and the FBI Probe02:13:28 – Rekha’s Marriage to Mukesh Agarwal02:23:06 – What Led to Mukesh Agarwal’s Suicide?02:26:56 – Battling Cancer and Finding ‘Malabar Secrets’