NRI Affairs, Pause with Nandini

Send us Fan MailAustralia-India Relations, Dissent, and Digital ResistanceIn this episode of Pause with Nandini, host Nandini Sen Mehra brings together an exceptional panel of journalists, commentators, and activists to unpack the complex realities shaping India today and their ripple effects on Australia-India relations and the NRI diaspora.As geopolitical alignment strengthens between the two nations around trade and defence, internal fractures persist under the surface. From escalating economic distress and clamping down on press freedom to the rise of grassroots, humorous digital rebellions, this roundtable looks at what is genuinely happening on the ground.Key Discussion Points• The State of Press Freedom and Dissent in India: Senior Journalist and Editor, Chinki Sinha and Artist and Curator, RAQS Media Collective, Shuddhabrata Sengupta discuss the shrinking space for independent journalism, the systemic jailing of activists (such as Umar Khalid), and the criminalisation of ordinary civil solidarity. They also speak of the richness of cultural spaces in India, and the hope that persists in ordinary lives inspite of systemic issues.• The Illusion of a Homogenous Diaspora: Former South Asia Bureau Chief for ABC News Meghna Bali breaks down the complexities of the Indian-Australian diaspora, highlighting how it is deeply fragmented by class, caste, religion, and generation despite being marketed as a monolithic community. She reflects on time spent in India, and the need for an honest conversation around difficult issues. • Dissent and its Fallout: Co-founder of the Humanism Project and Founder of NRI Affairs, Deepak Joshi outlines the growing concerns among non-resident Indians (NRIs) about transnational repression and the shrinking spaces for dissent. He also speaks of rising racism, the model minority narrative, and the complexities of the India-Australia relationship.• Geopolitics vs. Democratic Integrity: The panel analyses the friction between India's independent foreign policy (balancing the Quad and BRICS), Australia’s reluctance to press India on human rights due to heavily corporate-driven trade and defence interests, both set against a genuine relationship of warmth between the two countries. • Humour as Resistance: A deep dive into how a statement by the Chief Justice of India sparked a massive, Gen-Z-led digital movement. The panel explores how decentralised memes, citizen reporting, and independent art spaces are reclaiming public dignity and challenging authority through the power of satire.Watch the full episode to hear these vital perspectives on the Australia-India relationship with all its complexities and the opportunities for a strong and honest engagement. Don't forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more deep-dive discussions on NRI Affairs.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailWe speak to Zia Ahmad OAM on his wonderful achievement and recognition as the first Muslim to receive the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to journalism  and the second member of his family to receive the nation’s highest civilian honour.Zia Ahmad is the editor-in-chief of the Australasian Muslim Times, AMUST, the country’s leading independent Muslim newspaper and news portal, founded with his father in 1991. He is a valued member of The Humanism Project, a progressive South-Asian collective that advocates for social justice in Australia. In this freewheeling interview, he traces his remarkable journey as a child from Kashmir, in India, to Sydney in Australia, the life lessons from his father as they built a new life here, and the guiding principles that have shaped his worldview, passions and humanity. Watch, listen, subscribe.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailDr. Aditya Sondhi is a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, a scholar, and an Ambedkarite. He frequently lectures on the application of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s constitutional philosophy in modern jurisprudence. He joins us for a special Dalit History Month episode in association with Hindus for Human Rights Australia, and takes us in chamber for a free wheeling conversation. Highlights: - Constitutional morality as envisioned by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar- The Manusmriti and the place of religious texts within courthouses. - In India, is it fair to say ‘Caste is the Law'?- The role of unions in the era of an Uberised workplace- Protections for domestic worker rights within an Ambedkarite vision for an equitable society- His personal connection to Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy, and his relevance in our deeply divided world today. Dr. Sondhi also hosts 'The PodCaste' available on Spotify which features conversations around caste, seeking to unravel the visible and invisible presence of caste in urban settings, academia and practice. He is the author of Poles Apart: The Military and Democracy in India and Pakistan (Penguin, 2024).As always, like, share and subscribe.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailMohamed Alharbi, a part of the core campaign leadership that brought Zohran Mamdani's bid for Mayor of New York to a historic win, unpacks how people centred politics triumphed. An exclusive Pause with Nandini catch up on the sidelines of Australian Progress 2026. We speak of strategy and tactics but more about working with heart. He also reflects on what this win means for people of colour, the way the conservatives were won over and of course, Aunties for Zohran, who evidently have no chill. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailTo provide 10 million girls access to education in the next 10 years -  no easy feat but also not beyond the realm of possibility for an exceptional organisation, Educate Girls, which has made history as the the first Indian organisation to win the prestigious 2025 Ramon Magsaysay award. With Gayatri Nair Lobo at the helm, Educate Girls is working at the grassroots, bringing millions of girls into education. The organisation solves for issues at the local and societal level to enable continued engagement and emancipation for girls through education.  Gayatri speaks to us about the work, the challenges, and the dream. Watch, listen, reflect. This has been an honour. To learn more about Educate Girls or to donate, visit: https://educategirls.us/Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailPart 2 of a conversation with four of the five founding members of The Reserved Compartment - Aleena, Gautam, Daniel and Abhijit. The Reserved Compartment is a pioneering, community-driven initiative to amplify Dalit, Ambedkarite, gender-inclusive voices through spoken word poetry, storytelling, music, and performance. By reclaiming the term "Reserved Compartment," which historically refers tosegregation, they are creating a platform for subaltern narratives to challenge caste, gender, and other intersecting oppressions. Rooted in the legacy of the Bhakti movement, the Ambedkarite jalsa-shahiri tradition, and the Dalit Panthers, they aim to move beyond tokenism, ensuring the art and lived experiences of marginalized artists are honoured with dignity.Share, like, subscribe as always.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailFour of the five founding members of The Reserved Compartment, Aleena, Gautam, Daniel and Abhijit join me to talk about their first-of-its-kind poetry initiative - The Reserved Compartment. The fifth, Shripad could not join us. The Reserved Compartment is a pioneering, community-driven initiative to amplify Dalit, Ambedkarite, gender-inclusive voices through spoken word poetry, storytelling, music, and performance. By reclaiming the term "Reserved Compartment," which historically refers tosegregation, they are creating a platform for subaltern narratives to challenge caste, gender, and other intersecting oppressions. Rooted in the legacy of the Bhakti movement, the Ambedkarite jalsa-shahiri tradition, and the Dalit Panthers, they aim to move beyond tokenism, ensuring the art and lived experiences of marginalized artists are honoured with dignity.Share, like, subscribe as always.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailSneha and Runjhun from the Aunties Fund join me to talk about The Aunties Fund.The Aunties Fund is the first permanent fund for South-Asian women, by South-Asian women. They are on a mission to raise $100,000 for culturally informed services for women facing domestic abuse.The data is startling.1-3 migrant women face some form of domestic abuse. Many are South Asian. Visa and Dowry abuse is the most prevalent. This fund will help 4 exceptional organisations working in this space. • Indian (Sub-continent) crisis & support agency• House of Sakinah• Immigrant Women's Speakout Association• Harman FoundationFind them on https://www.instagram.com/auntiesfund to know more. Donate at: https://aunties-fund.raiselysite.comThank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailThe British novelist, Rajeev Balasubramanyam, now a somewhat unlikely Instagram influencer, joins us on Pause with Nandini to explore the difficult questions of the psyche, and of our times. We speak of the spiritual and the political, mental health, wounded narcissism, a personal journey through sex, drugs and alcohol to a healing through self-enquiry, and the reasons for a re-engagement with the political. We speak of the woundedness of young men, the angry patriarchal masculinity on one hand and the rising discourse about toxic masculinity on the other - and a generation of young men caught between the two. We speak of how there can be a third way, rooted in masculine vulnerability, in the ability to cry, and the need to heal. This is an important conversation in our fractured times, that goes beyond the what, deeply into the why, and through a story of an examined life, it takes us to into a path of possibilities, redemption, and ultimately of hope. You can follow him on Rajeevwriter on Instagram. As always, like, share and subscribe. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailGiri Sivaraman, Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, spoke with Nandini Sen Mehra about the larger questions of racism in Australia, the institutions and structures that need an overhaul, and the genuine concerns and issues that everyday Australians are facing, across communities and ethnicities. He talks about the critical need to implement the anti Racism Framework that includes the establishment of the Anti Racism Taskforce with representation from government, institutions and civil society, something we at NRI Affairs have been championing as well. In addressing concerns over the targeting of the Indian diaspora in inflammatory fliers being circulated by anti-immigration campaigners, he offers his perspective on preventive measures, the role of law enforcement in building trust in community, and what he considers of primary concern should a racist attack occur. For this and more, watch, listen, subscribe.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailWhen Rabbi Shergill says, ‘write the truest line you know,’ he isn’t only quoting Hemingway. In a way, he is capturing a lifetime’s quest for authenticity. In word, in artistic expression , and in navigating a life that didn't always fit into neat boxes. In this soulful conversation, he speaks of the awakening of his passion for Panjabi, which for him is the language of love, of his grandmother’s sweet phrases, of poetry rooted in everyday life. He says art comes from  an intimate corner of your being and to connect with Delhi is to connect with Delhi’s poetry.  He speaks of Tolstoy, of Bulleh Shah, Santana, Abida Parveen, of Shiv Batalvi,  of Baba Farid.  He speaks of his father, an oriental scholar and the only true blue genius that he knew first hand.He says today we don’t have artists, we have craftsmen, we have algorithms.We speak of many things in a little over an hour, and in the end, I wonder: do we know Rabbi, the artist and the man any better than we did before?In some ways, yes, we get a glimpse behind the veil, but yet, much of the enigma remains. And in a way, I’m thankful for it.   Listen, like, share, subscribe. And perhaps take a moment to revisit the magic and memories of Rabbi Shergill's music. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailThe 2025 Australian federal election has been called for May 3, 2025. Members of the 48th Parliament of Australia will be elected. All seats of the House of Representatives (150 compared to 151 in the previous election) and 40 of the 76 seats in the Senate will be contested.Two exceptional thinkers and leaders, Sukhmani Khorana and Varsha Yajman join me on Pause to talk elections, media and civic literacy, disinformation, and the issues that impact the South Asian Diaspora.  Sukhmani Khorana is a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Media at UNSW. Sukhmani has published extensively on migrant media, the politics of empathy and belonging, and self-representation for refugees. Sukhmani’s work on the Indian diaspora in Australia is considered foundational in the field.Varsha Yajman is a speaker, podcaster, and advocate, with a keen interest in climate justice and mental health awareness. As a coordinator at SAPNA South Asian Climate Solidarity Network and a paralegal at Equity Generation Lawyers specialising in climate change litigation, Varsha actively engages in transformative work. Varsha's passion materialises in her podcast, "Not to be Controversial," designed to forge a community where young South Asians feel represented and empowered. In 2021, the Women’s Agenda acknowledged her as one of the 100 women resetting the world, and in 2022, Urban List recognised her as one of the 30 individuals poised to change the world by 2030.Listen, follow and subscribe. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailGaza has been front and centre for many of us as we watched the decimation of a land and its people with horror and dismay, each of us wishing we could do more. More than the sharing, the bearing witness and the fund-raising. On the cusp of a potential ceasefire, still hanging by a tenuous thread, it is our honour to have Dr Sanjay Adusumilli as a guest on this show. Dr. Sanjay was in Gaza on a medical mission. He is a General and Colorectal Surgeon from Sydney who is also a cofounder of the Global Medical Foundation Australia , a charity without any religious or political affiliation, that raises funds and provides medical services to third world countries. Each year Sanjay travels overseas to perform this work.In this conversation, Dr. Sanjay takes us into the Al Aska hospital in Gaza, and gives us a glimpse into the horrific conditions he witnessed, the heartbreaking choices he was confronted with, and the exceptional medical students and Doctors of Gaza, each of them heroic in indescribable ways. Learn more about the Global Medical Foundation Australia at www.gmfaustralia.org.au. Donate, sign up as a volunteer or simply share their work with others. This is important, life-saving, life-affirming work and may it inspire each of us to do what we can, and a little bit more. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailAt 2:30 am Brisbane time, I got a message saying as of now the professor is alive. Just another night in Gaza. A family goes to sleep, not knowing if they will make it to dawn. At a time of violence, at a scale that has horrified the world, along with protests, petitions, BDS, we simply bear witness. We listen to the stories of people who are living through the worst times of their lives and we are there with them, in whichever way we can be. Without enough bandwidth to get on Zoom, we improvised. It’s awkward maybe, this conversation with a phone and a computer, but it is the truth. A truth that humbles us, humanises us and renews our desire to stand with the oppressed. Free Palestine. May the new year bring hope and cheer, and an end to the horror. Long live the resistance. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailAn extraordinary human being with an even more extraordinary story, Himanshu Kumar is an activist with a lifelong passion for social justice. In this conversation, he takes us through his days in Bastar, the unspeakable cruelty of the powers that be, his crusade to awaken people to the realities of corporate greed and its impact on ordinary lives, and most of all, to afford a life to dignity and centrality, to those deemed to live forever on the margins.  His is a message of hope and conviction, that is delivered with lightness and warmth of spirit, despite the many hardships and travails that his journey has encountered. An inspiration and an icon of peaceful resistance, we are privileged to have the visionary Himanshu Kumar as our last guest of the year. For those interested, you can connect with him on his Facebook page and join him on his upcoming Cycle Yatra for communal harmony and peace in early 2025. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailI’m in conversation with historian, journalist, political commentator and Marxist thinker #vijayprashad on NRI Affairs.  Vijay is the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and the author of forty books. Vijay is on a speaking tour across New Zealand and Australia. p.s. I can’t say i agree with everything he said, and for sure, I don’t know enough. But this conversation will stay with me for a while. There were moments of connection over Palestine that i share with many people, strangers across the world. A shared helplessness and ache. After we stopped recording, I did read him a poem. In a world gone mad, perhaps it is the last refuge of the perplexed. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailOur guest on this episode is the extraordinary Sunita Viswanath, the co-founder and executive director of Hindus for Human Rights, that advocates for pluralism, civil and human rights in South Asia, Australia, the UK and North America. From a childhood of transplantation from India as a migrant, to watching the ugly face of racism as a child in the UK, to a curious choice of study; mathematics and sociology, her journey is anything but typical. Sunita says she doesn’t do well with boundaries. Perhaps therein lies the seed of her empathy sans borders, the interconnectedness of the personal and political, and the relentless speaking of truth to power, unmoved by praise or censure.In this episode, we trace early influences, her relationship to her faith, the passion and conviction that drives her advocacy, the honour and heartbreak of bearing witness to the horror unfolding in Palestine and explore what gives her the courage to pursue a path less trodden. For all of us who often feel disempowered by the scale of violence in the world, the overwhelming hate and divisiveness, the unfairness of it all, the feeling of ‘what can one person do’, I present to you, the uncommon force of nature, Sunita Viswanath.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailMy guest is the indefatigable Indu Balachandran, an independent candidate in the upcoming New South Wales Local Government election, standing for the Gordon Ward in Sydney's Ku Ring Gai Council.With a track record in sustainability and  over 20 years in leadership positions  across housing, family services and first nation sectors, Indu brings the will and the skill to make a difference. She is also a passionate musician, actively engaged in community initiatives, received an Atlantic Fellowship (Oxford University), and was the recipient of the UTS Human Rights Award for Reconciliation. We speak about her motivations and passions that led to her foray into politics, the hyphenated identity she carries, the challenges and opportunities  for diasporic communities in Australia, and the work she would like to do for her constituency.  An enjoyable and insightful conversation with a change-maker who is indeed a force for good. Do watch, leave us your comments, and don't forget to subscribe!  Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailBangladeshi-American academic, Dr. Farhana Sultana, professor at Syracuse University, and Indian political and social commentator who writes extensively for the Wire,  Shuddhabrata Sengupta come together on Pause with Nandini  to discuss Bangladesh, reimagined. We cover the challenges and opportunities ahead for Bangladesh, its relationship with India, the protection of minorities, and the dangers and impact of misinformation and false narratives. We also hear from Taposhi Dey Prapti, President of Jahangirnagar University Debating Club, Bangladesh, and Meghmallar Basu, President of the Student Union, Dhaka University, Bangladesh. They provide a riveting account of the student movement and the euphoric days that followed, marred by a coordinated disinformation campaign that threatened to destabilise the fledgling rebirth of a nation. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailA woman who asks too many questions offers a window into her world. For Chinki Sinha, war is never elsewhere. Armed with James Baldwin's politics of love, she finds hope in protests, reads from her grandfather's stolen diaries, finds herself locked up in a brothel, goes to Kashmir to cover silence, and eats kulfi for dinner, spent after a day chasing stories. Of all the people who have come on Pause, Chinki is probably the most mercurial, enigmatic in the way she wears her role as Editor of the formidable Outlook magazine with equal parts creative fire, curiosity, and lightness. Blurring the lines between journalism and poetry, fashion and politics, the mechanics of storytelling with the art of hanging out, at a time of claustrophobic conformity, Chinki's is a singular voice that is both breath and blade.   A special episode. I hope you enjoy it too.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailGender, colourism, identity, code-shifting , all of this and more in an animated and unfettered discussion on the new book Growing up Indian in Australia. Published by Black Inc, the book has been edited by Aarti Betigeri with contributions from a wide cross-section of Australian-Indians. Aarti joins us in this conversation along with Preeti Maharaj - 'Tangle of Tenses', Swagata Bapat - 'The Dance Performance' and Rakhee Gelani, the author of 'Navratri'.In their stories, perhaps lie commonalities with stories of other migrants and people who straddle multiple cultures and identities. There are questions of assimilation and preserving culture, the intergenerational bonds and frictions between the world that was, and a world that will be. There are contemplations on women of colour finding our voices and the ways in which we find our place in the world. A bit about our panelists from the book: Aarti Betigeri is a journalist, writer, broadcaster, and former foreign correspondent, born in Melbourne to parents from Maharashtra and Karnataka. She has spent a decade in India and now lives in Australia, working as a journalist and advisor focussed on international relations. Swagata Bapat is a second-generation Indian Australian who was raised in and lives in Melbourne. She works in her business Swagata Bapat Consulting as an executive coach, facilitator, and consultant. Born in country Victoria, Rakhee Ghelani was shaped by her parents' stories of East Africa, delectable Gujarati delicacies and adventures to far flung countries that began before she could even walk. She lives and works in Melbourne and shares her love of travel, great food and cats with her cheeky young daughter. Preeti Maharaj was born in Fiji. She is the descendent of Girmitiyas, who were indentured labourers taken from India to work in the sugarcane fields of Fiji by the British. She immigrated to Australia with her family when she was twelve after two military coups. She lives, works and write with gratitude on the lands of the Kulin Nation in Naarm/Melbourne.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailKashmiris, Tibetans, islanders, ancient feuds between Hindus and Buddhists, and the politics of war. Abhishek Majumdar in his new book, Abhishek Majumdar, Collected Plays,  goes into spaces that are often unvisited, and within those spaces, he arrives with and offers more questions than easy answers.  With acute humanity, and unmitigated curiosity,  Abhishek explores themes both diverse and interconnected;  the environment, violence and non violence, the passage of time, morality and oppression, the individual and the collective.  He is a playwright, essayist, scenographer, and director who works in India and internationally. His work has been produced and commissioned in leading theaters of the world including Royal Court Theatre London, Prithvi Theatre Mumbai, Ranga Shankara Bangalore, Deutsch Shauspielhaus Hamburg, Ruhrfest Recklinghausen, Théâtre du Soleil Paris, National Theatre London, San Francisco Opera, PEN World Voices, Internacionale Dramaturgie Festival Buenos Aires, San Francisco Opera, and PlayCo New York amongst others.He is a recipient of multiple awards including the META Award for Best Play and Best Script,  International Theatremakers Award New York,  The Shankar Nag Rangakarmi Award Bangalore, the Toto Funds the Arts Award, Segal Center Award for Civic Engagement in the Arts,  B.V.Karanth Fellowship of Ninasam, Best Director in London Movie Awards, Best Director 8 and Half Film Festival (Rome) Awards, Best Scenographer Sofia International Film Festival amongst others. He works in Theater, Film, and Opera in different languages and cultures. His book of essays, Theater Across Borders was published by Bloomsbury International as part of the Theatermakers series and he has been published, performed, and translated in Hindi, English, French, German, Czech, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Kashmiri, and Spanish. He is the Artistic Director of Nalanda Arts Studio Bangalore and creative producer at New Voices Arts Project based in Bangalore. His plays are published by Bloomsbury International.Apart from theater, he has published in the areas of mathematics, environmental economics, and chemistry. Currently he is directing an Ambedkarite Opera with Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch Mumbai and Nalanda Arts Studio Bangalore,  co-commissioned by NYUAD arts center. He is also directing  Solo Vazio, a physical theater piece with Julieta Dobbin in Brazil. He is writing a new play for on the trade of war debris , for the Collaborative, Dublin, Working on a new novel " Radiodurans" and working on the next part of the Tibet Trilogy for Tibet Theatre , Dharmashala and Germany. Abhishek Majumdar Collected Plays is available here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/abhishek-majumdar-collected-plays-9781350423688/Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Majumdar-Collected-Plays/dp/178682258XThank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailOn the heels of Dalit History Month, we at NRI Affairs, wanted to begin a conversation on caste that looks at this social evil from the lens of the caste and generationally privileged, one that accepts that caste discrimination exists, that we continue to benefit from it, and explores ways to take greater collective and individual accountability.   We share our own journeys of learning about caste with the hope that it opens dialogue on the need for a clear-eyed acknowledgement of our legacies of discrimination, uncomfortable as it may be, with the hope that we can then choose positive change. The premise of this conversation is that there is now enough literature and material available for the caste privileged to educate ourselves on the systemic discrimination and cruelty of the caste system, and it is incumbent upon each of us to work towards the annihilation of caste, in whichever way we can.  We acknowledge the mental labour and the often uncompensated heavy lifting that Dalit and Bahujan voices are often called upon to do, in the guise of platforming, which by and large requires very little introspection or personal accountability on the part of the savarna spaces that invite them in. Finally, our hope is that through a series of such conversations and engagement, both within privileged spaces, and with the empowered inclusion of the deliberately marginalised, we arrive at a collective framework  - more a living document- that gives us the language, the actionable insights, and the centering of intrinsic human dignity of all, towards a caste free and equitable society. Joining us on the panel are: Author and activist, Rheea Mukherjee, student and anti-caste activist, Avyaya Singh, and scholar on diversity and cultural economics, Mudit Vyas. Select reading recommendations: Annihilation of Caste, Dr. B. R. AmbedkarKavya Phule and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar, Savitribai PhuleI could not be Hindu, The story of a Dalit in the RSS, Bhanwar MeghwanshiDalits and the Democratic Revolution, Gail OmvedtBrahmins and Non Brahmins, MSS PandianBuffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism, Kancha IIaiahThe Mahatma and the ism, E.M.S. NamboodiripadJoothan, Om Prakash ValmikiMurdahiya, Dr. Tulsi Ram (Some recommendations from the Itihas Project)Other resources: Ambedkarite Buddhist Publishers https://navayan.com/publications.phpRound Table India, For an informed Ambedkar Age https://www.roundtableindia.co.in/Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailEach year Australia marks National Reconciliation Week between 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey - the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. The first date marks the May 27 referendum in 1967, which saw more than 90 per cent of voters support the inclusion of all Indigenous Australians in the census.In the first National Reconciliation Week since the failure of last October's Voice to parliament referendum, Reconciliation Australia is urging supporters to continue to fight for "justice and rights" for Indigenous Australians.In the context of the larger questions of restorative justice, a voice for those deliberately marginalised, and the question of representation of the Indian Diaspora in Australia, we spoke to Mudit Vyas, a recent research graduate from the Monash School of Media, Film & Journalism (MFJ). He studies cultural and creative industries. His thesis in Diversity washing of privilege in cultural economics - An Indian-Australian ideological scrutiny examines critical questions of the caste and cultural privileges within the Indian Diaspora and whether the same power structures that exist in India are being maintained in Australia, and all internal differences in access and caste dynamics subsumed under the garb of diversity inclusion. We examine who is being platformed, who isn’t, and what are some of the ways in which the actual ideals and aims of diversity outreaches in Australia can be realised.   Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailAs elections are underway in India, this is an important conversation. Human rights, hate speech, caste dynamics,  the silencing of dissent and the idea of government working with civil society for the greater good - we cover a lot of ground in this truly special conversation with the inimitable Meenakshi Ganguly. Wise, experienced, and a true humanist, she is truly a force for good in this world.  Meenakshi Ganguly  is also  the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, overseeing the work in a number of countries in the region. She served as correspondent for Time Magazine,  worked with the Press Trust of India and published in the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Scroll, Wire, Dhaka Tribune, and The Kathmandu Post, among others.Ganguly has a Masters in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics.Tune in and do let us know your thoughts in the comments!Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailMegha Singh's journey as an entrepreneur will possibly resonate with many people who have had to restart or reimagine careers, balance passion with purpose, and create opportunities for themselves. She says the working title of her autobiography could be Love. Money. God. and in this freewheeling conversation, Megha speaks with refreshing candour about her relationship with all three, and more. Today Megha helps entrepreneurs get started and on their way to their first $100,000. For those who may feel inspired or just curious, you can reach her at: Website: https://www.b-inc.asia/Business IG: https://www.instagram.com/bincbymegha/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bincbymegha/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bincbymeghaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/megha.singh.165/ The NGO that she speaks of in her conversation is called the Swayam Foundation. Interested folks who want to know more or support their initiatives can contact her father, Mr. Bijay Kumar at [email protected] you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailRavijeet Dang is a techie with a difference. A believer in creating social impact through technology and community engagement,  as the Managing Director of Iotasol, he is passionate about mentoring the next generation of technology leaders.  In this episode we explore an uncommon journey that led him from India, to Europe, Singapore and now to Australia. We talk passion and purpose, continual learning and the path to fulfilment. We also get a peek into the exciting possibilities ahead with AI and how technology can potentially solve for some of the most pressing challenging of our times.  Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailWas the Delhi Sultanate a barbaric and bloodthirsty line of rulers who imposed Islam in the Indian subcontinent by the force of their sword? Were there Muslim rulers in the South of India? How so we separate fact from fiction in understanding our complex and multi-dimensional past? Syed Ubaidur Rahman, a New Delhi-based author and columnist answers all of this and more, as we take a walk down the not too distant past. Syed has written extensively on medieval and modern Indian history and his latest book is ‘Peaceful Expansion of Islam in India.’ Other recent publications include 'Forgotten Muslim Empires of South India: Bahmani Empire, Madurai, Bijapur, Golconda & Mysore Sultanates' (2022), 'Biographical Encyclopaedia of Indian Muslim Freedom Fighters' (2021), and 'Ulema's Role in India's Freedom Movement with Focus on Reshmi Rumal Tehrik' (2019).He has written opeds for leading Indian and foreign newspapers including The Hindustan Times, Economic Times, Sify, NewsClick, Arab News, Quint etc.Join us as we discover hidden facets of our collective history, that informs so much of our rich cultural diversity and heritage. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailFor countless Bengalis, Anjan Dutt is an emotion. From Bela Bose to Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na, Mary Ann to Bhalobasha, his songs captured a particular zeitgeist of 90's Kolkata. For a generation coming of age at the time, in his music, they found an unforgettable  voice for their heartbreaks and hopes, their aches and aspirations.Anjan Dutt is also an award winning actor and filmmaker. From Mrinal Sen's Chalachitro, (for which he won the best newcomer actor award at the Venice Film Festival), and Buddhadeb Dasgupta's Ghihojudddha, and then directing films such as Bow Barracks Forever, The Bong Connection, and Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona, he has had a varied and interesting career in film.   A man who wears his success lightly, with humour and humility, Anjan Dutt is  a reminder of a gentler, more inclusive time. In this episode, he takes us through his early years, his unexpected success, his many interests, and what makes Kolkata his eternal muse. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailIt is an honour to begin the first season of NRI Affairs, Pause with Nandini, 2024, with the exceptional Pallabi Ghosh, a woman who has rescued 10,000 people from traffickers, child marriage, forced marriage, child labour, and prostitution. Pallabi takes us through hidden passages in big city brothels, to villages in Haryana with their kidnapped brides,  to far flung rural Bengal where a woman is paid 10 rupees for a full day’s work, and hungry children can be lured away by traffickers with biscuits, to the dark reality of survivors’ further victimisation by their own families, and the prevalence of survivor suicides. This episode is a rare opportunity to go beyond sensational headlines and truly meet the human stories behind trafficking, discover how the problem thrives at the intersections of poverty, exploitation, gender violence, patriarchy, the serious gaps in law enforcement, and the quagmire of the legal system.  In all of this we also discuss societal apathy, what it takes to do the work that Pallabi has done now for over a decade, and the severe toll it takes on her own mental health. Pallabi is also the founder of the Impact and Dialogue Foundation, through which she aims to create awareness about trafficking in all forms, provide a safe space to survivors, and deliver vocational training  that sets them towards financial independence. A very special conversation with an extraordinary warrior – watch, listen, and share.Let us collectively create awareness and foster dialogue on an issue that affects the most vulnerable amongst us. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailDevashish Makhija often tells stories of people he doesn't belong to; of people who have been deliberately silenced or ignored by the majority, or the powerful. While he battles unimaginable odds to bring those stories to light, telling them comes with their own, often heartbreaking pitfalls. We continue our conversation  through somewhat contentious territory as we talk about wokeness, appropriation, and the use of language as both bridge and barrier. And there is poetry. His own, which he says he doesn't write anymore. In some way that makes his reading of them even more special. Watch, listen and do let us know your thoughts. Devashish's photomaker: Aparna JayakumarThank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailDevashish Makhija is arguably one of the most important voices in independent cinema in India today. His latest feature film Joram, produced by Zee Cinema, is set for a worldwide theatrical release on December 8, after a whirlwind global festival tour following its debut at the prestigious Rotterdam Film Festival. In a no-holds-barred conversation, Devashish traces the genesis of his rage, the evolution of his voice as a filmmaker, the auto-censorship that is strangulating dissent today, and his profound relationship with poetry and music. This, and a lot more, as we uncover the compulsions and contradictions that drive an all-consuming artistic pursuit, and the often tumultuous relationship between a true artist and his art. Makhija's award-winning body of work includes feature films such as Bhonsle, (which fetched Manoj Bajpayee a national award), the much celebrated Ajji, and short films (Cycle, Cheepatakadumpa, Taandav, El'ayichi, Agli Baar (aka And then they came for me), Rahim Murge pe mat ro (aka Don't cry for Rahim LeCock), Absent, and Happy). He is also an award winning author of adult, young adult and children's books. His latest book, We are the Dancing Forest, published by Tulika Publishers won the Honour Book Award at the Green Literature Festival.  His novel, Oonga, won the 2021 Neev Book Award in the YA category. He is also the author of Forgetting, a collection of short stories, and children's books, When Ali became Bajrangbali and Why Paploo was Perplexed.  His anthology of poems 'Bewilderness' is slated for release next year.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailShelly Oberoi, the academic-turned-politician now runs the second largest municipal corporation in India, as the mayor of India's capital city, New Delhi. Recently in Brisbane at the Asia Pacific Cities Summit, we sat down with the Mayor for a quick conversation about the Kejriwal model of urban planning, why she left academia for politics, and some of the pressing issues in India today and possible solutions.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailTrigger warning: This episode includes references to domestic violence, child abuse, suicide, and mental health issues. This may be traumatising for some people. Caution advised. Shivam Patil is an Indian actor and activist who champions men's mental health, child safety, and gender issues. He is also a climate change activist. Shivam is a domestic violence and child abuse survivor. With courage and candour, he shares his own lived experience to draw attention to mental heath issues for men, the alarming rise in suicide rates among men, the urgency to build systemic support to ensure child rights, and the pressing need to reframe therapy and mental health. To connect with Shivam visit: https://www.instagram.com/shivampatil90/For mental health issues, kindly seek professional help. Some resources across Australia, India and Canada (where Shivam currently resides) below: Australia: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplinesIndia: https://www.csrindia.org/mental-helpline-numbers/Canada:https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.htmlThank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailOur first politician on the show, who is also a practicing doctor, with a Master's degree in film, television and media writing, Dr. Sapna Samant is an exemplary leader who is equal parts dreamer and doer. She joins us to talk about her work as a Greens Party candidate in New Zealand, why she decided to join active politics, the changing diaspora experience, and the dangers of a single majoritarian narrative. As she takes us through her unconventional journey, we speak of the pressing issues of the day, in India and their spillover effect in the diaspora, the ways in which we can learn from the strides made within the indigenous communities to battle societal issues, and the role of the arts and the media in countering the rise of authoritarianism.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailWelcome to an animated, wholly embodied discussion with the inimitable Yogesh Parmar. Yogesh is a leading behavioural scientist and the founder of GameChangers, India’s first fully integrated and diversified learning and development services enterprise. He is one of 100 Emerging Leaders in Asia, awarded by World Consulting & Research Corporation (WCRC). A certified master facilitator, speaker and coach, Yogesh has worked with 50,000+ people in Fortune 100 & 500 companies like General Electric, Walmart, Cisco, Tata & Reliance.Yogesh is also deeply passionate about performance arts and philanthropy – he evangelizes Seva Cafe – a peer funded volunteer collective that sets up temporary kitchens using food as a medium to connect and engage with different disenfranchised groups.On this episode we speak of calling our own bluff, the weaponisation of suffering, trauma and the ways it plays out both in the individual and the collective, healing, vulnerability, thruples (yes, we went there!) and so much more. As always, thank you for listening!Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailBabu Gogineni is an Indian humanist, rationalist, and human rights activist who has served as Executive Director of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and is also the founder of, South Asian Humanist Association and Indian Humanists. He is also the founder and owner of Skillguru, a training organization.On this episode of Pause with Nandini, he discusses the  disease of caste in India, South East Asia, among the diaspora, and in cultures around the world, and the transformative role of science in bringing about social change. Known for debunking myths and exposing religious charlatans of all hues, he brings an interesting perspective on how ‘religion is an enterprise of answers, and science an enterprise of questions’.As a rationalist, he is equally critical of ‘namby-pamby liberals’, the religious and ‘spiritualists’. While some of his statements may appear provocative, they invite a deeper contemplation about the profound and often negative implications of religion-fuelled power structures within human society. An engaging and thought-provoking discussion. Do watch and listen, and leave us your thoughts in the comments. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailThis is more than a conversation. This is a video essay of a purposeful life, well-lived. My guest on this episode is Sushama Deshpande, writer, journalist, actor, director and all round awe-inspiring human. She is playful and passionate, a serious feminist and a delightful trouble maker, who shows us things ‘polite’ society would much rather not face or acknowledge. It has been over 30 years since she started performing her celebrated solo piece, ‘Vhay, Mi Savitribai’ (Yes, I’m Savitribai ), about the life of the social reformer Savitribai Phule, which has taken her to small hamlets in India as well as to international platforms.The work of Savitribai, wife of Jyotiba Phule — both pioneers in women’s education in Maharashtra, influenced her so strongly that her subsequent work as writer, director and performer, focused on social issues — women’s lives in particular, whether it was working with Tamasha artists, sex workers from Sangli, LGBTQ activists in Pune or telling the stories of women Bhakti poets from Maharashtra, the struggles of Dalit women, or the rage of an elderly grandmother in the film, Ajji. A woman perhaps far ahead of her times, Sushama Deshpande is a singular example of an artist with a deeply rooted understanding of her culture and history, coupled with an expansive, humanistic and universal sensibility, that is for all time. In a world of insta reels and snappy feeds, i welcome you to truly pause, with me, as we discover the magic that is Sushama Deshpande. ________The poems she recites in Marathi and their English translations. भ्रतार हो मजसी ओढितो एकांतीभोगावे मजसी म्हणोनियाओढोनिया बहुत मारितो मजसी मध्यरात्री जाणा समयासीVithaMy husband abuses meThis your fate, he sayshe pulls me and hits mein the middle of the night, I will leave his place.तुझी सत्ता आहे देहावरी समजमाझेवरी तुझी किंचित  नाहीYour ownership is just on this bodyYou have no right over me.Context -This is said by a woman who is passionately in love with Lord Vithhal and says this to her husband who on the pretext of matrimony tries to force himself on her physically. ———देहासी विटाळ म्हणती सकळ ।आत्मा तो निर्मळ शुध्द्बुध्द ॥१॥देहिंचा विटाळ देहीच जन्मला ।सोवळा तो झाला कवण धर्म ॥२॥विटाळावाचोनी उत्पत्तीचे स्थान ।कोण देह निर्माण नाही जगीं ॥३॥म्हणुनी पांडुरंगा वानितसे थोरी ।विटाळ देहांतरी वसतसे ॥४॥देहाचा विटाळ देहींच निर्धारी ।म्हणतसे महारी चोखियाची ॥५॥Soyrabai A body is unclean, they say, only the soul is untainted.But the impurity of the body is born with the body.By which rule has a body become pure? Not a creature in this world has been born except in a gory womb.This is the glory of Panduranga: defilement exists within.The body is polluted from within.Be sure of it, says the Mahari of Choka.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailNandita Das is a curious mix of passionate purpose and laid-back charm. Director, producer, actor and activist, she brings a uniquely humanistic sensibility to all she does, exploring lesser explored facets of life through nuance and empathy. After the much acclaimed film, Manto, she now presents  Zwigato, a slice of life film that holds a mirror to society through the life of an everyday man and his family. As he navigates a transition to a new way of living and livelihood, the dynamics of class, caste and gender reveal fault lines so normalised that they are almost invisible. And yet, they invite us to introspect, and bring to awareness our own biases and foibles. With a Master's degree in social work,  Nandita has worked for children's rights, right to education, against colour bias and domestic violence. She is also a vocal supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights.  All this and more on this episode of Pause with Nandini.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailProvocative, pragmatic and pioneering; Hansi Mehrotra is a force unto herself in the world of financial education. Founder of The Money Hans and one of Linkedin's top 10 voices in Money and Finance, Hansi talks us through her life and choices, the perils and pitfalls of following fads and unqualified 'finflueners' and the most sensible pathways to financial security through every life stage. This and a lot more on this episode of Pause with Nandini. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailFrom theatre to television to film, Vinay Pathak is an acclaimed actor with extraordinary flair who slips in and out of roles with consummate ease.  We travel with him to Bhojpur and Allahabad, to  New York and Bombay,  while he talks about his craft, how he keeps it honest, and why less is more when it comes to the portrayal of truth.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailCultural-political activist and feminist, Radhika Ganesh talks passion, politics, and privilege as we uncover what Ek Potlee Ret Ki is, if young people are even interested in politics, and the issue with the single story - tune in as we explore all of this and more. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailA poem for all who speak truth to power, who cannot be silenced or bought. A poem to mark the quiet integrity and courage of an ordinary man; Ravish Kumar. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailDarshan Mondkar, a keen social commentator takes us through his experience of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, his insightful conversation with Rahul Gandhi, and what this may mean for all Indians who want to move away from  hate and divisiveness. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailIn this unusual episode, Nithya Shanti, international teacher, speaker and author of Unburden (Penguin, 2022), responds to words that encapsulate many of the preoccupations of our times with wisdom, clarity and grace. Connect with Nithya at www.nithyashanti.com. Listen to his weekly podcast on www.roundglass.com.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailUrmi Chanda is a peace builder with a difference. From studying comparative mythology to comparative religion to interfaith studies to peace work, her journey is unusual and inspiring. She speaks with Nandini Sen Mehra about Seeds of Peace, the challenges and opportunities in peace building, and what fuels hope in these fractured times.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailZehra Naqvi calls herself a wanderer, a seeker and a scribe. She is also the author of The Reluctant Mother, a story that no one wants to tell - a searingly honest look at motherhood, identity, marriage and love. She joins us on Pause with Nandini to talk about her book, what brings her solace, and the myriad ways in which she stays curious about her world.Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailYogesh Maitreya, poet, translator and founder of Panther’s Paw Publication, a publishing house for Ambedkarite and Dalit literature, in conversation with Nandini Sen Mehra.Yogesh Maitreya shares his views on the dynamics of caste discrimination as they exist today, what being an ally means, and the journey that led him into the world of literature and publishing.  https://instagram.com/pantherspawpublication?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailA scientific temper meets a passion for the arts: The acclaimed Avijit Sarkar, in conversation with Nandini Sen Mehra. The quintessential Renaissance Man, Avijit Sarkar speaks with Nandini Sen Mehra about his inspiring musical and literary journey, his diverse passions and interests, and his recently launched book, The Coronavirus Files.Avijit Sarkar's collection of Cartoons available here -https://www.amazon.com.au/Coronavirus-Files-Collection-Cartoons-ebook/dp/B08JQK2M2T#Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan MailDecolonised, art-based therapy, sexual health in the age of social media, integration, sex and spirituality, mental health - we cover a lot of ground in this episode of Pause with Nandini with the exceptionally insightful and empathetic Neha Bhat.  Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs