All Episodes - The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma
All public policies -- indeed, all actions by humans -- have two kinds of effects: the effects that are intended, and visible; and unintended consequences, which are invisible. The Seen and the Unseen is a podcast that aims to examine both the seen and the unseen effects of our actions.Presented by Amit Varma (a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, and winner of the prestigious Bastiat Prize for journalism in 2007 and 2015 -- the only person to win it twice), the show takes on a specific public policy in every episode, and dissects its seen and unseen effects. For example: the ban on surge pricing by Uber in Delhi. What is seen is that Uber no longer costs so much; what is unseen is that you cannot get an Uber at all, because of the scarcity that is a direct result of the price control. The host explains the economic reasoning at work, and talks to an expert who breaks it down further.The host will have a panel of experts at his disposal, from a variety of disciplines, and will spea
View Podcast Details186 Episodes
Ep 184: Finding Dara Shukoh
The rivalry between Dara Shukoh and Aurangzeb is often considered a foundational one for Islam in India. Good Muslim vs Bad Muslim. But it's not quite that simple. Historian Supriya Gandhi joins Amit Varma in episode 184 of The Seen and the Unseen to point out that the truth is complex, and there are no easy binaries. Also check out: 1. The Emperor Who Never Was: Dara Shukoh in Mughal India -- Supriya Gandhi. 2. City of Djinns -- William Dalrymple. 3. Jill Lepore and Shamsur Rahman Faruqi on Amazon. 4. Dara Shukoh -- Kalika Ranjan Qanungo (full text). 5. Dārā S̲h̲ikūh: Life and Works -- Bikrama Jit Hasrat (full text). 6. <a href= "https://www.amazon.in/Mysteries-Selflessness-Rumuz-i-Muhammad-Iqbal/dp/193063742X/ref=sr_1_1?dchi
Ep 183: The Art of Narrative Nonfiction (+ JBS Haldane)
In a complex world where the truth is up for grabs, we need narrative nonfiction. Samanth Subramanian joins Amit Varma in episode 183 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the art and craft of this form of literature. Also discussed: A Dominant Character, Samanth's book on JBS Haldane, and the intersection of science and politics. Also check out: 1. A Dominant Character -- Samanth Subramanian. 2. Samanth Subramanian's website, Amazon page and his work at the Guardian and the New Yorker. 3. The Intersection -- the podcast hosted by Padmaparna Ghosh and Samanth Subramanian. 4. Psmith, Journalist -- PG Wodehouse. 5. Question Time: My Life as a Quiz Obsessive -- Samanth Subramanian. 6. Quizzing is Not Just a Trivial Pursuit -- Amit Varma. 7. <a href= "https://www.amazon.in/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B001KD0IYO?_encoding=UTF8&
Ep 182: Conversation and Society
We live in an age of competing monologues. We talk, but we do not listen. Russ Roberts joins Amit Varma for a wide-ranging conversation in episode 182 of The Seen and the Unseen. Also check out: 1. Econ Talk -- Russ Roberts's podcast. 2. Russ Roberts's website, archived writing and books. 3. How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life -- Russ Roberts. 4. The Theory of Moral Sentiments -- Adam Smith. 5. The Three Languages of Politics -- Arnold Kling. 6. The Three Blind Sports of Politics -- Russ Roberts. 7. Tribe -- Sebastian Junger. 8. <a href= "https://econcentral.in/episodes/2020/7/16/episode-5-the-economics-of-the-chilling-effect/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ec
Ep 181: The Dragon and the Elephant
Why is there this tension between China and India? To understand that, we must uncover many layers of the past. Foreign Policy scholars Hamsini Hariharan and Shibani Mehta join Amit Varma in episode 181 of The Seen and the Unseen to share their insights on the rich history of the interactions between these two great civilizations. Also check out: 1. What Does China Want? -- Episode 143 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manoj Kewalramani). 2. Chinese Foreign Policy -- Episode 81 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manoj Kewalramani). 3. Foreign Policy is a Big Deal -- Episode 170 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane & Manoj Kewalramani). 4. Understanding Foreign Policy -- Episode 63 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Nitin Pai). 5. The Geopolitics of the Bangladesh War -- Episode 113 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 6. The India-Pakistan Conflict -- Episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 7. War and Peace in Modern India -- Srinath Raghavan. 8. China's Influence in South Asia -- Episode 22 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane). 9. <a href= "https://s
Ep 180: Elite Imitation in Public Policy
Indian decision makers often blindly copy public policy from abroad, without considering whether it would work in local conditions. Shruti Rajagopalan and Alex Tabarrok join Amit Varma in episode 180 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain the damage caused by such 'isomorphic mimicry,' and why it happens in the first place. Also check out: 1. Premature Imitation and India’s Flailing State -- Shruti Rajagopalan & Alexander Tabarrok. 2. Modern Principles of Macroeconomics -- Tyler Cowen & Alex Tabarrok. 3. Modern Principles of Microeconomics -- Tyler Cowen & Alex Tabarrok. 4. DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- Episode 85 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan). 5. The Delhi Smog -- Episode 44 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul). 6. Is India a Flailing State? -- Lant Pritchett. 7. We Are Fighting Two Disasters: Covid-19 and the Indian State -- Amit Varma. 8. Political Ideology in India -- Episo
Ep 179: The Plight of Our Street Vendors
India suffers from a predatory state, and nothing illustrates this better than the sorry state of our street vendors. Prashant Narang joins Amit Varma in episode 179 of The Seen and the Unseen to elaborate on this unseen tragedy of the streets around us. Also check out: 1. Street Vendor Act 2014: Progress Report -- 2017, 2018-19, 2020. 2. Do Street Vendors Have a Right to the City? -- Prashant Narang & Vidushi Sabharwal. 3. The Ease of Doing Business on the Streets of India -- Bhuvana Anand, Prashant Narang, Riktika Shah, Vidushi Sabharwal. 4. Suboptimal vendor enumeration practices in Gurugram -- Prashant Narang & Vidushi Sabharwal. 5. Enumerating Street Vendors in Mumbai -- Prashant Narang. 6. Street Vendors Act 2014: Allocating Certificates of Vending -- Prashant Narang & Bhuvana Anand. 7. <a href= "https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/only-credit-may-not-suffice-vendors-need-ease-of-doing-business-to-become-atmanirbhar-2664843.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/only-credit-may-not-suffice-vendors-need-ease-of-doing-busin
Ep 178: What Happened to Our Journalism?
Journalism used to be a quest to establish the truth. It has now become a battle of conflicting narratives. We have gone from seeking to shouting. What went wrong? Nidhi Razdan joins Amit Varma in episode 178 of The Seen and the Unseen to share insights from her eventful career. Also check out: 1. Left, Right and Centre: The Idea of India -- Nidhi Razdan (editor). 2. Special: Inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Dec 2004) -- NDTV/Nidhi Razdan. 3. Best in the Field (w Nidhi Razdan) -- NDTV. 4. The Facts Do Not Matter -- Amit Varma. 5. The State of the Media -- Episode 46 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Prem Panicker). 6. The State of the Media 2 -- Episode 89 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Sidharth Bhatia & Peter Griffin). 7. You're From the Mutton Lobby -- Episode 49 of The Seen and the Unseen (solo ep with transcript). 8. Television Price Controls -- Episode 27 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ashok Malik). 9. <a href= "https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/15/magazine/jon-stewart-interview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/15/magazine/jon-stewart-interview.html&source=gmail&ust=1592793019937000&usg=AFQjCNE8Nz
Ep 177: India's Economy in the Time of Covid-19
Our economy was going down, down, down well before Covid-19 struck. And now? Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma in episode 177 of The Seen and the Unseen to spread his usual quota of sunshine and joy. Also check out: 1. TikTok and Indian Society — An online course by Amit Varma. 2. Bad Money — Vivek Kaul. 3. Taking Stock of Covid-19 — Episode 169 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan). 4. The Nuances of Lockdown — Episode 176 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Anup Malani). 5. The Indian Economy in 2019 — Episode 153 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul). 6. India’s Lost Decade — Episode 116 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Puja Mehra). 7. The Art and Science of Economic Policy — Episode 154 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vijay Kelkar & Ajay Shah). 8. Demystifying GDP — Episode 130 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rajeswari Sengupta). 9. Ponzi Schemes — Episode 142 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul). 10. <a href= "https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2018/9/16/episode-86-the-state-of-our-farmers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://seenun
Ep 176: The Nuances of Lockdown
What do past epidemics teach us about Covid-19? What do past disasters teach us about politics and the state? Is there a false binary between lockdown and no-lockdown? Anup Malani joins Amit Varma in episode 176 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his insights on these subjects and more. Also check out: 1. Anup Malani's homepage. 2. Taking Stock of Covid-19 -- Episode 169 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan). 3. We Are Fighting Two Disasters -- Amit Varma. 4. The Economic Approach to Human Behaviour -- Gary Becker. 5. Learning During a Crisis: the SARS Epidemic in Taiwan -- Daniel Bennett, Chun-Fang Chiang, Anup Malani. 6. Identifying Placebo Effects with Data from Clinical Trials -- Anup Malani. 7. FSI (Floor Space Index) -- Episode 11 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Alex Tabarrok). 8. Rent Control -- Episode 14 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Alex Tabarrok). 9. Slums -- Episode 21 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pavan Srinath).
Ep 175: The Indian Armed Forces
As institutions wither around us, the Indian Armed Forces have retained their credibility. But is there a risk of politicization there as well? Lt Gen Prakash Menon joins Amit Varma in episode 175 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the evolution of our armed forces through the decades, and the challenges they face today. Also check out: 1. India in the Nuclear Age -- Episode 80 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Lt Gen Prakash Menon). 2. The Strategy Trap -- Lt Gen Prakash Menon. 3. The India-Pakistan Conflict -- Episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 4. The Geopolitics of the Bangladesh War -- Episode 113 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 5. Our Colorful Past -- Episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai). 6. Army and Nation -- Steven I Wilkinson. 7. Rommel: The Desert Fox -- Desmond Young. 8. To Serve With H
Ep 174: Tawaif
Tawaifs played a unique role in Indian society and culture in the 19th century, but have since been either vilified or romanticized. Filmmaker and author Saba Dewan joins Amit Varma in episode 174 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the fascinating human stories behind this lost community. Also check out: 1. Tawaifnama -- Saba Dewan 2. The Other Song -- Saba Dewan 3. Films, Feminism, Paromita -- Episode 155 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Paromita Vohra) 4. The History of Desire in India -- Episode 161 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Madhavi Menon) 5. Women in Indian History -- Episode 144 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ira Mukhoty) 6. The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism -- Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Akshaya Mukul) The Seen and the Unseen is a labour of love. Click here to support it.
Ep 173: The Resonance of Akbar
So much of our history has been weaponized by politics -- especially the Mughal period. Manimugdha Sharma joins Amit Varma in episode 173 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on the tug of war around Emperor Akbar -- and why that history remains relevant even today. Also check out: 1. Allahu Akbar: Understanding the Great Mughal in Today's India -- Manimugdha Sharma. 2. Parthian Shot -- Manimugdha Sharma's column archives. 3. Manimugdha Sharma's reporting in Times of India. 4. Who Broke Our Republic? -- Episode 163 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Kapil Komireddi). 5. The Ideas of Our Constitution -- Episode 164 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Madhav Khosla), 6. The Many Cities of Delhi -- Episode 172 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rana Safvi). 7. Women in Indian History -- Episode 144 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ira Mukhoty). 8. Jahangir the Curious -- Episode 147 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Parvati Sharma). 9. <a href= "https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2019/7/1/episode-127-our-colorful-past/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=htt
Ep 172: The Many Cities of Delhi
There is much more to Delhi than Old Delhi and New Delhi. The stones bear witness to a rich history, with much drama and tumult. Rana Safvi joins Amit Varma in episode 172 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about how the forgotten past of Delhi continues to shape its present. Also check out:1. Where Stones Speak -- Rana Safvi 2. The Forgotten Cities of Delhi -- Rana Safvi 3. Shahjahanabad: The Living City of Old Delhi -- Rana Safvi 4. City of My Heart -- Rana Safvi 5. The History of Desire in India -- Episode 161 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Madhavi Menon) 6. Our Colorful Past -- Episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) 7. The Deccan Before Shivaji -- Episode 98 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) 8. <a href= "https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2020/1/20/episode-156-kerala-and-the-ivory-throne/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2020/1/20/episode-156-kerala-and-the-ivory-throne/&source=gmail&ust=1589166785654000&usg=AFQjCNEbykC1AByl
Ep 171: India's Start-Up Ecosystem
Many entrepreneurs aim to plug a hole in the world. Some try to expand the universe. Mohit Satyanand joins Amit Varma in episode 171 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about why these are exciting times to be an angel investor. Also check out:1. Two Economic Crises (2008 & 2019) -- Episode 135 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Mohit Satyanand) 2. Poker and Stock Markets -- Episode 47 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Mohit Satyanand) 3. Entrepreneurship: If You Love Them, Set Them Free -- Mohit Satyanand 4. Where Angels Fear to Tread -- Mohit Satyanand 5. Mohit Satyanand in conversation with Amitabh Kant at JLF.
Ep 170: Foreign Policy is a Big Deal
So much of the lives of common people depends on the relationships between nations. But is foreign policy an arcane subject, meant only for wonks and elites? No! Pranay Kotasthane and Manoj Kewalramani join Amit Varma in episode 170 of The Seen and the Unseen to demystify international relations. Note: This episode contains an update about how foreign policy will be affected by Covid-19. That sections begins at around 1 hr 57 minutes. Also check out: 1. Foreign Policy -- Episode 63 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Nitin Pai) 2. What Does China Want? -- Episode 143 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manoj Kewalramani) 3. Chinese Foreign Policy -- Episode 81 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manoj Kewalramani) 4. China's Influence in South Asia -- Episode 22 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane) 5. Democracy in Pakistan -- Episode 79 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane and Hamsini Hariharan) 6. India's Maldives Dilemma -- Episode 57 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane) 7. Radically Networked Societies -- Episode 158 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane) 8. The Geopolitics of the Bangladesh War -- Episode 113 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan) 9. <a href= "https://seenuns
Ep 169: Taking Stock of Covid-19
How should India handle Covid-19? Every option on the table carries huge costs, and will take countless lives. Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 169 of The Seen and the Unseen to help navigate the complex decisions that policy makers are being forced to make with little information. Also check out: 1. India must shut itself down to contain the coronavirus -- Shruti Rajagopalan (Mar 16) 2. Shruti Rajagopalan on India and the coronavirus -- Marginal Revolution (Mar 25) 3. The lockdown may be doing us more harm than good -- Shruti Rajagopalan (Mar 30) 4. Assessing Healthcare Capacity in India -- Shruti Rajagopalan and Abishek Choutagunta 5. Pandemic Policy in Developing Countries: Recommendations for India -- Shruti Rajagopalan and Alex Tabarrok 6. We have miles of roadblocks to remove before we sleep (Apr 13) -- Shruti Rajagopalan 7. We Are Fighting Two Disasters: Covid-19 and the Indian State -- Amit Varma 8. <a href= "https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2017/8/13/episode-31-urban-governance-in-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2017/8/13/episode-
Ep 168: The Art of Translation
There are over 6000 languages in the world. How can we possibly understand one another? Arunava Sinha joins Amit Varma in episode 168 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain the importance of translation, and literature itself, in these divisive times.. Select books translated by Arunava: 1. Chowringhee -- Sankar 2. When the Time is Right -- Buddhadeva Bose 3. Shake the Bottle and Other Stories -- Ashapurna Debi 4. Seventeen -- Anita Agnihotri 5. Harbart -- Nabarun Bhattacharya 6.. The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told -- Arunava Sinha (ed) 7, <a href= "https://www.amazon.in/Moving-Shadow-Electrifying-Bengali-Fiction-ebook/dp/B07GZHDSHZ/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&qid=1586660275&refinements=p_27%3AArunava+Sinha&s=books&sr=1-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.in/Moving-Shadow-Electrifying-Bengali-Fiction-ebook/dp/B07GZHDSHZ/ref%3Dsr_1_14?dchild%3D1%26qid%3D1586660275%26refinements%3Dp_27%253AArunava%2BSinha%26s%3Dbo
Ep 167: India's Greatest Civil Servant
In 1906, a 13-year-old boy burnt down his school in a village in Kerala and ran away from home to work in the gold mines of Kolar. Decades later, he put this country together. Narayani Basu joins Amit Varma in episode 167 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the extraordinary life of VP Menon. Also check out: 1. VP Menon: The Unsung Architect of Modern India -- Narayani Basu 2. Integration of the Indian States -- VP Menon 3. The Transfer of Power in India -- VP Menon 4. Kashmir and Article 370 -- Episode 134 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan)
Ep 166: Nanak Was Here
The man known as Guru Nanak was one of the great travellers of his time, passing through lands that are today spread across nine countries. Amardeep Singh joins Amit Varma in episode 166 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about how he retraced Nanak's path -- and also about his efforts at documenting the Sikh heritage of Pakistan. Also check out: 1. Lost Heritage: The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan -- Amardeep Singh. 2. The Quest Continues: Lost Heritage -- Amardeep Singh. 3. Peering Soul -- A documentary by Amardeep Singh. 4. Peering Warrior -- A documentary by Amardeep Singh. 5. The Lost Heritage website. 6. Amardeep Singh on Facebook (Lost Heritage, Tapestry), Instagram and Twitter. 7. Hindu, Sufi or Sikh -- Steven W Ramey. 8. <a href= "https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2019/7/1/episode-127-our-colorful-past/" target="_b
Ep 165: Genetic Engineering
Humans are the only bots with the ability to reprogram themselves. Shambhavi Naik joins Amit Varma in episode 165 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the science, ethics, politics and policy implications of genetic engineering. Also check out: 1. A Framework for Governing Gene Editing -- Takshashika Discussion Document. 2. Gene Drives in Infectious Diseases -- Takshashila Discussion Slidedoc 3. Chinese gene-edited baby row rekindles need for guidelines in India -- Shambhavi Naik. 4. The scientific argument for marrying outside your caste -- Shambhavi Naik. 5. The gene of prejudice in gender determination -- Shambhavi Naik. 6. The Evolution of Everything -- Episode 96 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Matt Ridley). 7. The Selfish Gene -- Richard Dawkins. 8. The Blank Slate -- Steven Pinker. 9. <a href= "https://indiauncut.com/politics-and-the-sociopath/" t
Ep 164: The Ideas of Our Constitution
Contrary to popular belief, the Indian constitution was not a copy-paste job without a vision. It emerged from decades of intellectual ferment. Madhav Khosla joins Amit Varma in episode 164 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the history of the key ideas that drove our founders and shaped our constitution. Also check out: 1. India's Founding Moment -- Madhav Khosla 2. The Indian Constitution (Oxford Short Introductions) -- Madhav Khosla 3. The Idea of India -- Sunil Khilnani 4. The Citizenship Battles -- Episode 152 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan) 5. Citizenship and its Discontents -- Niraja Gopal Jayal 6. Narendra Modi Takes a Great Leap Backwards -- Amit Varma 7. India's Sedition Law -- Episode 146 of The Seen and t
Ep 163: Who Broke Our Republic?
Seven decades after Independence, India is still wracked by poverty and strife. Who is responsible? Kapil Komireddi joins Amit Varma in episode 163 of The Seen and the Unseen to excoriate every political player of Independent India. No prisoners taken. Also check out: 1. Malevolent Republic -- Kapil Komireddi. 2. Kashmir and Article 370 -- Episode 134 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 3. Understanding Gandhi. Part One: Mohandas -- Episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha). 4. Understanding Gandhi. Part Two: Mahatma -- Episode 105 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha). 5. The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism -- Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Akshaya Mukul). 6. Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India -- Akshaya Mukul. 7. India's Founding Moment -- Madhav Khosla. 8. <a href= "https://www.bloombergquint.com/opinion/india-at-71-where-have-all-the-leaders-gone" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloombergquint.com/opinion/india
Ep 162: Caste, Gender, Karnatik Music
So much of our culture is shaped by our social fault lines. TM Krishna joins Amit Varma in episode 162 of The Seen and the Unseen to peel the layers off the development of Karnatik music -- and Indian society itself. Also check out: 1. Sebastian and Sons -- TM Krishna 2. A Southern Music -- TM Krishna 3. Reshaping Art -- TM Krishna 4. TM Krishna singing on a bus. 5. Superforecasting -- Philip Tetlock & Dan Gardner 6. The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism -- Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Akshaya Mukul)
Ep 161: The History of Desire in India
We may be a sexually repressed country today, but it wasn't always like this. Madhavi Menon joins Amit Varma in episode 161 of The Seen and the Unseen to elaborate on the infinite variety of our desires all through history, Also check out: 1. Infinite Variety -- Madhavi Menon 2. Madhavi Menon's Amazon page. 3. Masala Shakespeare -- Jonathan Gil Harris 4. The Seven Basic Plots -- Christopher Booker 5. The Ascetic of Desire -- Sudhir Kakar 6. Early Indians -- Tony Joseph 7. Early Indians -- Episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Tony Joseph) 8. Being Gay, Loving Books -- Episode 141 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Tejuja)
Ep 160: Participatory Democracy
In India, we have government of the people and for the people, but not by the people. How can we fix this? Polymath thinker Ashwin Mahesh joins Amit Varma in episode 160 of The Seen and the Unseen to chat about participatory democracy, India Against Corruption, the Aam Aadmi Party and what makes a Good Indian. Also check out: 1. Ashwin Mahesh's homepage. 2. With the Government, Within the Government, As the Government -- Ashwin Mahesh 3. The State of our Farmers -- Episode 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gunvant Patil) 4. A Life in Indian Politics -- Episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen (w JP Narayan) 5. Radically Networked Societies -- Episode 158 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane) 6. Education in India -- Episode 77 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Amit Chandra) 7. The Anti-Defection Law -- Episode 13 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Barun Mitra)
Ep 159: The Theatre of the Budget
Budgets matter more than they should -- and the process of making them matters more than their contents. Ajay Shah and Vivek Kaul join Amit Varma in episode 159 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss both journey & destination, strategy & tactics. Also check out: 1. The Art and Science of Economic Policy -- Episode 154 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vijay Kelkar and Ajay Shah) 2. Analysing the February 2020 budget -- Ajay Shah 3. India budget raises more questions than answers -- Vivek Kaul 4. What the budget says and how it impacts you -- Vivek Kaul 5. Long on Talk, Short on Ideas -- Vivek Kaul 6. Bae, look how I shrank the Budget -- Vivek Kaul 7. Budget 2020: Tactics Over Strategy -- Suyash Rai 8. TN Ninan and AK Bhattacharya dissect Budget 2020 9. The Indian Economy in
Ep 158: Radically Networked Societies
From the Arab Spring to Shaheen Bagh, radically networked societies are rising up to express themselves. What do they have in common? How will a hierarchical state deal with a networked society? Pranay Kotasthane shares his insights with Amit Varma in episode 158 of The Seen and the Unseen. Also check out: 1. Individual Liberty vs Public Security in a Radically Networked Society -- Nitin Pai and Pranay Kotasthane. 2. Networked Societies and Hierarchical States: The Emerging Challenge to Political Order -- Nitin Pai and Sneha Shankar 3. Twitter and Tear Gas -- Zeynep Tufekci 4. Serdar Akinan's picture of the procession of coffins 5. Episodes of The Seen and the Unseen featuring Pranay Kotasthane 6. Protesters Are United by Something Other Than Politics -- Tyler Cowen 7. Films, Feminism, Paromita -- Episode 155 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Paromita Vohra) 8. Fighting Fake News -- Episode 133 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pratik Sinha)<br /
Ep 157: Taking Stock of Our Republic
India has endured -- but as we celebrate another Republic Day, we must remember that we cannot take this for granted. Historian Ramachandra Guha joins Amit Varma in episode 157 of The Seen and the Unseen to examine some of the currents of history that brought us here, and are still in flux. Also check out: 1. The books of Ramachandra Guha on Amazon. 2. Ramachandra Guha's columns in the Telegraph. 3. Understanding Gandhi: Part 1: Mohandas: Episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha). 4. Understanding Gandhi: Part 2: Mahatma: Episode 105 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha). 5. Patriotism vs Jingoism -- Ram Guha's speech at the Kerala Lit Fest. 6. The Citizenship Battles -- Episode 152 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 7. A Life in Indian Politics -- Episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen (w JP Narayan). 8. The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel). 9. <a href= "https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2019/6/1
Ep 156: Kerala and the Ivory Throne
Kerala has a madly interesting history. It was a hub of globalisation centuries ago, an exemplar of tolerance. Almost in contrast, it took casteism to an extreme. It also had a matrilineal system, a tradition of empowered women, and some badass queens. Historian Manu Pillai joins Amit Varma in episode 156 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss all this and more. Also check out: 1. The Ivory Throne -- Manu Pillai 2. Our Colourful Past -- Episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) 3. The Deccan Before Shivaji -- Episode 98 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) 4. The Indianness of Indian Food -- Episode 95 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vikram Doctor) For complete archives, do visit seenunseen.in.
Ep 155: Films, Feminism, Paromita
Immense changes have swept through our lives in the last three decades. Filmmaker and writer Paromita Vohra joins Amit Varma in episode 155 of The Seen and the Unseen, and turns her unique gaze both inwards and outwards. Also check out: 1. Agents of Ishq 1. Unlimited Girls (95 mins) 2. Cosmopolis: Two Tales of a City (13 mins) 3. Where's Sandra (18 mins) 4. Morality TV (32 mins) 5. Partners in Crime (95 mins) 6. A Love Latika (Trailer) 7. Interview of Paromita Vohra by Anuradha Sengupta 8. A Lover's Argument -- Talk by Paromita Vohra 9. Paromita Vohra on Shah Rukh Khan 10.My True North: All Renewal Starts With the Self -- Paromita Vohra 11. <a href= "
Ep 154: The Art and Science of Economic Policy
Economic policy affects each of us -- and yet, India has gotten it wrong for decades. In their groundbreaking new book, Vijay Kelkar and Ajay Shah write not just how to do policy, but how to think about policy. They join Amit Varma in episode 154 of The Seen and the Unseen to share their learnings, first principles onwards. Also check out: 1. In Service of the Republic -- Vijay Kelkar & Ajay Shah 2. Zombie Firms and Creative Destruction -- Ep 118 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ajay Shah) 3. The Importance of Finance -- Ep 125 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ajay Shah) 4. Every Act of Government Is an Act of Violence -- Amit Varma 5. The Delhi Smog -- Ep 44 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul) 6. Public Choice Theory -- Ep 121 of The Seen and the Unseen 7. Narendra Modi takes a Great Leap Backwards -- Amit Varma 8. Three Reasons Why A Cashless Society Would Be A Disaster -- Amit Varma 9. Where Have All the Leaders Gone? -- Amit Varma 10. India's Agriculture Crisis -- Ep 140 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Barun Mitra & Kumar Anand) 11. Premature Imitation and India’s Flailing State -- Shruti Rajagopalan & Alex Tabarrok (pdf link) 12. Our Political Discourse -- Ep 49 of The Seen and the Unseen (w transcript) 13. The Facts Do Not Matter -- Amit Varma
Ep 153: The Indian Economy in 2019
Alongside much social unrest, the Indian economy went to hell in 2019. Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma in episode 153 of The Seen and the Unseen to survey the damage, and to demystify the rubble. For detailed show notes, head on over to seenunseen.in.
Ep 152: The Citizenship Battles
Why is India burning over the Citizenship Amendment Bill? Why does the NRC matter? What is happening in Assam? Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 152 of The Seen and the Unseen to give historical perspective on our current ferments. For detailed show notes, head on over to seenunseen.in.
Ep. 151: Maharashtra Politics Unscrambled
Politics in Maharashtra is deeply complicated. Its themes and fault lines have been formed over decades. Veteran journalist and author Sujata Anandan joins Amit Varma in episode 151 of The Seen and the Unseen to unravel some of the mysteries behind its fascinating dramas. Also check out: 1. Hindu Hriday Samrat -- Sujata Anandan 2. Maharashtra Maximus -- Sujata Anandan 3. Marathi Manoos -- Sujata Anandan.
Ep. 150: The Business of Books
How has Indian publishing evolved in the last few decades? What does India read, and why? Publisher VK Karthika joins Amit Varma in episode 150 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about what she learnt in her years in Penguin, Harper Collins and (now) Westland. Also check out: Death of the Author -- Roland Barthes (pdf link) How to Read and Why -- Harold Bloom A Poetry Handbook -- Mary Oliver Roseanna -- Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism -- Akshaya Mukul
Ep. 149: A life in Indian Politics
Jayaprakash Narayan was trained as a physician, served in the IAS, and went on to start a political movement. JP joins Amit Varma in episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his insights on Indian politics, the nature of the state and what we need to do to change India for the better. Also check out: The State of Indian Politics -- Episode 50 of The Seen and the Unseen (w JP Narayan) What Is It Like to Be a Bat? -- Thomas Nagel (pdf link) Lessons from an Ankhon Dekhi Prime Minister -- Amit Varma Where Have All The Leaders Gone? -- Amit Varma Government's End -- Jon Rauch The Emergency -- Episode 103 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gyan Prakash) Urban Governance in India -- Episode 31 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) Crime in Indian Politics -- Episode 114 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Milan Vaishnav) The Indianness of Indian Food -- Episode 95 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vikram Doctor) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 148: The Bombzooka Question
In episode 148 of The Seen and the Unseen, host Amit Varma invokes a fictional super-weapon to build an argument against gun rights in India. Guests Shubho Roy and Sudhanshu Neema disagree with him, and each other, most vigorously. Also check out: The Bombzooka Question -- Amit Varma on India Uncut Resisting State Injustice -- Episode 120 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Jason Brennan) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 147: Jahangir the Curious
Jahangir is often considered a lightweight Mughal emperor, an ineffectual drunkard sandwiched between his father and his son, Akbar and Shah Jahan. But this is an unfair view. Parvati Sharma joins Amit Varma in episode 147 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on not just Jahangir as an emperor, but on his human side, endearing and infuriating in equal measure. Also check out: Jahangir: An Intimate Portrait of a Great Mughal -- Parvati Sharma Women in Indian History -- Episode 144 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ira Mokhoty) Our Colouful Past -- Episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) The Deccan Before Shivaji -- Episode 98 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) Talk by Parvati Sharma at The Loft Shī‘Ī polemics at the Mughal court -- Sajjad Rizvi You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 146: India's Sedition Law
Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code is an archaic law and needs to go. But what is the historical background of our sedition law? What are the political and social contexts in which it evolved and thrived? Chitranshul Sinha joins Amit Varma in episode 146 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his book on the subject, The Great Repression. Also check out: The Great Repression -- Chitranshul Sinha Don't Insult Pasta (2007) -- Amit Varma Hardcore History by Dan Carlin Archive.org The Emergency -- Episode 103 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gyan Prakash) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 145: The Indian Conservative
Is there such a thing as Indian conservatism? What does it mean and where did it come from? Jaithirth Rao joins Amit Varma in episode 145 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his latest book. Also check out: The Indian Conservative -- Jaithirth Rao Conservatism: Ideas in Profile -- Roger Scruton Why I am Not a Conservative -- Friedrich Hayek The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) Religion and Ideology in Indian Society -- Episode 124 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Suyash Rai) Political Ideology in India -- Episode 131 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rahul Verma) The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism -- Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Akshaya Mukul) Our Colourful Past -- Episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) The Right to Property -- Episode 26 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) Marching for Salt -- Amit Varma The works of Edmund Burke on Amazon. The column archives of Jaithirth Rao in Indian Express. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 144: Women in Indian History
The history of humanity is more than just the history of men. Historian Ira Mukhoty joins Amit Varma in episode 144 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about going beyond the male gaze to write history. She also discusses Daughters of the Sun, her account of the rich and complex world of Mughal women. Also check out: Daughters of the Sun -- Ira Mukhoty Heroines -- Ira Mukhoty Yuganta -- Irawati Karve Domesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World -- Ruby Lal Empress: -- Ruby Lal Wolf Hall -- Hilary Mantel Rebel Sultans -- Manu Pillai India = Migration -- Episode 128 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Chinmay Tumbe) Early Indians -- Episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Tony Joseph) The Deccan Before Shivaji -- Episode 98 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) Our Colorful Past -- Episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 143: What Does China Want?
The geopolitics of the West is reasonably well-understood -- but China remains a mystery to many. What drives China? How does it look at India? China expert Manoj Kewalramani joins Amit Varma in episode 143 of The Seen and the Unseen to provide historical context and strategic perspective. Also check out: Modi-Xi Informal Summit: An Indian Interests Agenda -- Manoj Kewalramani Chinese Foreign Policy -- Episode 81 of The Seen and the Unseen Myths About China -- Episode 66 of The Pragati Podcast No, China Isn’t Taking Over the World -- Episode 67 of The Pragati Podcast A Meeting in Mamallapuram -- Episode 179 of All Things Policy Protracted Contest -- John W Garver The India-Pakistan Conflict -- Episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen India in the Nuclear Age -- Episode 80 of The Seen and the Unseen Eye on China: Manoj Kewalramani's weekly newsletter on China You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 142: Ponzi Schemes
We are surrounded by frauds, and are dying to believe them. Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma in episode 142 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss ponzi schemes, both in India and outside, both by private actors and the government. Also discussed: chit funds and kitty parties, and why we are wired to be deceived. Also check out: Real Estate Prices: Episode 30 of The Seen and the Unseen The Anti-Defection Law: Episode 13 of The Seen and the Unseen 12 Dream Reforms: Episode 138 of The Seen and the Unseen Ponzi's Scheme -- Mitchell Zuckoff Anatomy of a Ponzi Scheme -- Colleen Cross Irrational Exuberance -- Robert Shiller Narrative Economics -- Robert Shiller Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds -- Charles Mackay You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 141: Being Gay, Loving Books
Vivek Tejuja, known for his writing on books, has just released his memoir of growing up gay in India. He joins Amit Varma in episode 141 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss how he -- and those around him -- came to terms with his sexuality. In the second half of the episode, Vivek and Amit discuss writers they like, and read out their favourite poetry. Also check out: So Now You Know -- Vivek Tejuja Being Gay in India -- Episode 84 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Navin Noronha) Keeping it Queer The Matunga Racket -- Amit Varma Amit Varma's Twitter thread on 'The Lass of Aughrim' and The Dead Almost Invisible -- Mark Strand Sputnik Sweetheart -- Haruki Murakami The Elephant Vanishes -- Haruki Murakami The Bear Came Over the Mountain -- Alice Munro The Man Who Loved Children -- Christina Stead The Notebook -- Agota Kristof Jhumpa Lahiri on Conversations With Tyler Paper Menagerie -- Ken Liu A Poetry Handbook -- Mary Oliver You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 140: India's Agriculture Crisis
What exactly is wrong with Indian agriculture? How can we help our farmers? Barun Mitra and Kumar Anand join Amit Varma in episode 140 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the root causes and remedies of this decades-long problem. Also check out: The State of Our Farmers -- Ep 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gunvant Patil, in Hindi). Entry and Exit in Indian Agriculture -- Ep 1 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pavan Srinath & Karthik Shashidhar) Futures Markets in Agriculture -- Ep 12 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Karthik Shashidhar) The Unseen Effects of Farm-Loan Waivers -- Ep 25 of The Seen and the Unseen The Right to Property -- Ep 26 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) The Delhi Smog -- Ep 40 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul) Free the Farmers -- Barun Mitra Where are the Markets? -- Kumar Anand The Crisis in Indian Agriculture -- Brainstorm on Pragati We Must Save Our Farmers -- Amit Varma The Indian State is the Greatest Enemy of the Indian Farmer -- Amit Varma A Tale of Two Satyagrahas -- Amit Varma Down to Earth -- Sharad Joshi The Mystery of Capital -- Hernando De Soto You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 139: The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism
The recent victories of political Hindutva were enabled by a century-long cultural movement spearheaded by a publishing house based in Gorakhpur. Akshaya Mukul, author of Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India, joins Amit Varma in episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen. Themes discussed include the relationship between society and the state, Marwari history, cow, temple, gender, caste, Muslims, Communism, and the spontaneous combustion of virtuous Hindu women. Also check out: Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India -- Akshaya Mukul The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) Political Ideology in India -- Episode 131 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rahul Verma) Religion and Ideology in Indian Society -- Episode 124 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Suyash Rai) The 2019 Elections -- Episode 122 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Sadanand Dhume) The BJP's Magic Formula -- Episode 45 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Prashant Jha) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 138: Twelve Dream Reforms
Times are bad -- but pessimists can dream! Tired of only talking about problems, Shruti Rajagopalan, Rajeswari Sengupta and Vivek Kaul join Amit Varma in episode 138 of The Seen and the Unseen, to propose solutions! Three each. Many bad jokes and Bollywood songs are thrown in. Also check out: Population Is Not a Problem, but Our Greatest Strength -- Amit Varma. Alone in the City -- Amit Varma Where Are the Jobs? -- Ep 87 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Yazad Jal) Education in India -- Ep 77 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Amit Chandra) Urban Governance in India -- Ep 31 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) The Bad and Complex Tax -- Ep 74 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) GST Revisited -- Ep 28 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul) Early Indians -- Ep 112 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Tony Joseph) Immigration -- Ep 4 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shikha Dalmia) Rent Control -- Ep 14 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Alex Tabarrok) FSI -- Ep 11 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Alex Tabarrok) Women at Work -- Ep 132 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Namita Bhandare) IL&FS and the Indian Financial System -- Ep 91 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul & Ashutosh Datar) The DNA of the NPA -- Ep 32 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vivek Kaul & Kumar Anand) Demystifying GDP -- Ep 130 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rajeswari Sengupta) India's Lost Decade -- Ep 116 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Puja Mehra) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: <a href= "htt
Ep. 137: Indian Society: The Last 30 Years
The India of 2019 is a different country from the India of 1989. Social commentator Santosh Desai joins Amit Varma in episode 137 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the many ways in which we have been transformed in this time -- not always for the better. Also check out: 1. Santosh Desai's column archives in The Times of India. 2. Mother Pious Lady: Making Sense of Everyday India -- Santosh Desai 3. The Decline of Collective Trust -- Santosh Desai 4. Surrounded by Screens - Santosh Desai 5. TikTok: Leave Them Kids Alone -- Santosh Desai 6. The Great Indian Rope Trick -- Santosh Desai 7. The Future as Flow -- Santosh Desai 8. Women at Work -- Ep 132 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Namita Bhandare) 9. The Indianness of Indian Food -- Ep 95 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vikram Doctor) 10. How to Escape From the Shallows -- Amit Varma This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 136: Data Journalism and Indian Politics
Data journalism in India is fast coming of age, shedding light on our society and politics. Roshan Kishore joins Amit Varma in episode 136 of The Seen and the Unseen to speak about his profession (data journalism), his passion (political economy) and his dark, mysterious past as a student leader in JNU. Also check out: Roshan Kishore's writings in Hindustan Times. Demystifying GDP -- Episode 130 of The Seen and the Unseen. The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen. Political Ideology in India -- Episode 131 of The Seen and the Unseen. This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 135: Two Economic Crises (2008 & 2019)
Mohit Satyanand saw the 2008 crisis coming and put his money where his mouth was. Now he says we're in the middle of another crisis. He joins Amit Varma in episode 135 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain what exactly went wrong in 2008, and what's gone wrong now. Also check out: This is All Because of Rupal Ben -- Episode 5 of The Seen and the Unseen Poker and Stock Markets -- Episode 47 of The Seen and the Unseen DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- Episode 85 of The Seen and the Unseen The Bad and Complex Tax -- Episode 75 of The Seen and the Unseen Easy Money -- Episode 56 of The Seen and the Unseen This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 134: Kashmir and Article 370
Kashmir is in lockdown, and Article 370 is history. What does this mean for Kashmir -- and for India? Historian Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 134 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the historical, geopolitical, ideological and moral questions at the heart of the Kashmir problem. Also check out: War and Peace in Modern India -- Srinath Raghavan The Geopolitics of the Bangladesh War -- Episode 113 of The Seen and the Unseen. Understanding the India-Pakistan Conflict -- Episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen. Uncle Sam in South Asia -- Episode 93 of The Seen and the Unseen. We Won’t Need To Fight A War If We Can Win The Peace -- Amit Varma. The Article 370 Amendments: Key Legal Issues -- Gautam Bhatia Article 370: A Constitutional History of Jammu and Kashmir -- AG Noorani A People's Constitution -- Rohit De The Generation of Rage in Kashmir -- David Devadas This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 133: Fighting Fake News
We live in a world besieged by falsehood -- but there is a growing resistance movement. Pratik Sinha of Alt News joins Amit Varma in episode 133 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about disinformation, misinformation and why the truth will prevail. Also check out: Alt News Truth of Gujarat India Misinformed -- Pratik Sinha and co-authors The Alt News App for Android The Facts Do Not Matter -- Amit Varma Public Opinion -- Walter Lippmann This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 132: Women at Work
There is a crisis in India today. There are not enough women taking up paying jobs -- and their unpaid labour at home continues to be taken for granted. Journalist Namita Bhandare joins Amit Varma in episode 132 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the state of women in India today. Also check out: Namita Bhandare's homepage. Namita Bhandare in the Hindustan Times. Why Indian Workplaces Are Losing Women -- Namita Bhandare (The IndiaSpend series) Namita Bhandare at Sheroes. Metrics of Empowerment -- Episode 88 of The Seen and the Unseen The Importance of #MeToo -- Episode 90 of The Seen and the Unseen An Economist Looks at #MeToo -- Episode 92 of The Seen and the Unseen Frailty, Thy Name is Public Policy -- Devika Kher The Girl From Haryana (https://indiauncut.com/the-girl-from-haryana/) -- Amit Varma Men Must Step Up Now -- Amit Varma This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 131: Political Ideology in India
Political Ideology in India Description: The usual spectrum of left and right does not apply to Indian politics. But does that mean that our politics is based on identity and patronage, and not ideology? Not quite, says political scientist Rahul Verma, as he joins Amit Varma in episode 131 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain the two ideological cleavages that divide India. Also check out: Ideology and Identity -- Pradeep K Chhibber and Rahul Verma Religious Practice and Democracy in India -- Pradeep K Chhibber Religion and Ideology in Indian Society -- Episode 124 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Suyash Rai) Imagine No Possessions -- Episode 26 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) Crime in Indian Politics -- Episode 114 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Milan Vaishnav) This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 130: Demystifying GDP
In recent times, the GDP has become less of an economic measure and more of a political tool. Economist Rajeswari Sengupta joins Amit Varma in episode 130 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain what the GDP is, what it is good for, what it is not good for and what the fuss over this figure in India is all about. This episode has immeasurable value. Also check out: Rajeswari Sengupta's writings. GDP – A Brief but Affectionate History -- Diane Coyle Gross Domestic Problem -- Lorenzo Fioramonti The Power of a Single Number -- Philipp Lepenies This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 129: Budget. Bollywood. Badmaashi
Like cricket and cinema, the annual budget brought out by the central government has become a national obsession. Vivek Kaul. the Shah Rukh Khan of Economics, joins Amit Varma, the Govinda of Podcasting, in episode 129 of The Seen and the Unseen to demystify the budget. Much fun is had. Blockbuster guaranteed. Also read: The Sholay Redux -- Vivek Kaul Easynomics: Why high-income tax hurts -- Vivek Kaul How ₹1.7 trillion has gone missing -- Vivek Kaul The State of Our Farmers -- Episode 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gunvant Patil) DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- Episode 85 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) All Hail Public Choice Theory -- Episode 121 of The Seen and the Unseen India's Lost Decade -- Episode 116 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Puja Mehra) Economics in One Lesson -- Henry Hazlitt (free pdf link) The Law -- Frédéric Bastiat Marginal Revolution University You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 128: India = Migration
India is a nation on the move, and migration is in our DNA. Economic historian Chinmay Tumbe joins Amit Varma in episode 128 of The Seen and the Unseen to present the rich history of migrations into, out of and within India. Also check out: India Moving -- Chinmay Tumbe The Story of Our Ancestors -- Episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Tony Joseph) Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon -- Patanga You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 127: Our Colorful Past
Indian history is wild fun. Historian Manu Pillai joins Amit Varma in episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen to regale him with stories from his latest book. The subjects discussed include caste, gender, narrative manipulation, mad elephants and men blown out of cannons. Also check out: The Courtesan, the Mahatma and the Italian Brahmin -- Manu Pillai The Deccan Before Shivaji -- Episode 98 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) When Gandhi was Mohandas -- Episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha) Being Mahatma -- Episode 105 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha) The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 126: Building Sports Ecosystems
Can India ever be a sporting nation? What will it take to get there? Joy Bhattacharjya, who started up Kolkata Knight Riders, brought the u-17 Football World Cup to India and is CEO of the Pro Volleyball League, sure thinks so. He joins Amit Varma in episode 126 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his passion and vision for Indian sport. Also check out: Bindra's Wishlist (2005) -- Amit Varma Opportunity, Choice and the IPL (2008) -- Amit Varma The IPL is Here and Here Are Six Reasons to Celebrate It (2019) -- Amit Varma Netherland -- Joseph O'Neill You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 125: The Importance of Finance
People often talk of the world of Finance as a giant casino, where sociopathic bankers gamble with the livelihoods of real people. Economist Ajay Shah joins Amit Varma in episode 125 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain why this is a misconception, and why Finance is at the heart of our progress. Also check out: Why I Loved and Left Poker -- Amit Varma, from his poker column, Range Rover. Zombie Firms and Creative Destruction -- Episode 118 of The Seen and the Unseen. Futures Markets in Agriculture -- Episode 12 of The Seen and the Unseen. The Indian Financial Code Poker and Stock Markets -- Episode 47 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 124: Religion and Ideology in Indian Society
What is the role of religion in Indian society? What is conservatism like in India? Suyash Rai joins Amit Varma in episode 124 of The Seen and the Unseen for a wide-ranging free-wheeling chat on these subjects. Also check out: The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) What is Libertarianism? -- Episode 117 of The Seen and the Unseen (w David Boaz) You're From the Mutton Lobby -- Episode 49 of The Seen and the Unseen (Amit Varma solo, on our political discourse) Every Act of Government is an Act of Violence -- Amit Varma The Three Languages of Politics -- Arnold Kling ये लिबरल आख़िर है कौन? -- Episode 37 of Puliyabaazi (w Amit Varma on Hayek) Ayodhya: The Dark Night -- Dhirendra K Jha and Krishna Jha Sacred and Secular -- Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart A Godless Congregation -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 123: India's Supreme Court
As the recent sexual harassment case indicates, all is not well with the Supreme Court of India. Constitutional economist Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 123 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain why the Supreme Court has gone wrong on both ends of the tradeoff between Independence and Accountability. Also read: Justice Is Dead, Long Live the Justices -- Shruti Rajagopalan Imagine No Possessions -- Episode 26 of The Seen and the Unseen Fixing Our Judicial System -- Episode 62 of The Seen and the Unseen Ek Baar Jo Maine Commitment Kar Di -- Amit Varma Where Have All the Leaders Gone? -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 122: The 2019 Elections
Elections in India are madly complex, and defy simple explanations. Sadanand Dhume joins Amit Varma in episode 122 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the Age of Modi, and what these elections mean for India, the BJP and the Congress party. Also check out: Sadanand Dhume's bio and archives The Questions That Election 2019 Leaves Us With -- Amit Varma Beware of the Useful Idiots -- Amit Varma Amit Varma's writings+podcasts on DeMon, in one twitter thread The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- ep 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) Modi's Lost Opportunity -- ep 119 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Salman Soz) The BJP's Magic Formula -- ep 45 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Prashant Jha) Rajesh Jain's Journey to Dhan Vapasi -- ep 94 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rajesh Jain) The Paradox of Narendra Modi -- ep 102 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shashi Tharoor) Why Both Modi and Trump are Textbook Populists -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 121: Public Choice Theory
Governments consist of people, and people respond to incentives. For this reason, there is no better way to understand government than through the tools of economics. Episode 121 of The Seen and the Unseen is a rerun of an old episode of The Pragati Podcast, in which Amit Varma introduces Pavan Srinath to the mindblowing insights of Public Choice Theory. Also check out: What Does It Mean to Be Libertarian? -- ep 64 of The Seen and the Unseen Public Choice: A Primer -- Eomonn Butler Politics Without Romance -- Amit Varma's monthly column on Public Choice for Bloomberg Quint Parkinson's Law -- C Northcote Parkinson The Calculus of Consent -- James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock Bureaucracy and Public Economics -- William A Niskanen Urban Governance in India -- ep 31 of The Seen and the Unseen Restaurant Regulations in India -- ep 18 of The Seen and the Unseen Of Endings and Beginnings -- Amit Varma's goodbye editorial for Pragati
Ep. 120: Resisting State Injustice
Conventional wisdom holds that there are three ways to respond to injustice by the state: we may leave, complain, or comply. Philosopher Jason Brennan joins Amit Varma in episode 120 of The Seen and the Unseen to argue that there is a fourth option: to resist. Also check out: When All Else Fails -- Jason Brennan The Milgram Experiment You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 119: Modi's Lost Opportunity
Despite being a Congress spokesperson, economist Salman Soz was hopeful in 2014 that the Modi government would be good for India. As the title of his new book indicates, that turned out to be quite The Great Disappointment. Soz joins Amit Varma in episode 119 of The Seen and the Unseen to elaborate on the many economic failures of the Modi government. He also tackles tough questions on the Congress party. Also check out: The Great Disappointment -- Salman Soz India's Lost Decade -- Ep 116 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Puja Mehra) DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- Ep 85 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) The Bad and Complex Tax -- ep 74 of The Seen and the Unseen ( w Shruti Rajagopalan) The Fraud of Indian Education -- ep 77 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Amit Chandra) The Importance of Cities -- ep 108 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Reuben Abraham & Pritika Hingorani) The State of Our Farmers -- ep 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gunvant Patil) Beware of the Useful Idiots -- Amit Varma A Manifesto for Progress -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 118: Zombie Firms and Creative Destruction
The Indian economy has the seeds of a horror film, with zombies stalking the landscape. Air India is one. Jet could have been another had it been rescued. Economist Ajay Shah joins Amit Varma in episode 118 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain the importance of creative destruction, and why failing firms should be allowed to die. Also discussed: price controls and market failure. Do check out: Making Sense of Airline Troubles -- Ajay Shah Lessons from the RCom Mess -- Ajay Shah A Great Churning -- Ajay Shah Bankruptcy Process and the Utilisation of Assets -- Ajay Shah Using the Bankruptcy Code for Privatisation -- Ajay Shah What Happens to Private Airlines When Air India is Privatised? -- Ajay Shah The Price is Right -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 117: What is Libertarianism?
In a sense there have always been but two political philosophies: liberty and power.” David Boaz. author of The Libertarian Mind, joins Amit Varma in episode 117 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain what libertarian thinking stands for, and to bust some of the misconceptions around it. Also check out: The Libertarian Mind -- David Boaz The Libertarian Reader -- edited by David Boaz What Does It Mean to Be Libertarian? -- ep 64 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Amit Varma) Every Act of Government Is an Act of Violence -- Amit Varma The Evolution of Everything -- ep 96 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Matt Ridley) The World is Getting Better -- ep 101 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Steven Pinker) The Right to Property -- ep 26 of The Seen and the Unseen (w. Shruti Rajagopalan) Public Choice, Voting and Governance -- ep 92 of The Pragati Podcast (w. Amit Varma) The Kim Kardashian Liberal -- Amit Varma I, Pencil -- Leonard Read You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 116: India's Lost Decade
In 2008, India was growing at 8.8% and was described as a miracle economy. It all went downhill in the next 10 years. Puja Mehra, author of The Lost Decade, joins Amit Varma in episode 116 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the random events, political imperatives and human dramas that collided to bring us to the brink of a crisis. Also check out: The Lost Decade -- Puja Mehra DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- ep 85 of The Seen and the Unseen Most of Amit Varma’s writing on DeMon, collected in one Twitter thread Narendra Modi Takes a Great Leap Backwards — Amit Varma Demonetisation -- Ep 2 of The Seen and the Unseen The Bad and Complex Tax -- Ep 74 of The Seen and the Unseen (on GST) Is KitKat a Chocolate or a Biscuit? -- ep 28 of The Seen and the Unseen (on GST) The State of Our Farmers -- ep 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (in Hindi) Where Are the Jobs? -- ep 87 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 115: The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva
The ideology of Hindutva dominates our political and cultural landscape today. How did it begin, and what is it precisely? Aakar Patel, author of the forthcoming book Our Hindu Rashtra, joins Amit Varma in episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on three important Hindutva thinkers. Also check out: Hindutva – VD Savarkar Bunch of Thoughts – MS Golwalkar Integral Humanism – Deendayal Upadhyay Ayodhya: The Dark Night – Dhirendra Jha and Krishna Jha The Coffeehouse of Surat – Leo Tolstoy Why I Write – Saadat Hasan Manto (translated by Aakar Patel) The Story of Our Ancestors – Episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen The BJP’s Magic Formula – Episode 45 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 114: Crime in Indian Politics
Why is crime ubiquitous in Indian politics? Why is your neta also a dada? Political scientist Milan Vaishnav joins Amit Varma in episode 114 of The Seen and the Unseen to speak about the incentives in play that have brought us to this place. Also check out: When Crime Pays -- Milan Vaishnav The Grand Tamasha -- Milan Vaishnav's podcast You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 113: The Geopolitics of the Bangladesh War
The formation of Bangladesh was neither inevitable nor a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. Historian Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 113 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the geopolitical forces that shaped those events of 1971. Also check out: 1971: A Global History of the Creation of Bangladesh -- Srinath Raghavan The Blood Telegram -- Gary Bass Uncle Sam in South Asia -- episode 93 of The Seen and the Unseen, with Srinath Raghavan Understanding the India-Pakistan Conflict - episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen, with Srinath Raghavan The formation of the Mujibnagar interim government Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's speech at the UN You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 112: Early Indians
Who were the first Indians? Where did the Harappans go? Who were the Aryans? Whose descendants are we? Tony Joseph joins Amit Varma in episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe how massive scientific advances in the last few years have given us answers to these questions. Also check out: Early Indians -- Tony Joseph Who We Are and How We Got Here -- David Reich You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 111: The India-Pakistan Conflict
What are the hidden dynamics of the India-Pakistan conflict? What are the possible ways of resolving it? Historian and foreign policy analyst Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the game theory and geopolitics of this messy situation. Also check out: Srinath Raghavan's books on Amazon Unlike Vajpayee & Manmohan, PM Modi thinks prudence in conflict is a self-imposed fetter -- Srinath Raghavan Uncle Sam in South Asia -- ep 93 of The Seen and the Unseen Strategy: A History -- Lawrence Freedman Not War, Not Peace -- George Perkovich and Toby Dalton Images of Terror -- Philip Jenkins Posturing For Peace -- Vipin Narang To Escalate or Not? This is Modi's Zugzwang Moment -- Amit Varma
Ep. 110: Reporting Venezuela
Venezuela is a country blessed by nature but cursed by politics. Journalist Alexandra Ulmer joins Amit Varma in episode 110 of The Seen and the Unseen to share her insights from her years as a reporter there. Also check out: - Alexandra Ulmer's homepage Alexandra Ulmer for Reuters Crude Nation: How Oil Riches Ruined Venezuela -- Raúl Gallegos Hugo Chávez: The Definitive Biography -- Cristina Marcano & Alberto Barrera Tyszka Comandante: Inside Hugo Chavez's Venezuela -- Rory Carroll Hell of a Fiesta -- Enrique Krauze. non-gated version here How to End Venezuela’s Nightmare -- Ricardo Hausmann You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 109: Plato (or Why Philosophy Matters)
Should we care about philosophy in these modern times? Philosopher Rebecca Goldstein joins Amit Varma in episode 109 of The Seen and the Unseen to argue that we should -- and Plato's Dialogues illustrate why. Also check out: Plato at the Googleplex -- Rebecca Goldstein You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 108: The Importance of Cities
India is rapidly urbanizing – and the Indian state seems to be in denial about it. Reuben Abraham and Pritika Hingorani join Amit Varma in episode 108 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss what India needs to do to prepare for its urban future. Also check out: India’s a Land of Cities, Not Villages -- Reuben Abraham and Pritika Hingorani How cities, not states, can solve the world's biggest problems -- Robert Muggah and Reuben Abraham Reclaim the Sky -- Episode 11 of The Seen and the Unseen, on FSI Why Are Our Cities So Messed Up? -- Episode 31 of The Seen and the Unseen, on Urban Governance The Gateway to Our Cities -- Episode 21 of The Seen and the Unseen, on Slums The World is Getting Better -- Episode 101 of The Seen and the Unseen, on Human Progress Order Without Design -- Alain Bertaud Triumph of the City -- Edward Glaeser Young Rural Women in India Chase Big-City Dreams -- Ellen Barry You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 107: An Economics Ramble
Host Amit Varma is joined by Vivek Kaul and Kumar Anand in episode 107 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the economic landscape of the day. Subjects discussed include the interim budget, the minimum income guarantee, the jobs crisis and how good politics leads to bad economics. Also check out: -Here Is Why the Indian Voter Is Saddled With Bad Economics -- Amit Varma -Politics = Bribery -- Amit Varma and Kumar Anand -Show us the money: Will Rahul Gandhi’s MIG-19 fly? -- Vivek Kaul Budget or Fudget?: Read This and Decide -- Vivek Kaul -India budget: Will India buy Narendra Modi's story of hope again? -- Vivek Kaul -The Indian State Is the Greatest Enemy of the Indian Farmer -- Amit Varma -The Business of Doing Business -- Reshu Natani and Kumar Anand -DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- ep 85 of The Seen and the Unseen -Rajesh Jain's Journey to Dhan Vapasi -- ep 94 of The Seen and the Unseen -The State of Our Farmers -- ep 86 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 106: Stubborn Attachments
In his latest book, Stubborn Attachments, Tyler Cower lays out a moral vision for the future. He joins Amit Varma in episode 106 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain why future lives matter as much as present ones, and why our priorities should be centered around sustainable economic growth constrained by negative rights. Also check out: Stubborn Attachments by Tyler Cowen. Marginal Revolution. The Marginal Revolution University Reasons and Persons by Derek Parfit. The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 105: Understanding Gandhi. Part 2: Mahatma
In the second of a two-part series, historian Ramachandra Guha joins Amit Varma in episode 105 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about Mohandas Gandhi's transformation into Mahatma Gandhi -- and how that changed the world. Among the subjects discussed: caste, misogyny and Gandhi's personal obsessions Also check out: Ramachandra Guha's books on Gandhi, Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios
Ep. 104: Understanding Gandhi. Part 1: Mohandas
Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most fascinating characters in history: complex, misunderstood, deeply impactful. Ramachandra Guha, author of two acclaimed biographies of the man, joins Amit Varma in episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the first 45 years of Gandhi's life, before he returned to India to catalyse the Indian freedom struggle. Do check out: Ramachandra Guha's books on Gandhi, Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World . You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com
Ep. 103: The Emergency
The Emergency of 1975 was not an aberration, but was written into the DNA of the Indian state. Historian Gyan Prakash joins Amit Varma in episode 103 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on why the framers of the constitution gave such draconian powers to the state -- and why we may not have become so free in 1947 after all. Also read: Emergency Chronicles by Gyan Prakash on Amazon. Shruti Rajagopalan on our constantly changing constitution. (Aug 2015) The Evil of Family Planning (Dec 2014) -- Amit Varma Lessons From 1975 (Sep 2015) -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com
Ep. 102: The Paradox of Narendra Modi
Shashi Tharoor, author of The Paradoxical Prime Minister, joins Amit Varma in episode 102 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the many faces of Narendra Modi, as well as the nature of politics, the idea of India and his own journey as a politician. Also read: The Paradoxical Prime Minister on Amazon, as well as Shashi Tharoor's other books. The Facts Do Not Matter -- Amit Varma No Free Trade For Horses -- Ep 13 of The Seen and the Unseen, on the Anti-Defection Law. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com
Ep. 101: The Progress of Humanity
We tend to take progress for granted, and are wired to focus on bad news instead of good. Steven Pinker joins Amit Varma in episode 101 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about why the world is getting better, and why Enlightenment values are essential for ensuring that the trend continues Also check out: Enlightenment Now and The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker. It is Daft to Worry About Inequality --Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com
Ep. 100: The 100th Episode Ramble
The Seen and the Unseen reaches 100 episodes! Yea! Economist Shruti Rajagopalan, the most frequent guest on the show, joins host Amit Varma as they shoot the breeze about the 99 episodes before this, the horrors of 2018, and the further horrors of 2019. Also check out: These past episodes with Gunvant Patil, Vikram Doctor, Harsha Bhogle, Gideon Haigh+Prem Panicker, Rajesh Jain, Vishwanath S, Parth Shah, Amit Chandra, Alex Tabarrok, Naveen Noronha, Kumar Anand, Vivek Kaul, Ashok Malik, Nikita+Supriya (on #MeToo), Devika+Nidhi+Hamsini and Matt Ridley. And also with Shruti on the Right to Property, DeMon, GST, #MeToo and Caste. And ah, <a href= "http://indiauncut
Ep. 99: The Importance of Rules and Institutions
A democracy is not merely about voting. Those who are voted into power need to be kept in check, and Rules and Institutions are essential for this. Foreign policy analyst Ameya Naik joins Amit Varma in episode 99 of The Seen and the Unseen to elaborate -- and to explain the danger that Donald Trump poses. Also check out: Why Both Modi and Trump are Textbook Populists - Amit Varma Ek Baar Jo Maine Commitment Kar Di - Amit Varma Trade Deficits (and Trumpism) - Episode 73 of The Seen and the Unseen Immigration and Outsourcing - Episode 69 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com
Ep. 98: The Deccan Before Shivaji
When people think of the Deccan, they think Shivaji vs Mughals. But the history of the Deccan is far richer than that -- and far racier. It's full of lust and laughter, murder and madness, sex and senselessness. Historian Manu S Pillai joins Amit Varma in episode 98 of The Seen and the Unseen to tell that fascinating story. Also check out: Manu S Pillai's book Rebel Sultans, on Amazon and on Juggernaut The Indianness of Indian Food -- ep 95 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com
Ep. 97: The Evolution of Cricket
In his three-decade career covering cricket, Harsha Bhogle has had an inside view on the transformation of the game. He joins Amit Varma in episode 97 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about how cricket has changed – and why it gives him hope. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com Also check out: How Money Changed Cricket -- Ep 41 of The Seen and the Unseen Opportunity, Choice and the IPL (2008) -- Amit Varma The Tamasha All Purists Should Love -- Amit Varma Purists, keep quiet. Cricket is changing, not dying -- Amit Varma Test Cricket Is Dying, but Cricket Is Not -- Amit Varma
Ep. 96: The Evolution of Everything
The world evolves in a bottom-up way, despite the top-down beliefs of those who have blind faith in either God or Government. Matt Ridley joins Amit Varma in episode 96 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the evolution of the universe, life, culture, language, cities, the economy, our minds, our future and more. Also check out: The Evolution of Everything -- Matt Ridley Other books by Matt Ridley: The Rational Optimist,Genome,The Origins of Virtue Matt Ridley's Homepage What Does It Mean to Be Libertarian? -- Ep 64 of The Seen and the Unseen The Fraud of Indian Education -- Ep 77 of The Seen and the Unseen The Profit Motive in Education -- Ep 9 of The Seen and the Unseen
Ep. 95: The Indianness of Indian Food
What does it mean when we say that something is 'Indian'? Does origin matter? Food writer Vikram Doctor joins Amit Varma in episode 95 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about how most of what we think of as Indian food originated elsewhere -- and it doesn't matter. Also check out The Real Food Podcast on Audiomatic
Ep. 94: Rajesh Jain and Dhan Vapasi
Rajesh Jain was one of the architects of Narendra Modi's win in 2014 -- and then got buyer's remorse and turned against the BJP. Now, he has launched Dhan Vapasi, an insanely ambitious and innovative attempt at disrupting Indian politics. He joins Amit Varma in episode 94 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain where he's coming from. Note: The first half of the show is about Jain's political journey before this: supporting Modi, changing his mind etc. The conversation about Dhan Vapasi starts at 1:03:25. Also check out: The Dhan Vapasi website The Dhan Vapasi Manifesto The Dhan Vapasi Bill Rajesh Jain's websiteDeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State-- Episode 85 of The Seen and the Unseen (on Demonetisation) Why Are Our Cities So Messed Up?-- Episode 31 of The Seen and the Unseen (on Urban Governance) The State of Our Farmers -- Episode 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (on Agriculture) Reclaim the Sky -- Episode 11 of The Seen and the Unseen (on FSI) Shruti Rajagopalan's talk on the many changes to our constitution
Ep. 93: America in South Asia
For over 200 years, America has been interested in South Asia across three separate axes: power, ideology and culture. Historian Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 93 of The Seen and the Unseen to provide a guided tour of this fascinating history. Also read: The Most Dangerous Place: A History of the United States in South Asia.
Ep. 92: An Economist Looks at #MeToo
Will the #MeToo movement change behaviour by changing incentives? Economist Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 92 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about Criminal Economics in the context of crimes on women in India. Also check out: Changing the Costs for the Rational Sexual Predator: Shruti Rajagopalan in Mint Men Must Step Up Now: Amit Varma's ediotrial in Pragati The Importance of #MeToo: Episode 90 of The Seen and the Unseen Metrics of Empowerment: Episode 88 of The Seen and the Unseen Fixing Our Judicial System: Episode 62 of The Seen and the Unseen
Ep. 91: IL&FS and the Indian Financial System
The crisis at IL&FS reveals just how rotten India's financial system is. Vivek Kaul and Ashutosh Datar join Amit Varma in episode 91 of The Seen and the Unseen to demystify the problem. Also check out: DeMon, Morality & the Predatory Indian State -- Episode 85 of The Seen and the Unseen The DNA of the NPA -- Episode 32 of The Seen and the Unseen It's Time to Stop Buying LIC Policies -- Vivek Kaul LIC Should Not Rescue IL&FS -- Vivek Kaul Slay This Indian Hydra -- Andy Mukherjee How IL&FS Was Enriching Itself at Public Cost -- Sucheta Dalal IL&FS: The debt pyramid -- Samar Srivastava
Ep. 90: The #MeToo Movement
#MeToo is the most important cultural moment of our lifetimes. Supriya Nair and Nikita Saxena join Amit Varma in episode 90 of The Seen and the Unseen to share their insights. Also check out: Hostile Climate: Nikita Saxena (Feature on RK Pachauri) #MeToo is anarchic, and that’s a good thing: Supriya Nair Metrics of Empowerment: Episode 88 of The Seen and the Unseen Claiming Your Space: Episode 76 of The Seen and the Unseen One Bad Law Goes, but Women Remain Second Class Citizens: Amit Varma I am a Feminist. You should be too: Amit Varma
Ep. 89: The State of the Media 2
Are journalists redundant in a world where no one cares about facts any more? Are we to cater to people's imagined realities? And when money and power come together, how are Independent journalists to resist? Sidharth Bhatia of The Wire and Peter Griffin of The Hindu join Amit Varma in episode 89 of The Seen and the Unseen. Also check out: The State of the Media: Episode 46 of The Seen and the Unseen, with Prem Panicker The Facts Do Not Matter -- Amit Varma
Ep. 88: Metrics of Empowerment
The lives of women in India must be gradually getting better, right? How do we measure this? Devika Kher, Nidhi Gupta and Hamsini Hariharan join Amit Varma in episode 88 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss a range of possible metrics. Also check out: Where Are the Jobs? -- Episode 87 of The Seen and the Unseen, with Yazad Jal Claiming Your Space -- Episode 76 of The Seen and the Unseen, with Aditi Mittal & Swati Bakshi Take Cities to the Women -- Devika Kher Frailty, Thy Name is Public Policy -- Devika Kher We Should Celebrate Rising Divorce Rates -- Amit Varma Misogyny is the Oldest Indian Tradition -- Amit Varma Namita Bhandare’s series on IndiaSpend
Ep. 87: Where Are the Jobs?
India has entered a massive jobs crisis, with more than a million people coming into the workforce every month -- and not enough jobs. Will our Demographic Dividend be a Demographic Disaster? Yazad Jal of the 20 Million Jobs project joins Amit Varma in episode 87 of The Seen and the Unseen to give insight on the scale of the problem. Also check out: The Jobscape -- Yazad Jal 20 Million Jobs: Episode 48 of The Pragati Podcast The Coming Jobs Crisis: Episode 20 of The Seen and the Unseen Namita Bhandare's series on IndiaSpend Why India has a Jobs Crisis -- Vivek Kaul The Agricultural Crisis is a Jobs Crisis -- Nitin Pai But What About the Jobs Crisis? -- Anupam Manur
Ep. 86: The State of Our Farmers
India's agricultural crisis has been caused by the state. Farmer leader Gunvant Patil of the Shetkari Sanghatana joins Amit Varma in episode 86 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain the many ways in which Big Government has created our agricultural crisis. Also see: 'We Must Save Our Farmers' -- Amit Varma 'Free the Farmers' -- Barun Mitra 'The Crisis in Indian Agriculture' -- Brainstorm discussion on Pragati 'Entry and Exit in Agriculture' -- Episode 1 of The Seen and the Unseen 'The Farmer Rolls the Dice' -- Episode 12 of The Seen and the Unseen 'The Unseen Effects of Farm Loan Waivers' -- Episode 25 of The Seen and the Unseen Down to Earth -- The collected writings of Sharad Joshi
Ep. 85: DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State
Episode 85 of The Seen and the Unseen is about Demonetisation -- and a lot else. First, host Amit Varma launches into an angry monologue about how economic benefits can never justify moral costs. Then he is joined by economist Shruti Rajagopalan, who elaborates on all the things wrong with DeMon. They discuss the predatory Indian state, how Indians are forced into jugaad to cope with it, and that this jugaad might seem to be a good thing, but represents the enormous cost that all of us pay. **Also see**: 1. Most of Amit Varma's writing on DeMon, collected in one Twitter thread 2. 'Narendra Modi Takes a Great Leap Backwards' -- Amit Varma 3.'The Landscape of Freedom in India' -- Amit Varma 4.'The Humanitarian Cost Trumps Any Economic Argument' -- Amit Varma 5. 'What the RBI data on demonetization tells us' -- Shruti Rajagopalan 6. 'Demonetisation and Welfare' -- Shruti Rajagopalan and Larry White 7. 'Formalization of the economy is a form of coercion' -- Shruti Rajagopalan 8. Episode 2 of The Seen and the Unseen, on Demonetisation, with Suyash Rai 9. Episode 18 of The Seen and the Unseen, on restaurant regulations, with Madhu Menon
Ep. 84: Being Gay in India
What is it like to grow up gay in a deeply homophobic country? Writer and stand-up comedian Navin Noronha joins Amit Varma in ep 84 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about his experience of growing up gay in Bhayandar, and his insights from his podcast, Keeping it Queer. Also check out Keeping it Queer -- Navin Noronha's podcast How I Met My Daddy -- Navin Noronha The Matunga Racket -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 83: Young India
India is a young country, and young Indians today are entitled and angry. Snigdha Poonam joins Amit Varma in episode 83 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the turmoil in small-town India. Also read: Snigdha's book, Dreamers: How Indians are Changing the World You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 82: Swachh Bharat
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is short-sighted, and does not achieve its purpose. Why? What can we do? Economist Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 82 of The Seen and the Unseen to break it all down. Also read India needs sewage systems, not free toilets -- Shruti Rajagopalan That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen -- Frédéric Bastiat The Use of Knowledge in Society -- Friedrich Hayek Public Choice: Politics Without Romance -- James Buchanan Where India Goes -- Diane Coffey and Dean Spears Why Are Our Cities So Messed Up -- ep 31 of The Seen and the Unseen How We Messed Up Our Caste Problem -- ep 52 of The Seen and the Unseen
Ep. 81: Chinese Foreign Policy
How does China see its place in the world? What are its foreign policy objectives? Should India be worried? China expert Manoj Kewalramani(https://twitter.com/theChinaDude) joins Amit Varma(https://twitter.com/amitvarma) in episode 81 of The Seen and the Unseen. Also check out: Eye on China(https://www.thinkpragati.com/category/world/china/): Manoj Kewalramani's weekly column in Pragati. Inside Xi's China(http://takshashila.org.in/special-courses/): Takshashila's online course, conducted by Manoj. Understanding Foreign Policy(https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/4104/understanding-foreign-policy/): Episode 63 of The Seen and the Unseen. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 80: India in the Nuclear Age
India as a nuclear power is a different force from what it was before we went nuclear. Lt Gen Prakash Menon joins Amit Varma(https://twitter.com/amitvarma) in episode 80 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe how War and Statecraft have been redefined by nuclear weapons. Also read: Lt Gen Menon's book, The Strategy Trap: India and Pakistan Under the Nuclear Shadow(https://www.amazon.in/Strategy-Trap-Pakistan-Nuclear-Shadow/dp/8183285244/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1533201671&sr=1-1&keywords=prakash+menon) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 79: Democracy in Pakistan
Is there really democracy in Pakistan? What were these elections all about? Pranay Kotasthane(https://twitter.com/pranaykotas) and Hamsini Hariharan(https://twitter.com/HamsiniH) join Amit Varma(https://twitter.com/amitvarma) in episode 79 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the two Pakistans, and what lies ahead. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 78: Crowd Violence in India
More and more, across this country, violent crowds are taking the law into their own hands. What's going on? Legal experts Madhav Chandavarkar and Alok Prasanna Kumar share their insights with Amit Varma in episode 78 of The Seen and the Unseen. We Don't Need Another Law (https://express.thinkpragati.com/2018/07/18/why-dont-need-another-law/)-- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 77: Education in India
According to education scholar and activist Amit Chandra, education in India is a fraud committed on the people of this country by the state. He joins Amit Varma in episode 77 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain why. Also check out: The Profit Motive in Education: Episode 9 of The Seen and the Unseen (http://www.seenunseen.in/episodes/2017/3/13/episode-9-the-profit-motive-in-education) The Right to Screw up Education: Episode 19 of The Seen and the Unseen (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/1462/right-screw-education/) Data on School Closures (http://nisaindia.org/data-on-school-closures) Our Unlucky Children -- Amit Varma (Jan 2008)(http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/our-unlucky-children/) Annual Status of Education (ASER) Report 2017 (http://www.asercentre.org/Keywords/p/315.html) The Aggregate Effect of School Choice -- Karthik Muralidharan & Venkatesh Sundararaman (https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/130/3/1011/1931887) A political economy of education in India: The case of UP -- Geeta Kingdon & Mohd. Muzammil (http://ceid.educ.cam.ac.uk/publications/OPI_KingdonMuzammil20081.pdf) Teacher Absence in India: A Snapshot (https://academic.oup.com/jeea/article-abstract/3/2-3/658/2281517?redirectedFrom=fulltext)
Ep. 76: Claiming Your Space
Misogyny is ubiquitous. Women begin life with the odds stacked against them. Aditi Mittal joins Amit Varma in episode 76 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss how hard it was for her to claim her space. Guest appearance: Swati Bakshi. Also read: Misogyny is the Oldest Indian Tradition-Amit Varma (http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/misogyny-is-the-oldest-indian-tradition/) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 75: Stand-Up Comedy in India
"Comedy is tragedy plus time." Aditi Mittal joins Amit Varma to elaborate on this in Episode 75 of The Seen and the Unseen. Abbas Momin sits in as well, as the conversation spins from the evolution of stand-up in India to the challenges it faces. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com
Ep. 74: The Bad and Complex Tax
GST was supposed to be a Good and Simple Tax, but has ended up as just the opposite. This is hurting the poor the most. Economist Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 74 of The Seen and the Unseen to suggest a way out. Also check out: -Simple Rules for a Complex World (https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/fStxh8vE5vQCW7V1hq1hOK/Simple-rules-for-a-complex-world-GST-classification.html) - Shruti Rajagopalan -GST -- Episode 3 of The Seen and the Unseen with Devangshu Datta(http://www.seenunseen.in/episodes/2017/1/31/episode-3-gst) -GST Revisited (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/1847/kitkat-chocolate-biscuit/) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 73: Trade Deficits (and Trumpism)
The US has a trade deficit with China. Trump is worried. Trump is nuts. Vivek Kaul explains why to Amit Varma in episode 73 of The Seen and the Unseen. You can listen to the episode on 'Protectionism with Anupam Manur here: https://bit.ly/2JEXu1J You can listen to the 'Easy Money' episode with Vivek Kaul here: https://bit.ly/2yfeS7X You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 72: The GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has just been passed in Europe. What are its Unseen Effects? What can India learn from it? Legal expert Manasa Venkataraman joins Amit Varma in episode 72 of The Seen and the Unseen to demystify this subject. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 71: Data and the Government
The Indian government has a disturbing tendency to cherry-pick data. Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma in episode 71 of The Seen and the Unseen to catch them with their pants down. Also read: 'How to cherry-pick data, Arvind Panagariya-style'(https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/05/07/population-job-seekers-data-arvind-panagariya-modi-government-unemployment) - Vivek Kaul 'How to Manage Jobs Data, Modi Govt Style'(https://www.equitymaster.com/diary/detail.asp?date=05%2F02%2F2018&story=3&title=How-to-Manage-Jobs-Data-Modi-Govt-Style#.WulTkZgxniU.whatsapp) - Vivek Kaul 'If Tax Collections Have Improved, why is Govt Trying to Tax Free Services of Banks?' (https://www.equitymaster.com/diary/detail.asp?date=04%2F30%2F2018&story=4&title=If-Tax-Collections-Have-Improved-why-is-Govt-Trying-to-Tax-Free-Services-of-Banks#.WucDaLBe2fQ.twitter) - Vivek Kaul 'Budget 2018: India's unpaid subsidies time-bomb just keeps ticking away'(https://www.business-standard.com/budget/article/budget-2018-india-s-unpaid-subsidies-time-bomb-just-keeps-ticking-away-118020100638_1.html) - VIvek Kaul Beware of the Useful Idiots(https://www.thinkpragati.com/editorial/1971/beware-useful-idiots/) - Amit Varma You can buy Vivek Kaul's Easy Money trilogy here (https://www.amazon.in/Easy-Money-Evolution-Robinson-Crusoe-ebook/dp/B07BFMJW18/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527766186&sr=8-1&keywords=easy+money) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 70: Online Conversations
The internet was supposed to bring us all together -- but instead, is it driving us apart? Reddit moderator Nikhil,X joins Amit Varma in episode 70 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the changing shape of online conversations -- and society. Also check out: You’re From The Mutton Lobby(https://www.thinkpragati.com/opinion/3079/youre-mutton-lobby/) - Amit Varma What We Talk About When We Talk About Politics(http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-politics/) - Amit Varma The Future of the Internet (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/4306/the-future-of-the-internet/) - Episode 65 of The Seen and the Unseen The Regulators Are Coming (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/4485/the-regulators-are-coming/) - Episode 68 of The Seen and the Unseen You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 69: Immigration and Outsourcing
Donald Trump had two simple answers to everyone who complained about jobs in America. One: Immigrants are taking your jobs. Two: Your jobs are being shipped overseas. Trump was bullshitting. Gaurav Sabnis joins Amit Varma in episode 69 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain why. Also check out: Facts Don't Matter. Stories do (http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/facts-dont-matter.-stories-do/) -- Amit Varma Ep.4 of The Seen and the Unseen: Immigration (http://www.seenunseen.in/episodes/2017/2/7/episode-4-immigration) Ep 59 of The Seen and the Unseen: The 8 Myths of Protectionism (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/3798/the-8-myths-of-protectionism/) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 68: Online Content Regulation
The government of India recently broached the possibility of regulating online content -- even more than it already does. What does this mean for our freedoms. Nikhil Pahwa joins Amit Varma in episode 68 of The Seen and the Unseen. Check out the previous episodes where Amit had Nikhil Pahwa as a guest: Ep. 61: Aadhaar (http://ivmpodcasts.com/the-seen-and-the-unseen-episode-list/2018/3/26/ep-61-adhaar) Ep. 65: The Future of the Internet (http://ivmpodcasts.com/the-seen-and-the-unseen-episode-list/2018/4/23/ep-65-the-future-of-the-internet) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 67: Ask Me Anything
This is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode, in which host Amit Varma answers questions from both in-studio guests and Twitter and Facebook users. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 66: The State of the Economy 2
What does our economy look like today? Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma in episode 66 of The Seen and the Unseen, as they talk about Air India, cash shortages, the jobs crisis and other such miscellanea. Also check out Episode 56: The Age of Easy Money (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/3541/age-easy-money/) Episode 53: A Deep Dive into Pakodanomics(https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/3305/deep-dive-pakodanomics/) Episode 40: The State of the Economy(https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/2472/the-state-of-the-economy/) Episode 32: The DNA of the NPA (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/2061/the-dna-of-the-npa/) Episode 25: Farm Loan Waivers (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/1716/unseen-effects-farm-loan-waivers/) Episode 23: Public Sector Banks (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/1655/the-banks-of-india/) Episode 20: The Coming Jobs Crisis (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/1534/coming-jobs-crisis/) Episode 19: The Right to Education (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/1462/right-screw-education/) Episode 18: Restaurant Regulations (https://www.thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-seen-and-the-unseen/1421/give-bribe-youre-restaurant-man/) Episode 2: Demonetisation(http://www.seenunseen.in/episodes/2017/1/24/episode-2-demonetisation) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 65: The Future of the Internet
The internet has empowered us all beyond belief -- but is there a flip side to this? Does it need to be regulated? Nikhil Pahwa and Amit Doshi have a lively conversation with Amit Varma in episode 65 of The Seen and the Unseen Also read: 'Facts. Don't. Matter' (http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/facts.-dont.-matter/) -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 64: Libertarianism
What does it mean to be free? What is the basis of individual rights? Episode 64 of The Seen and the Unseen is a rerun of an old episode of The Pragati Podcast, as Amit Varma tells Pavan Srinath what it means to be a libertarian, and why it all boils down to one word: Consent. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 63: Foreign Policy
We all have our own guidelines for how individuals should treat each other. But how should nations behave with other nations? Foreign Policy Realist Nitin Pai joins Libertarian Amit Varma to explain the evolution of foreign policy through the ages, and its imperatives today. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 62: Judicial Reforms
India's judicial system is broken. How can we fix it? Legal expert Alok Prasanna Kumar joins Amit Varma in episode 62 of The Seen and the Unseen. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 61: Aadhaar
According to media commentator Nikhil Pahwa, Aadhaar is a subject on which "what we do will impact generations." Nikhil joins host Amit Varma on episode 61 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain how Aadhaar threatens our freedoms, and why we need to take it seriously. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 60: India's Water Crisis
We take water for granted, but India might be entering a full-blown water crisis. Water evangelist Vishwanath S (https://twitter.com/zenrainman) joins Amit Varma in episode 60 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on this. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 59: Protectionism
Protectionism is on the rise across the world, which is bewildering, given how harmful it is. Economist Anupam Manur joins Amit Varma in episode 59 of The Seen and the Unseen to bust eight common myths about protectionism. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 58: Misogyny and our Legal System
As three recent cases show, misogyny exist not just in our outdated laws, but also in the minds of our lawmakers and the judiciary. Legal expert Madhav Chandavarkar and feminist Hamsini Hariharan join Amit Varma in episode 58 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss Triple Talaq, Hadiya and the Mahmood Farooqui case. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 57: India's Maldives Dilemma
There is turmoil in the Maldives, as a tyrant unfriendly to India cozies up to China. Do we need to intervene? Foreign policy expert Pranay Kotasthane joins Amit Varma to give his point of view in episode 57 of The Seen and the Unseen. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 56: Easy Money
The turbulence in the world economy today is enabled by the same phenomenon that caused the 2008 financial crisis, and was perversely also a response to that crisis: Easy Money. Vivek Kaul, author of the Easy Money trilogy, joins Amit Varma in episode 56 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain the damage irresponsible governments can do to the economy. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 55: Defending the Indefensible
It is important to always question received wisdom. In episode 55 of The Seen and the Unseen, libertarian thinker Yazad Jal joins Amit Varma to challenge the commonly held view on five subjects. Listen in and see if you agree with him. Also read: It is Daft to Worry About Inequality -- Amit Varma Why Children Labour -- Amit Varma The Price is Right -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 54: Budget 2018 Quick Takes
The Budget presented by the government of India is an annual ritual that millions of people tune in to. What was the 2018 budget like? Pavan Srinath and Pranay Kotasthane, staff writers of Pragati, join Amit Varma to offer their quick analysis, and to supplement the budget coverage at Pragati. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 53: Pakodanomics
Narendra Modi famously invoked a pakoda seller last week when he spoke about job creation in India. How apt is that invocation? Columnist Vivek Kaul, who coined the term ‘Pakodanomics’, and economist Shruti Rajagopalan join Amit Varma in episode 53 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the prime minister, the pakoda seller and India’s job problem. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 52: Caste in Modern India
Modern India's greatest shame is that even after 70 years of Independence, we still haven't solved the problem of caste. Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 52 of the Seen and the Unseen to shed light on some of the ways in which we have messed up at an institutional level. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 51: Alpha Zero
The chess program Alpha Zero made waves recently when it taught itself chess in four hours -- and then thrashed the strongest chess engine in the world, Stockfish. This illustrated a dramatic advance in Artificial Intelligence. Devangshu Datta joins host Amit Varma in episode 51 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about its impact for both chess and AI. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 50: The State of Indian Politics
Indian politics is complex to the point of being almost unfathomable. JP Narayan, that rare public intellectual who also embraced electoral politics, joins Amit Varma in episode 50 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his learnings. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 49: Political Discourse
Social media has enabled everyone to have a voice -- but no one listens any more. In episode 49 of The Seen and the Unseen, Amit Varma examines why our political discourse is so polarised. One particular bugbear of his is the tendency to shift the focus from the argument to the person, and he outlines a few different ways in which people personalise arguments.
Ep. 48: Reforming Urban Governance
For almost two decades, V Ravichandar has been "a civic evangelist and a patron saint of lost causes" fighting to reform local government in our cities. He joins Amit Varma in episode 48 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the lessons he has learnt, and what keeps him going. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 47: Poker and Stock Markets
Poker and stock markets are very similar -- and both holds lessons for life. Ace investor Mohit Satyanand joins former poker pro Amit Varma in episode 47 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss how both disciplines reveal the flawed machinery of the human brain. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 46: The State of the Media
We live in times when media is fragmented and there is no consensus on the truth any more. Journalism has become a race to give people what they want to believe. What are we to do? Prem Panicker joins Amit Varma in episode 46 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the State of the Media.
Ep. 45: The BJP's Magic Formula
Over the last few years, the BJP has built the most formidable election machine in human history. Prashant Jha, author of the book 'How the BJP wins', joins Amit Varma in episode 45 of The Seen and the Unseen to break down the elements behind their success.
Ep. 44: The Delhi Smog
It is well known that the key cause of Delhi's smog is the 'stubble' burnt every year by Punjab's farmers. Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma to discuss the bad incentives in play, how government sops might have caused this problem, and what can be done about it.
Ep. 43: Parenthood
Natasha Badhwar, the author of a celebrated parenting column, recently released her moving book, 'My Daughter's Mum.' In episode 43 of The Seen and the Unseen, she joins Amit Varma to discuss the process of parenting, writing about it, and the Seen and Unseen Effects of Parenthood.
Ep. 42: Behavioral Economics
To celebrate Richard Thaler's Nobel Prize, behavioural econ geek Nidhi Gupta joins Amit Varma in episode 42 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss key concepts from the field -- all which explain many of the Unseen Effects of our actions, and the way we're wired.
Ep. 41: Money in Cricket
Cricket has been transformed in the last four decades, first because of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket, and then recently by the IPL. Noted cricket writers Gideon Haigh and Prem Panicker join Amit Varma in episode 41 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the enormous impact of this commercialisation.
Ep. 40.5: We're on a break
The Seen and the Unseen takes a one-week break for Diwali. But we have one request for you: we want your feedback on the show. Email shows@indusvox.com with any comments or suggestions you might have.
Ep. 40: State of the Economy
Many of the things wrong with India's economy today are Unseen Effects of Demonetisation and the botched design of GST. Vivek Kaul join joins Amit Varma in episode 40 of The Seen and the Unseen to take stock.
Ep. 39: Eating Out
Why don't Indians eat out as much as people in other countries do? Karthik Shashidhar joins Amit Varma in episode 39 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain how we landed up in an equilibrium in which our restaurants prefer 'tasty' to 'healthy'.
Ep. 38: Import/Export
The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 is an example of a policy that harms those it is meant to help. Sudhanshu Neema joins Amit Varma in episode 38 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain why.
Ep. 37: Obamacare
Obamacare is almost an article of faith for elite American liberals, but it has had devastating Unseen Effects. Economist Sudhanshu Neema, who joins host Amit Varma on episode 37 of The Seen and the Unseen, believes that it was responsible for Trump coming to power. Listen up!
Ep. 36: SEZs (Special Economic Zones)
Special Economic Zones are usually set up with the best intentions: to attract businesses and create employment. But what are their Unseen Effects? Karthik Shashidhar joins host Amit Varma in episode 36 of The Seen and the Unseen.
Ep. 35: The Bhopal Gas Tragedies
In episode 35 of The Seen and the Unseen, economist and lawyer Shruti Rajagopalan joins host Amit Varma to explain why there were three Bhopal Gas Tragedies, and not just one.
Ep. 34: Uber Surge Pricing
Isn't surge pricing exploitative? Shouldn't it be banned? Karthik Shashidhar joins Amit Varma to speak about the Unseen Effects of price caps. He also describes how Uber turned an illiquid market into a liquid one.
Ep. 33: Football Transfers
How does the football transfer market work? Why do some players command insanely high transfer fees while others get nothing? Karthik Shashidhar joins Amit Varma to demystify this particular market.
Ep. 32: Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)
Indian public sector banks have a notorious problem of non-performing assets, or NPAs. Vivek Kaul and Kumar Anand join Amit Varma to discuss the causes of this problem, and what can be done about it.
Ep. 31: Urban Governance in India
Our cities are in a mess. They are not in such bad shape because of corrupt individuals or apathetic citizens, but because our structures of governance are all messed up. Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma to explain why.
Ep. 30: Real Estate Prices
Why do real estate prices in India not fall when demand goes down and inventory stops moving? Vivek Kaul plays economic detective to help Amit Varma solve this mystery.
Ep. 29: Drug Price Controls
The government of India often fixes the prices of medicine in India so that poor people can afford them. Pavan Srinath joins Amit Varma to discuss the Unseen Effects of this, and how they can be ameliorated. Check out www.seenunseen.in for more episodes You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 28: GST Revisited
In Episode 3 of The Seen and the Unseen, we had discussed GST -- the Goods and Services Tax. Now that it's actually been implemented, Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma to discuss its Seen and Unseen Effects. Check out www.seenunseen.in for more episodes You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 27: Television Price Controls
Indian television is appalling, and the reasons for that go beyond culture. Renowned journalist Ashok Malik joins Amit Varma in episode 27 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe how government regulation played its part. Check out www.seenunseen.in for more episodes You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 26: The Right To Property
The Right to Property is the underpinning of all our rights -- and yet, the Indian constitution does not consider it a Fundamental Right, though it once did. Constitutional expert Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma to discuss why this right is important, and the consequences of its being weakened in India. Check out www.seenunseen.in for more episodes You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 25: Farm Loan Waivers
In episode 25 of The Seen and the Unseen, Kumar Anand and Vivek Kaul join Amit Varma to talk about the part farm-loan waivers play in keeping farmers in PPP: Perpetually Planned Poverty. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 24: Prostitution
For all practical purposes, prostitution is banned in India, and looked down upon by society. Manasa Venkataraman joins Amit Varma to discuss the legal, moral and economic aspects of criminalising sex work. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 23: Public Sector Banks
In 1969, Indira Gandhi carried out a wave of bank nationalisations with some excellent stated intentions. But what were the Unseen Effects of that? Mumbai-based economist Kumar Anand joins Amit Varma to discuss the structural flaws in the very concept of public sector banks. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 22: China's Influence in South Asia
China has become an influential force in India's neighbourhood recently. Is this something India should be worried about? Foriegn policy expert Pranay Kotasthane joins Amit Varma to allay these fears. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 21: Slums
Slums in India have been both demonized and deified. Some say they are an eyesore to the city; others say they are hotbeds of entrepreneurship. Pavan Srinath joins Amit Varma to take a deeper look at the role slums play in our society. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 20: The Coming Jobs Crisis
Many of the terrible policies followed by our government over the decades have one common unseen effect: a lack of jobs. India is headed for a jobs crisis, and Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma to discuss why it has come about and what we can do to stop the slide. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 19: RTE (The Right to Education)
he Right to Education Act sounds noble, but has caused devastation in schooling across the country. Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma to discuss its Unseen Effects. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5 You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/
Ep. 18: Restaurant Regulations
If you want to see the many ways in which the government resembles a hafta-extorting mafia, look no further than restaurant regulations. They come about with a noble stated intent, but end up harming both consumers and restaurants. Madhu Menon joins Amit Varma to talk about the intended consequences of restaurant regulations. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production. For more awesome podcasts, download the IVM Podcasts app on - Google Play: https://goo.gl/bI1toI iOS: https://goo.gl/9UhnGd or, find us on: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://goo.gl/P130uw Twitter: https://goo.gl/7P7Uec Instagram: https://goo.gl/qH3PHm
Ep. 17: Centrally Sponsored Government Schemes
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. All these are centrally sponsored government schemes with good intentions at their heart. But are good intentions enough? Pranay Kotasthane joins Amit Varma to discuss the Unseen Effects of Centrally Sponsored Government Schemes. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production. For more awesome podcasts, download the IVM Podcasts app on - Google Play: https://goo.gl/bI1toI iOS: https://goo.gl/9UhnGd or, find us on: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://goo.gl/P130uw Twitter: https://goo.gl/7P7Uec Instagram: https://goo.gl/qH3PHm
Ep. 16: Artificial Intelligence
Like all technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will make humanity better off in the long run. But in the short run, it will cause much disruption, including mammoth job losses in India's services industry. Futurist Ramez Naam and policy wonk Pavan Srinath join Amit Varma to talk about the Unseen effects of AI. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production. For more awesome podcasts, download the IVM Podcasts app on - Google Play: https://goo.gl/bI1toI iOS: https://goo.gl/9UhnGd or, find us on: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://goo.gl/P130uw Twitter: https://goo.gl/7P7Uec Instagram: https://goo.gl/qH3PHm
Ep. 15: Kannada Dubbing Ban
For decades, there has been a stricture in Karnataka that non-Kannada films cannot be dubbed into Kannada. The idea behind this was to protect the local film industry -- but were the unintended consequences just the opposite? Pavan Srinath joins Amit Varma to discuss the Unseen effects of this ban on Kannada dubbing. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production. For more awesome podcasts, download the IVM Podcasts app on - Google Play: https://goo.gl/bI1toI iOS: https://goo.gl/9UhnGd or, find us on: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://goo.gl/P130uw Twitter: https://goo.gl/7P7Uec Instagram: https://goo.gl/qH3PHm
Ep. 14: Rent Control
Rent control is a classic example of a regulation meant to help the poor that ends up hurting everyone. Alex Tabarrok joins Amit Varma to discuss how real estate in Mumbai would be so much cheaper if not for such government regulation. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production. For more awesome podcasts, download the IVM Podcasts app on - Google Play: https://goo.gl/bI1toI iOS: https://goo.gl/9UhnGd or, find us on: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://goo.gl/P130uw Twitter: https://goo.gl/7P7Uec Instagram: https://goo.gl/qH3PHm
Ep. 13: Anti-Defection Law
It is a sad day for any democracy when MPs and MLAs sell themselves to the highest bidder. Horse-trading is monstrous. It was to prevent exactly this that the Anti-Defection Law was passed in 1985. But did it end up doing more harm than good to democracy? Barun Mitra joins Amit Varma to discuss the unseen effects of this famous legislation. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 12: Futures Markets in Agriculture
For decades now, India has either banned or heavily regulated futures markets in agriculture. The conventional wisdom is that futures markets can turn farmers into gamblers. But what if the Unseen Effect of such regulation is exactly the opposite? Karthik Shashidhar joins Amit Varma to chat about the unintended consequences of such well-intentioned but misguided regulation. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 11: FSI (Floor Space Index)
Mumbai is one of the most expensive cities in the world, and one of the reasons is that there is too little land and too much sky. Alex Tabarrok joins Amit Varma to discuss Mumbai's insanely low Floor Space Index (FSI), a key reason why real estate here is at such a premium. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 10: Digital India
Big Brother is watching you, and you have no protection. There has been much hype about how 'Digital India' will transform our lives, but there are unseen elements to it that should make you worry. Devangshu Datta joins Amit Varma to discuss why it is so alarming that there are no laws in India to protect privacy and defend against data theft. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 09: The Profit Motive in Education
Jawaharlal Nehru once said that profit is a 'dirty word'. He wasn't alone in his distrust of the profit motive, which is effectively banned in education in India. Amit Varma chats with education reformer Parth Shah on why this thinking is misguided, and might be responsible for the pathetic state of education in India. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 08: The Medical Council of India
Healthcare in India is in a dismal state, and so is the state of medical education. Pavan Srinath joins Amit Varma to discuss the role of the Medical Council of India in this mess. Is it a responsible industry watchdog helping keep standards high -- or is it a part of the problem? Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 07: MRP (Maximum Retail Price)
For any shopper in India, there is no acronym as comforting as MRP: Maximum Retail Price. When you see that on any packaged good, you feel assured that you won't be ripped off. But is it really that simple? Prithwiraj Mukherjee joins Amit Varma to discuss the seen and unseen effects of MRP. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 06: Surgical Strikes
On September 18, 2016, a group of terrorists attacked an Indian army brigade headquarters near the town of Uri in J&K. Nineteen people died, and there was immense pressure on the Indian government to retaliate. The prime minister, Narendra Modi, eventually launched what he described as 'surgical strikes', meant to be a show of strength and resolve. Defence analyst Pranay Kotasthane joins Amit Varma to discuss the Seen and Unseen effects of these surgical strikes. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 05: This is all because of Rupal Ben
A few years ago, a photo studio in Ahmedabad offered its customers free passport photographs. There was no catch, no small print. It was a free lunch. Amit Varma is joined by Mohit Satyanand, as they explore how this free lunch transformed financial regulation in India. They also discuss how bad incentives can lead to corruption becoming a cultural phenomenon. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/ #AmitVarma, #Bastiat #Public #policy #government #MohitSatyanand #IPO #scam #retail #Investment #Financial #regulation
Ep. 04: Immigration
In Episode 4 of The Seen and the Unseen, Amit Varma discusses Immigration with Shikha Dalmia. Are the demagogues right about immigration being a bad thing? Do immigrants take jobs away from locals? Are they a strain on resources? Should we build yuge walls? Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/ #AmitVarma, #Bastiat #Public #policy #government #ShikhaDalmia #Immigration #immigrants
Ep. 03: GST (Goods and Services Tax)
There are two kinds of diversity in India, one good, and one not so good. Our greatest strength is our diversity of people and cultures and languages. But one of our great weaknesses is our diversity of taxes, across states and regions. We have so many different kinds of taxes that the cost of compliance is the most daunting cost for many businesses, and corruption is out of control. Also, taxes create friction in trade, and the costs are borne by consumers and businesses alike. It’s a negative-sum game. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was supposed to the panacea that would get us out of this mess. While India has been one country since 1947, it hasn’t been one market, and the GST was expected to get us to that promised land. It has been many years in the making, though, and has become more and more convoluted in the process of political and bureaucratic negotiation. Thus, while the Seen Effects of a perfect GST would normally be excellent, the potential Unseen Effects of the GST in its evolving form could be quite messy. In Episode 3 of The Seen and the Unseen, Devangshu Datta takes Amit Varma through the nuances of the GST and their possible implications. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/ Tags: #AmitVarma, #Bastiat #Public #policy #government #DevanshuDatta #economics #business #Goods #Service #Tax #GST #Bill #FreeMarket #Trade
Ep. 02: Demonetisation
On November 8, 2016, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi announced that 500- and 100-rupee notes would cease to be legal tender from midnight that day, which removed 86% of the cash from circulation. Demonetisation (aka "DeMon" or "Notebandi") had humanitarian and economic effects that might take years to play out. In Episode 2 of The Seen and the Unseen, Amit Varma is joined by Suyash Rai, an economic analyst from Delhi, as they examine whether demonetisation achieved any of its intended effects, and try to come to terms with some of its unintended (but foreseeable) consequences. Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: ivmpodcasts.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/
Ep. 01: Entry and Exit in Agriculture
India has a panoply of laws that prevent corporations from getting into farming, and which prevent farmers from escaping agriculture, by virtue of not being able to sell their farm land for non-agricultural purposes. The Seen Effect of this is that they are protected from exploitation by rapacious capitalists. But are the Unseen Effects much worse? Follow The Seen and The Unseen: Website: www.seenunseen.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseenandtheunseen/ This is an IVM Production; for more such awesome podcasts, come find us: Website: Indusvox.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts Twitter: https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/ #AmitVarma, #Bastiat #Agriculture #Public #policy #governmen #TakshashilaInstitute #PavanSrinath #KarthikShashidhar #economics #business #agrobusiness #farmer #farming
Preview - The Seen And the Unseen
All public policies -- indeed, all actions by humans -- have two kinds of effects: the effects that are intended, and visible; and unintended consequences, which are invisible. The Seen and the Unseen is a podcast that aims to examine both the seen and the unseen effects of our actions