Jyotiraditya Scindia is a third generation politician currently serving as Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel in PM Modi’s cabinet since 2021. He is a member of the upper house of parliament from his home state of Madhya Pradesh and has also represented Guna parliamentary constituency in Lok Sabha for more than 17 years. Scindia is an economics graduate from Harvard University and has an MBA from Stanford University. Prior to entering politics, Jyotiraditya also worked with Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch as an investment banker. He is also a cricket enthusiast and has served as president of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Scindia talks about how he joined mainstream politics after the sudden demise of his father Madhav Rao Scindia in 2002. He also recollects his memories of his grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia, who was one of the founding members of Jan Sangh. He also talks about his relationship with the Gandhi family and reveals reasons why he left Congress to join the BJP. Scindia also talks about the INDIA alliance and terms it as a group of political entities who want to serve their own interests instead of serving the people. He also talked about initiatives taken by the civil aviation ministry and exuded confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming state elections in Madhya Pradesh.

Embark on an exhilarating journey of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash as we present to you the 'Best of 100' episodes. Brace yourself for riveting conversations with eminent personalities from various spheres of life, delving into topics that resonate with you and society as a whole. This podcast takes you through thought-provoking discussions with influential voices from the realms of politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. With this episode, 'Best of 100', we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our amazing listeners, viewers, and subscribers who have made this podcast a success. Watch out for more mind-blowing episodes that shed light on crucial subjects. We promise to keep you hooked with our captivating content. So, don't miss out! Keep watching, keep listening, and join us on this incredible journey of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash.

Nambi Narayanan is an Indian aerospace scientist who worked for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and headed the cryogenic engine development project at ISRO. Narayanan is also a recipient of Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to space technology. Nambi is also credited for the making of the VIKAS engine, which is a liquid fuelled rocket engine and continues to power most of the space launch missions, including the Chandrayaan-3. Narayanan has lived an extraordinary life and, from being regarded as one of the best brains in space technology to being labelled as a traitor and accused of espionage charges, he has lived an extraordinary life which has been depicted in the 2022 movie ‘Rocketry’, which is a biopic, on him. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Nambi talks about his association with the likes of Vikram Sarabhai, APJ Abdul Kalam and Professor Sathish Dhawan. He also talks about how the lack of funds derailed the Indian space program in the 1970s and 80s. He also draws a connection between fake cases against him and a geopolitical conspiracy to delay India’s aspirations in space. He also talks about his family and how it changed them during trial and tribulations and much more.

Shiv Khera is an author, motivational speaker, business consultant and an educator who is best known for his book You Can Win. Life wasn’t easy for Khera even after being born into a business family. He had to work as a car washer, a life insurance agent before becoming a motivational speaker. Today, he is a much sought after speaker for his inspiring speeches and his clientele include companies like Lufthansa, HP, Mercedes, HSBC, Nestle, Philips and many more, among others. Khera is also a political enthusiast and contested the 2004 and 2009 general elections from South Delhi constituency as an independent candidate and also launched a political outfit, Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samanata Party, in 2008. In this edition of ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, Khera talks about his early life and his journey from being a car washer in Canada to a motivational speaker. He also talks about India’s partition, the 1971 war with Pakistan and how mistakes of the past have contributed to today's problems. He also advocates bringing a uniform civil code in the country and has critical views on freebie politics. Khera also spoke about India's growth story and awareness among the global community about it. He also explains how superstition and faith system are intertwined in our country and how religious gurus mislead people in the name of religion.

Sudhanshu Trivedi is an Indian Politician who represents the BJP in the Rajya Sabha as a member from Uttar Pradesh. Trivedi is an engineer by education and holds a PhD. in mechanical engineering. The national spokesperson of the BJP is known for oratorial skills in both English and Hindi. His sharp wit is often enhanced with poetry and couplets. Trivedi is one of the best debaters in the country on Indian history, culture mythology and politics and has a huge fan following in Indian households be it through live television debates or through clips on social media. Trivedi has been handling the media interaction for the BJP for years and had worked with the media team of BJP during 2014 elections. Prior to that, Trivedi worked as an information advisor to the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Rajnath Singh and was also political advisor to Rajnath Singh when he served as BJP's national president. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sudhanshu Trivedi talks about the opposition INDIA alliance and accuses the Congress party of having an entitled attitude that forced the opposition to boycott certain News Anchors. He also speaks about the Sanatana Dharma controversy and explains Dharma, Hindutva, and Hinduism. He also clarifies on there being no difference between India and Bharat and how the constitution speaks of both in the same breath. Trivedi explains how the British used Caste to divide Indian society that had existed peacefully in a homogenised way for centuries. He comes down heavily on dynasts in politics alleging that they have been just ensuring their own good instead of serving the people.

Muttiah Muralitharan is a Sri Lankan cricket coach, former cricketer and is regarded as one of the most successful and greatest bowlers in the history of the sport. He is the only bowler to take 800 wickets in test cricket and 530 One Day International (ODI) wickets and continues to hold a record of maximum wickets altogether in international cricket. Muralitharan, who is also known as Murali among friends and colleagues, is the first wrist-spinning off-spinner in the history of the game and his bowling action has landed him in controversy on numerous occasions throughout his career spanning over decades. Murali has been called out for his bowling action on three different occasions and was also cleared by the ICC after subsequent tests. He also had to face criticism from cricketers as well as noted personalities for his bowling action. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Murali talks about his two-decade cricket career, his love for the game and the controversies and criticism which came along the way. Murali also talks about his relations with cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, who released the trailer of a biopic which is made on his life. He also says that he is a proud Tamilian and answers controversy around his political connections with former Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and his party. He also terms the IPL as a platform to filter talent, which is going to prove a boon for Indian cricket.

A political slugfest erupted soon after Udhayanidhi Stalin, a Tamil Nadu minister and son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, made a controversial statement comparing ‘Santana Dharma’ to diseases like Malaria, dengue and corona as he called for eradication of the faith. The statement by the Tamilnadu minister has led to registration of FIRs against him as well as a seer from Ayodhya announcing a bounty on his head. But the question remains why someone sitting in a high seat of power would say something like that and what are the reasons behind the uproar by political parties. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, noted author and engineer turned litigator J Sai Deepak, who has written two voluminous well-researched books on Indian civilisation, decodes all aspects of Dravidian Politics, its history and the conflict with Sanatana Dharma and explains the reasons behind the statement by Udhayanidhi. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, J. Sai Deepak talks about the origins of Dravidar Kazhagam and Justice party founded by E. V. Ramasamy and how these organisations led the foundation of Dravidianism in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sai also talks about the secessionist activities undertaken by a few Dravidian organizations and how they opposed home rule for India.

Shri Thanedar is an Indian American business person, author, and politician serving as the U.S. representative from Michigan’s 13th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party in the US, Thanedar also served as a state representative in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023. During his recent visit to India as part of a US Congress delegation, Thanedar, along with the delegation, attended the Independence day celebrations at Red Fort and met Prime minister Narendra Modi, with whom he shares a personal relationship. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Thanedar talks about his meeting with PM Modi and how political advice from the PM has helped him. The Congressman also talks about growing bipartisan support for India in the US Capitol and how the US now considers India as a strategic partner to counter China and Russia's aggression. Thanedar also talks about his personal life and his journey from a Belagavi boy who had to work odd jobs at the age of 14 to support his family to becoming a lawmaker in the United States.

Sheena Bora Murder Case- A mystery that baffled every interrogator and captured the attention of entire country in 2015 continues to remain unsolved to date. The more informed you become, more intricate the story appears. Indrani Mukerjea- one of the prime accused and mother of Sheena, who was in Mumbai’s Byculla jail before getting a bail in 2022 has made some shocking revelations. Watch or listen in to this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash to know what revelations has Indrani Mukerjea made in her memoir ‘Unbroken’. How she grew past her traumatic childhood to make it big in her life and how things took a turn for worse and just kept getting worse. Also, how former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram are connected with the case.

As elections draw near in the Naxal-affected Central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, the third and incumbent Chief Minister of the state, speaks candidly about the state’s distinct politics, its issues and his approaches to tackle them. Bhupesh Baghel keeps a low profile in national politics and maintains his focus on his home state. Among many of his accomplishments he claims to have effectively controlled Naxalism through non-violent means. Watch or listen in to this edition of ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, to understand how the politics in Chhattisgarh has its own twists, what Bhupesh Baghel did differently than his predecessors and how prepared he is for the upcoming state election. The discussion touches upon a wide range of political spectrum including what he refers to as “petty politics of BJP”. The discussion also delves into politically hot topics such as ED, IT raids in the state, Hindutva politics, religion conversion, INDIA alliance. While Bhupesh Baghel was refreshingly candid and straightforward on all questions posed to him, he also addressed queries that have captured everybody’s attention these days like ‘Is Priyanka Gandhi jumping in the election game this time around? And who is going to be leading the pack in INDIA alliance?

Prime Minister Modi and President Xi came face to face at the BRICS summit at Johannesburg last week, but there was no bilateral meeting scheduled. The freeze remains. Pakistan could not get into the grouping though it had China’s backing. Battling economic crisis and political instability Pakistan has been offered respite from UAE which has decided to invest in assets of Pakistan. But there are going to be strings attached this time. Former Indian Ambassador to China who has also served as Indian high commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale and C. Raja Mohan, senior fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute explain China and UAE’s relationship with Pakistan and where the US fits into this new jigsaw puzzle. Watch or listen in to this edition of ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, to understand how these new developments will affect geopolitics in the Indo-pacific region. During the conversation the experts analyse different aspects of the Belt and Road Initiative, China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the violent attacks in Balochistan. The panel also discusses "Gulf Route to Pakistan” a paper authored by Raja Mohan which provides deep insights on the economic affairs of Pakistan and how Pak Army has now decided to get UAE to bail them out. The panel also talks about Imran Khan’s arrest, protest against Pak Army, U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and India’s growing stature in the world stages with Pakistan losing its importance in West as well as China.Here's the link of 'Gulf Route to Pakistan' by C Rajamohan - https://twitter.com/MohanCRaja/status/1683980429873889280?t=FxcXfi1BJ224uBn4ToGIjw&s=19

Pushkar Singh Dhami is the 10th chief minister of Uttarakhand and also has the distinction of becoming the youngest CM of the state. Dhami started his political career as an MLA after he was elected to Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from Khatima constituency in 2012, which he represented till 2022 and currently represents Champawat assembly constituency. Dhami rose to prominence after he was chosen by the BJP leadership to replace Tirath Singh Rawat as chief minister of the state, six months ahead of legislative elections. Riding high on his promise of implementing a uniform civil code in the hill state, Dhami was able to break the trend of revolving door policy in the state of Uttarakhand and returned victorious in state assembly elections of 2022, and was sworn in as Chief minister for the second time. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pushkar Singh Dhami speaks about how he has ensured fulfillment of promises made to the people of the state with the draft of UCC in its final stage. He also talks about his government's crackdown on enemy properties and against illegal encroachment. Dhami also talks about the Joshimath tragedy and reveals his plans to conduct detailed research on the load bearing capacity of cities to check rapid and uncontrolled urbanization in order to protect the ecology of the Himalayan region. He also talks about Love-Jihad and the anti-conversion law which he has implemented in the state. Talking about the opposition's INDIA alliance, Dhami terms it as a new version of UPA and says that Rahul Gandhi continues to be an immature person.

The election fever has already started in the country with five states going to poll before general elections are held in the country. The high stakes states include Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. Apart from that Mizoram too will go to polls by the end of this year. Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh have become interesting as the grand old party in Madhya Pradesh led by veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath is trying to repeat the 2018 performance while incumbent CM Shivraj Chouhan is trying seeking re-election after ruling the central Indian state for 17 years.This episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash features two sessions which include one with former education minister of Madhya Pradesh and two-time Congress MLA Jitu Patwari and a doctor-turned-politician and one time MLA Dr Hiralal Alawa and were recorded in Bhopal, capital city of Madhya Pradesh.The first part features Jitu Patwari who rose to fame after he took Rahul Gandhi on a bike ride to reach Mandasaur in 2017 to meet kin of deceased farmers who were shot in police firing, while Alawa is a first time MLA and a tribal leader who heads Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti, an influential tribal organization which is going to hold key to more than 40 assembly segments this election. In a conversation with Smita Prakash, Patwari talks about his style of politics and Congress's startegy for upcoming assembly elections, he exuded confidence that Congress will return to power in the state. He also talks about Scindia's exit and accuses Shivraj Chouhan of pushing Madhya Pradesh into debt.Alawa also talks about his plans for the upcoming elections and thanks Congress for providing him an opportunity for raising tribal voices in the assembly and accuses BJP as a party of announcements.

Ricky Kej is a three-time Grammy Award-winning Indian music composer and environmentalist. Apart from being a professional musician, he is a trained dentist and also serves as the United Nations Refugees "Goodwill Ambassador", UNCCD “Land Ambassador”, UNESCO “Global Ambassador for Kindness”, UNICEF “Celebrity Supporter” & Ambassador for “Earth Day Network. He has composed 16 albums and over 3500 jingles for commercials and has also composed music for four feature films, including the natural history documentary ‘Wild Karnataka’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough. He has done live concerts at venues spread across over 30 countries, including performing at the United Nations headquarters in New York and Geneva. Kej is a self-taught musician but has also taken formal music education and studied Indian classical music. To commemorate the 75th year of Indian Independence, Ricky conducted a 100-piece British orchestra at The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to record India’s National Anthem at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, London, which is the largest orchestra ever to record India's National Anthem and released it on the occasion of Independence Day 2023. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, Ricky talks about his childhood,his love for the Indian national anthem and his journey from a dentistry student to a Grammy award winning composer. He also talks about his struggles with Dyslexia during his growing years and how he developed an interest in Indian classical music. He also shares his life-changing experience of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which led to him taking up environmental causes through his music. He also talks about noted music maestro Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar and his love for sweet delicacy Mysore Pak.Link for Quick Take episode on Conjunctivitis - https://youtu.be/gF_HofYxXUcLink for Quick Take episode on Delhi Ordinance Bill - https://youtu.be/wGfu1TMqspM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the 19th chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and also has the distinction of longest serving chief minister of the state. Chouhan started his political career as an MLA after he was elected to Madhya Pradesh state assembly from Budhni Constituency in 1990. However, he was elected to Lok Sabha and represented Vidisha constituency in the lower house of parliament till 2005. He became chief minister of the state for the first time in 2005, replacing Babulal Gaur, after which there was no looking back. Chouhan has earned the title of ‘Mama’ among his supporters for his populist schemes for women of state, which include MP Kanya Vivah Yojana, Mukhyamantri Laadli Lakshmi Yojana. Taking another step in that direction, Chouhan has now launched 'Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana' to provide financial assistance to every woman in Madhya Pradesh, which is touted to strengthen BJP's poll prospects in upcoming elections. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash recorded in the city of Bhopal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan speaks about the transformation of Madhya Pradesh from one of the Bimaru states to one of the leading states in the country. He also talks about his special focus on empowering women in the state through self-help groups, populist schemes and government assistance. He also talks about the Congress split in Madhya Pradesh and the reasons behind Jyotiraditya Scindia switching sides to BJP. He also accuses Congress leader Kamal Nath of corruption and terms Rahul Gandhi as an immature leader. He also calls out the newly formed opposition’s I.N.D.I.A alliance as an act of opportunism by parties in opposition.

Punjab is long known for its rich heritage, food, tradition and culture, but in recent times the frontier state has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, from Amritpal Singh (the self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistan supporter who was arrested on April 23 after being on the run for 35 days and is currently lodged in Dibrugarh central jail) to drug menace among youth. This edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash which was recorded in the city of Amritsar, co-hosted by FICCI Flo, Amritsar chapter brings you a distinguished set of panelists which include Professor Sarabjot Behl, Dean of academic affairs at Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Pushpinder Walia, Prinicipal, BBK DAV College for women. Apart from that, we also have noted Punjabi Author Dr. Arvinder Kaur and senior faculty at The Art of Living Paulomi Mukherjee. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, the panelists discussed the NEP 2020 and how it is going to benefit the future generation with vocational courses and additional skills. Apart from that, the panelists also discussed the role of theatre and art in Punjab, migration among youth, NRI marriages and solutions to stress management.

Dharmendra Pradhan is a second generation politician and currently serving as a minister in PM Modi’s cabinet looking after Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He also has the feat of being the longest serving minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, a role which he donned for seven years between 2014-2021. Pradhan is also known as ‘Ujjwala Man’ after he successfully implemented Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana providing LPG connections to over 8 million families from Below Poverty Line (BPL). Pradhan started his political career as an ABVP karyakarta and has donned several hats in the organisation too, including serving as national president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, between 20024-2006 to becoming national secretary of BJP in 2007. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pradhan talks about National Education Policy in detail and provides a detailed insight into the changes in curriculum, structure and its implementation across the country. He also talks about resistance and opposition to the NEP by a few state governments. He also talks about the Balasore rail tragedy, the Manipur issue, the opposition's I.N.D.I.A alliance and BJP-BJD relations in Odisha with Naveen Patnaik sharing a close bond with PM Narendra Modi.

Yogi Adityanath is the two-time chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and head seer of the Gorakhnath Math. Prior to this, he also had the feat of becoming the youngest MP at the age of 26 after he was elected to the lower house of parliament from Gorakhpur parliamentary constituency of the state of Uttar Pradesh in 1998 after his Guru Mahant Avaidyanath chose to retire from active politics and declared Adityanath as his successor. He is also termed as an undefeated parliamentarian as he won consecutive parliamentary elections from 1998 to 2014. Unlike other politicians, he is always dressed in a saffron dress and wears his Hindu identity as pride and is projected as a Hindutva hardliner by his political opponents. However, he is also termed as a firebrand CM for his government model and actions against the mafia, which have been adopted by many other chief ministers in other parts of the country. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash recorded in the city of Lucknow, Yogi Adityanath speaks about his early days and his transformational journey from Ajay Singh Bisht to head seer of the Gorakhnath Math of Nath community situated in the city of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. In this enlightening conversation, the monk turned politician also talks about religion, spirituality and how it helps one in the path of divine pursuit through service to people. He also talks about his family and how a young science student decided to become a Sanyasi. Yogi Adityanath also talks about his governance model and explains how he has been able to successfully ensure peace in Uttar Pradesh by acting against mafias in his little more than six years of tenure. He further talks about the I.N.D.I.A alliance, Kashi Vishwanath temple – Gyanvapi row, violence during polls in the state of West Bengal and raises his suspicion behind Manipur violence.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is an Indian politician serving as the leader of the Indian National Congress in the 17th Lok Sabha and a Member of Parliament from Baharampur constituency in the state of West Bengal. He also heads the Public Accounts Committee as chairperson and is current president of the West Bengal Congress Committee. In his three-decade political career, Chowdhury has been an MLA in the West Bengal assembly and has also served as union minister of state for railways in the Manmohan Singh government. He was made leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha by Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi in 2021, as he was one of the most vocal MPs of the party and has been raising political as well as party issues inside as well as outside the house. Chowdhury stoked controversy on July 28, 2022 after he referred to President Droupadi Murmu as "Rashtrapatni" instead of "Rashtrapati" for which he was attacked by political opponents and he apologized for the same by writing a letter to President Murmu. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chowdhury talks about the newly formed coalition of opposition parties INDIA, which is all set to contest against the incumbent NDA. He also accused the ruling dispensation of discrimination over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as the member of the Lok Sabha and said that he is ready to offer his seat to Gandhi siblings if they wish to contest next general elections. Chowdhury also talks about how poll violence has become a part and parcel in his home state under TMC’s rule and exuded confidence that the Congress party will win upcoming state elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Punjab is long known for its rich heritage, food, tradition and culture, but in recent times the frontier state has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, from Amritpal Singh (the self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistan supporter who was arrested on April 23 after being on the run for 35 days and is currently lodged in Dibrugarh central jail) to drug issues among youth. This edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash which was recorded in the city of Amritsar, co-hosted by FICCI Flo, Amritsar chapter brings you a distinguished set of panelists which include Mrs. Rajni Bector, who has made a name for herself in the food industry by converting her hobby into a successful business. We also have the giant Slayer Jeevanjyot Kaur, a social worker turned politician who defeated political heavyweights Navjot Singh Sidhu and Bikram Singh Majithia in her first election and is currently MLA from Amritsar East constituency. Apart from that, we also have Dr H P Singh, former medical director of Fortis Escorts hospital and Lt. Col. H P Singh (retd) who served as general manager at the War Memorial and Museum of Amritsar post his military stint. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, the panelists discussed the entrepreneurship journey of Mrs. Bector in making Cremica one of the leading brands in the food industry. Apart from that, the panelists also discussed the reason behind youth migration in the state of Punjab and how the drug menace is plaguing the state and its harmful effect on society as a whole.

Jatinder Brar is the founder of Punjab Naatshala, a live performance theatre in the city of Amritsar which gave numerous actors, directors and playwrights a platform to showcase their talent, earn a livelihood and make a name for themselves in the television and film industry. Mr Brar is a trained mechanical engineer and worked in factories before starting as a full-time playwright and a theatre artist. Apart from being an actor and a playwright, he is also an expert sound engineer. Comedians like Kapil Sharma, Bharti Singh, Rajeev Thakur and a dozen others who made a name for themselves in the Bombay film industry are a product of Naatshala and were mentored by Brar. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash which was recorded in Amritsar, Brar talks about his journey from being an engineer to establishing his own theatre. Brar also talks about his association with theatre personalities from across the border, including Madeeha Gauhar, Uzra Butt of Pakistan, and his relationship with Kapil Sharma and Bharti Singh and how his students have continued to be in touch with him. Apart from that, the veteran playwright also talks about Punjab’s society, youth migration and how the audience continues to be the king.

Lt. Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd), popularly known as 'Tiny Dhillon', is a decorated officer with a career spanning over 39 years. He has served as Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence). He earned widespread appreciation for initiating unconventional, people-friendly operations during his tenure as head of XV Corps in Kashmir. He has authored ‘Kitne Ghazi aaye kitne Ghazi gaye’ in which he recounts tales of his military journey and his experiences in Kashmir during the toughest era of the region during the militancy period of 90s till abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. In this edition of ANI podcast with Smita Prakash Lt. Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) talks about Pakistan’s economic turmoil, Imran Khan’s arrest and how the ISI and Pakistan’s military continue to rule the roost in the rogue nation. He also talks about his active involvement in the abrogation of Article 370 and his meeting with home minister Amit Shah. Dhillon also provides us with excerpts from his book ‘Kitne Ghazi aaye kitne Ghazi Gaye’ and mentions the importance of Army wives and their untold stories.

With 2023 being the penultimate year before the general elections of 2024, domestic as well as international developments are going to affect the outcome of elections which will determine whether the incumbent Modi government will get a mandate for continuing in office as they seek a third term from the electorate. This special edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash hosts four special guests from different backgrounds who discuss Indian politics as well as international developments which affect India. So we bring you an analyst on Pakistan affairs Sushant Sareen, a political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla, an author and scientist Anand Ranganathan and a defence expert and researcher in political ideologies Abhijit Iyer Mitra together who discussed UCC, Manipur issue to drone deal and much expected technology transfer on aircraft engines from the United States to India. This special edition also adds flavours to its guests with a variety of food which is served during the episode as food for thought is what brings our guests together as they decode various issues related to people and politics.

Sheela Bhatt is a veteran journalist with a career spanning over four decades and has covered a host of beats as a field reporter and has also donned the roles of an editor and publisher. Sheela is known for her work as a crime journalist and she has interviewed all mafia dons of Mumbai’s underworld, which include Karim Lala to Vardarajan Mudaliar and Chhota Shakeel to Dawood Ibrahim. She is one of the few journalists who has interviewed Dawood in-person at his Dubai home and is known to have had access to the mafia don for years. Recently, a picture posted by Sheela on her Twitter account went viral on social media in which she can be seen sitting with Dawood interviewing him. Apart from field journalism, Sheela has covered all general elections since 1979 and continues to write on politics, international affairs, among others. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sheela talks about her entry into journalism, her personal life and marriage to Kanti Bhatt and the transition from being a revenue reporter to running a magazine of her own. She also talks about the Godhra riots and how religion is being used for defining politics.

Mansukh Mandaviya is a minister in PM Modi’s cabinet and is known for his proactiveness and being a problem solver. Mandaviya like many other BJP politicians is known for his RSS background and started his political journey as a karyakarta of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Born in a small village named Hanol in Palitana taluk of Bhavnagar district in Gujarat Mandaviya's political career took a jump when the then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi decided to field him in Gujarat assembly polls of 2002 from Palitana which he won and became youngest member of the state assembly, a position he held till 2012 when he was elected to the upper house of parliament from Gujarat. Mandaviya's political rise saw another jump when he was made union health minister in 2021 when the country and the world was battling COVID pandemic but his management skills and attitude of getting things done led to successful implementation of world's largest vaccination program which has earned him laurels from the country as well as from the world. Mandaviya is also credited for sucessful roll out of Jan Aushadi Kendras which aims at providing generic medicines at affordable prices to poor. He has been honoured by UNICEF for his contribution towards women health care initiatives by distributing 10 crore sanitary pads through Jan Aushadi Kendras.In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Mandaviya talks about his mission on providing affordable quality healthcare to 1.4 billion people of this country. He also talks about the story of COVID vaccine research and how it was implemented amid criticism from different quarters. He also talks about challenges from Big Pharma and his passion for cycling and health routine. On the political front, he slams Rahul Gandhi for showing indifference over COVID protocols and opposition parties campaign for doing politics during COVID.

Splits, switchovers, broken alliances and political drama have become a part and parcel of Maharashtra politics since the day results of 2019 assembly elections were announced, the latest addition being NCP leader Ajit Pawar taking oath as deputy chief minister in Eknath Shinde led government on Sunday. Soon after Ajit Pawar along with eight other NCP MLAs were administered an oath at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, many saw it as a revenge to NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar who had gone back on his alliance promise with BJP after sealing a deal for making an alliance government led by Devendra Fadnavis in 2019. In this edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash recorded on June 29, 2023 Fadnavis reveals the betrayal of one of their oldest allies, Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackrey. He also talks about how Sharad Pawar allegedly manipulated both the camps by assuring them support for forming a stable government in the state and how he became the kingbreaker of Maha politics from kingmaker.

Piyush Goyal is a second generation politician and currently serving as a minister in PM Modi’s cabinet looking after Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution and Textiles. He is also leader of the upper house of Parliament and plays a key role in ensuring smooth passage of legislation in Rajya Sabha. Goyal is a trained chartered accountant, holds a law degree and has worked as an investment banker. He is one of the BJP leaders who has seen the transition of BJP from the Vajpayee-Advani to the Modi-Shah era. Under the leadership of Goyal, India achieved its highest ever exports and is credited for bringing in newer reforms to quality control, domestic manufacturing and ease of doing business in the country. Before taking charge as union minister in 2014, Goyal donned several hats in the organisation and has served as national treasurer of BJP. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Goyal talks about the unprecedented rise in exports from India, he also talks about how the 'Make In India' is helping achieve better and quality manufacturing by domestic manufacturers and how government is committed towards making India top three economies of the world. He also explains the reason behind the messy Maharashtra politics and exuded confidence on getting the Delhi Ordinance bill passed in Rajya Sabha.

Nitin Gadkari is a Minister in PM Modi’s cabinet and is always termed as the Highway man of India due to the transformational change which he has brought to the country’s infrastructure and connectivity in the last nine years as minister of road transport and highways. Gadkari, like many other BJP politicians, has a RSS background and comes from the city of Nagpur where he started his political career as a Karyakarta of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Gadkari is also credited for being the man behind the first ever expressway (Mumbai-Pune) by bringing in new technologies in the country and helping private companies to ensure quality work in creating modern infrastructure. Gadkari is also a strong advocate of sustainable development and his eco-friendly initiatives in road construction have led to the use of garbage in road construction as a raw material. Before taking charge as union minister, Gadkari donned several hats in organisation as well as governance and has served as BJP national president from 2009 to 2013 and PWD Minister from 1995-1999 in Maharashtra. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Gadkari talks about big ticket projects being constructed by his ministry, he also talks about the developmental push in the north-east and future projects for the country. He also highlights the importance of sustainable development and how he plans to reduce the dependency of automobiles on traditional fuel to alternative sources of energy. He further talks about how the transformational change in infrastructure is helping grow the country’s economy and is reducing poverty. On the political front, he also slams the opposition for attacking Savarkar and claims that the BJP will be sweeping in upcoming legislative elections in states as well as the general elections in 2024.

GBS Sidhu is a former official of India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, and has authored two books, 'Sikkim Dawn of Democracy" & 'The Khalistan Conspiracy'. Sidhu is an internal security expert and has worked closely on the merger of the Sikkim with India. Sidhu has also served at various stations of R&AW abroad and has tracked the Khalistan movement very closely, which he terms as a conspiracy by political masters which was meant for electoral gain. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, Sidhu talks about how people close to the political establishment sowed the seeds of Khalistan & recruited Bhindrawale for political gains. He also discusses how top politicians of the Congress party nurtured Khalistan, which resulted in Operation Blue Star in 1984, also resulting in the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi all set to travel to the United States for his first state visit in the next couple of days, people on both sides are expecting an all-time high in India-US relations. The visit has become significant with both countries working together on ICET, who have recently concluded a UAV drone deal and are collaborating on defence technology. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we discuss the significance and importance of PM Modi’s visit with foreign policy expert and President of India’s premier think tank, Observer Research foundation Samir Saran. Saran is a known face in the arena of diplomacy and is curator of Raisina Dialogue. In this episode, Saran talks about how India-US relations have evolved over the last two decades, threats from China and how India has emerged as a natural ally for the world’s most powerful country.

Shashi Shekhar is a technocrat, and a leader in the media and technology space as well as a regular columnist and has authored ‘Collective Spirit, Concrete Action’, a book based on Mann Ki Baat - Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship communication program for connecting with people of the country. Shekhar is also a member of Team Modi and worked in the 2014 campaign for the general elections. Shekhar has also been CEO of national broadcaster Prasar Bharati and is credited with having brought change in the working style of the national broadcaster. In this edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash, Shekhar talks about how Narendra Modi has rewritten the rules of communication with the use of technology and ‘Mann Ki Baat’. He also spoke about the hostility by the media towards Modi before he became Prime Minister of the country. Shekhar also spoke about the reasons behind technocrats joining Modi’s campaign, PM’s connection with the Indian diaspora, and his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also shares his experience of working along with Rajesh Jain on ‘Niti Digital’ and creation of a volunteering platform ‘India272.com’ in 2013 and much more.

Anu Malik is an Indian music composer and a playback singer who is known for his out of the box compositions and songs. Malik, who has a career spanning over four decades, started working at the age of 14 and has composed music for more than 350 movies and has been accorded the national award for best music direction for the movie Refugee in 2001. Apart from music composition, Malik has also given his voice to some of the all-time hits of Bollywood, like Sandese Aate Hain, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Oonchi Hai Building and East or West, among others. He has also donned the hat of judge on musical reality shows, including Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on TV, for more than a decade. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, Anu Malik talks about his struggles and entry into Bollywood. He recalls how he fought depression and started working at an early age to support his family. He also talks about the Highs and lows in his career, from ruling Bollywood in the 90s to going without work for a decade. Apart from that, the Border fame music composer talks about accusations of plagiarism, nepotism in the Bombay film industry, his family, and much more.

Milinda Moragoda is a Sri Lankan politician who is currently serving as the 22nd High Commissioner to India since 2020. In his decade-long political career, Mr. Moragoda served as principal government negotiator in the peace talks of 2002-2004. He has also served as cabinet minister for economic reform, science and technology, tourism, justice and law reform in the Sri Lankan government. Mr Moragoda played an important role in getting financial assistance from New Delhi after Sri Lanka plunged into an economic crisis in 2022. Apart from being a diplomat and politician, Mr Moragoda is also a successful entrepreneur and also has experience of over two decades in the media industry. He currently serves as chairman of the MMBL-Pathfinder Group, a privately held investment group, and has hosted television and radio shows in both Sinhala and English. In this edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash and Naveen Kapoor, Moragoda talks about his close ties with top officials of the Indian government and how India went all out to provide timely assistance to the island nation during the economic crisis. He also talks about Indian concern over Hambantota port, which is run by the Chinese, and how it has affected India-Sri Lanka ties. He also talks about the inheritance of debt which pushed the tourism-dependent nation into crisis.

Gurcharan Singh Grewal is the general secretary of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, which is the largest Sikh organisation tasked with managing over 280 Gurudwaras in the state of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Grewal is a known face among the Sikh community and has been associated with Akalis and Sikh politics for around four decades. He considers Bhindranwale a martyr and says that Bhindranwale never demanded Khalistan. In an enlightening conversation with Smita Prakash, Grewal talks about the history of SGPC and its inception and his association with Bhindranwale since the 80s. Grewal also explains the reason behind Akali Dal's dominance in the SGPC elections and why other political parties haven't been able to make their way into the elections. He also talks about Amritpal and the drama over his arrest as a conspiracy by state government and central agencies and youth migration from Punjab. 

A wise man once said, “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it' - this line exactly defines the stories of our special guests in this episode as they conquered their disabilities to achieve success. This episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash features two sessions which include one shot in Mumbai in January 2023 and the other recorded in Amritsar in May 2023. The first part features Shubham Vanmali, an international open water swimmer who overcomes his mental disability to conquer the seas, while the second story is about Dr. Shefali Chauhan who didn’t allow her physical disability to become a roadblock in her way to success. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, Shubham narrates his journey from being a child suffering from Dyslexia to swimming past the English Channel while Dr. Shefali narrates her struggles and difficulties she had to face after a kitchen accident in her college days led to the amputation of her left hand. She narrates how she took the unfortunate incident as a blessing in disguise and went on to get her PhD and now is a professor at GNDU, Amritsar.

With the Reserve Bank Of India announcing the withdrawal of Rs 2000 notes from circulation as part of a currency management exercise and allowing people to exchange or deposit them in their accounts by September 30, 2023. People are in a fix over the procedure, the number of notes which can be exchanged by a person per day among others and what will be the fate of notes after the central bank's deadline. In this special edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash, the RBI's decision of Rs 2000 note withdrawal and its impact are discussed in detail with Monika Halan who is a financial expert and chairperson of the SEBI advisory committee for Investor Protection and Education Fund. Monika also talks about the controversy around TCS and LRS and the social media outrage which happened after a government decision came to fore.

Lt Col Pavithran Rajan is a former intelligence operative, academician and tech entrepreneur who is also an adjunct faculty at the Cyber Security Research Centre, Punjab Engineering College and is an advisor to Cyber Peace Foundation. He also serves on the board of two private companies currently and has authored a book Engaging China-Indian Interest in the information age. He was commissioned into the Sikh Light infantry but he transitioned into the Intelligence Corps after 10 years of service. He is credited with being one of the first officers to use cybercraft and internet to apprehend a Pakistani operative in India. Pavithran is considered a thought leader in Cyber Intelligence and Information Warfare in India and has also served as an advisor to Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI. In an illuminating conversation with Smita Prakash, he talks about counter-intelligence, foreign relations, information warfare and national security. Pavithran also spills the beans on the vulnerabilities India as a nation faces from its neighboring countries due to digitization and cyberspace. He also talks about 26/11 and how personal data on digital devices will change wars in the future.

With the war of narratives picking pace like anything after Modi coming to power in 2014, the left vs. right divide has only escalated, and now it is being claimed that history is being rewritten for political benefits. As the long push of the conservative right wing is finally being heard, this war of narratives has flown down from many places to India, where it now finds space. Is this an attempt to divide Indian society? In this episode of Podcast with Smita Prakash, we bring two experts to discuss the subject with their in-depth knowledge. Author and journalist Hindol Sengupta has penned 10 books on history, mythology, among others, and is the first Indian to win the Wilbur Award for his book ‘Being Hindu’. He is accompanied by Podcaster and social commentator Kushal Mehra. In this articulated podcast with Smita Prakash, the panel discusses whether or not the transition in history writing is bringing a divide in Indians, examines the western bias against India by foreign academia and India’s growth story.

A trove of talent, Divya Dutta is a noted actor and author of two books- The Stars in My Sky: Those Who Brightened My Film Journey and Main Aur Maa. She has been awarded with the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. With her debut in 1994, Divya Dutta has marked place with her unconventional roles in films like Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Boota Singh, Veer-Zaara, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, etc. Not just Hindi films, she has also acted in many regional films and international films. In this heart-to-heart conversation with Smita Prakash, Divya Dutta talks about challenges faced in her early days of acting career. She recalls the hardships of living in the conflict zone during the 1980s, when the Punjab separatist movement was raging. She also mentions how Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan taught and helped her as a newcomer.

Afroz Shah is a lawyer by profession and an environmentalist by passion. He became a household name after organizing the world’s largest beach clean-up project at Versova Beach, Mumbai. For his efforts to make beaches garbage free and organising the world's largest beach clean-up, Shah was named by the UN as a Champion of the Earth in 2016 and was also awarded Eco warrior and Indian of the year in subsequent years. However, the feather in the cap came for him when Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Shah for transforming Versova beach from filth and garbage to clean and beautiful during his radio programme 'Mann ki baat' on 28 May 2017. In an interesting conversation with Smita Prakash, Shah narrates the story of how his personal endeavor of cleaning beaches and restoring ecology became a mass movement. He also talks about the support he received from the likes of Amitabh Bachhchan and the Dawoodi Bohra community which helped him restore the ecosystem which led to the return of Ridley turtles to Mumbai beach. Afroz also talks about his ongoing partnerships to educate people on garbage reduction and sanitation in the slums of Mumbai and his future plans on cleaning the Mithi river and Dana Pani beach in Mumbai.

Hours after the dramatic arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, huge protests intensified in several cities in Pakistan with Imran’s supporters thronging the streets of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan. PTI supporters also stormed the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi and also burnt down the residence of the corps commander in Lahore. In this edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash, the recent developments and what they mean for India and how they impact geopolitics in the region and globally are discussed in detail with Tilak Devasher, author of four widely acclaimed books on Pakistan and a member of the National Security Advisory Board. The panel was also joined by senior fellow, ORF and an analyst on Pakistani affairs, Sushant Sareen, who also discussed the recent trip of Pakistani FM Bilawal Bhutto to India for attending SCO meeting in Goa and what it means for India-Pak bilateral relations in the near future.

Professor Salvatore Babones is an American sociologist, academician and higher education commentator who is currently an associate professor at the University of Sydney and an adjunct scholar at the Centre for Independent Studies. He has authored over a dozen books and academic articles and writes about Asia’s role in the global political economy with special focus on China and India. Babones criticized democracy indices for downgrading India’s ranking under the Modi government in 2022, which won him followers among Indian conservatives, while liberals grew suspicious of him. Babones is also a social media buff and has a huge fan following in India. In this edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash shot in February 2023, Babones talks about western biases against India and how a handful of intellectuals vilify India on the global stage in connivance with western media outlets. He also talks about Islamophobia in Indian politics, the RSS, and New India.

With the last US troops leaving Afghanistan in August 2021 as a result of the Doha Agreement between Taliban and United States has led to a tragic future ahead of Afghans. From banning the media to curbing women's rights, Taliban has backtracked on everything they promised, leading to one of the worst refugee crisis. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash held at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, March 2023, the panel discussed US withdrawal from Afghanistan after over two decades and the consequences of a Taliban takeover in the central Asian country which has had a history of war, instability leading to tragic humanitarian crisis. The expert panel, comprising of senior fellow at Atlantic Council, Scowcroft Center for Strategy & Security, USA Dr. Kaush Arha; Former Policy Advisor to the UK Minister for Refugees and Minister for Afghan Resettlement Shabnam Nasimi and an Afghan migrant and a Partner in EY, Germany Younes Ouaqasse also evaluated the probability of new political dynamics in the war-torn country, US engagement with Pakistan and the role of regional as well as global community including India and EU on humanitarian relief and security aspects.

Anupam Kher is more than just a talented actor and not only has two national awards to his name, but has been accorded Padma Shri in 2004 and Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to the field of arts. Kher has acted in more than 500 movies, which include appearances in Indian as well as international movies, including the likes of Bend It Like Beckham. He has also donned the hat of an administrator and has served as Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, Film and Television Institute of India as well as of his alma mater, National School of Drama. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, Anupam Kher talks about his struggles and entry into Bollywood. He recalls how Saaransh's success in 1984 helped him to get a foothold in the film industry and established him as an actor. He also takes us on a journey of his filmography and shares his experiences working with different co-stars. The Khosla Ka Ghosla actor also spoke about his family, politics, fitness regime, critics and much more.

Jagadish Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation who is better known as 'Sadhguru' by his millions of followers and fans across the world, is a multifaceted personality who has broken the stereotype of being a Yogi. Sadhguru dons many hats and is a Yoga-Guru, mystic, philanthropist, author as well as a podcaster. He has broken the myth that a yogi has to live in a cave meditating and he sings, dances, rides a bike, drives vehicles for causes which affect humanity, like ‘Save The Soil’. Sadhguru was also awarded India’s second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 2017 for his contribution to spirituality and humanitarian services. In an enlightening conversation with Smita Prakash, Sadhguru talks about his tryst with Yoga and spirituality and the incident which led to his spiritual awakening. Further, Sadhguru also talks about the controversies surrounding the Isha Foundation, concepts of enhancing our lives by awakening one’s inner intelligence and protecting the planet and much more.

Vikram Sood, is a former chief of India's external intelligence agency the Research and Analysis Wing and an advisor to the Observer Research Foundation, an independent public policy think tank in New Delhi. Sood’s entry to R&AW was very accidental but he went on to become spymaster in 2000 in his over three-decade-long service. Sood also has the distinction of being the lone chief of R&AW who came from a non- police background. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, Sood talks about Kargil, Pakistan’s misadventures on the border as well as on mainland through terror attacks. Sood also reveals Musharraf’s role in Kargil and how they exposed his lies, importance of intelligence system for strategic and security interests of the country. Further, Sood also narrates the story behind Pakistan’s nuclear story and the assassination of former Prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, his relations with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his take on spy movies.

On the 39th anniversary of Operation Meghdoot which was launched by Indian Army to take control of the world’s highest battlefield Siachen Glacier, we bring to you a special episode on the story of how our defence forces captured the important peaks of Siachen Glacier against all odds in 1984. In an informative conversation with Smita Prakash, Lt Gen Sanjay Kulkarni (Retd.) who as a 28-year-old captain in April 1984 was among the first to be heli-dropped on the Lolofond Glacier recalls the operation and stories on how they pre-empted Operation Ababeel by Pakistani Army.

Shefali Shah, one of the most talented women actors today, has had a long and enduring career spanning over two decades, which saw her transition from an actress to every character she played. She was awarded the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie ‘The Last Year’ in 2007. In a candid conversation in ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Shefali Shah opens up about her journey in the Mumbai film industry to OTT, which brought her into the spotlight in 2019, portraying her as a 'strong woman' on Indian screens. Shefali also talks about her filmography and shares her experiences working with different co-stars as well as contrasting roles and how she ended up choosing them.

With China aggressively laying sole claim on the entire South China Sea, which facilitates over $3 trillion worth of maritime trade annually, leading to conflict and impasse between countries including Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, the South China Sea has become a very important topic globally. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash at the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, March 2023, the panel discussed QUAD’s strategy to counter China’s aggression, bilateral security mechanisms for the region, security challenges due to sovereign claims by Beijing in South China Sea and the road ahead. The expert panel, comprising of senior fellow for Asia-Pacific security at International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore Dr Lynn Kuok; Non-resident fellow at Hudson Institute USA, Dr Satoru Nagao and Head of National Security College at Australian National University Professor Rory Medcalf; came together with Smita Prakash and discussed various aspects of disputes arising due to Beijing’s aggressive territorial policies and claims over South and East China Sea. The panel also evaluated security challenges posed by China, US and India’s interest in the region and world’s view on India-China conflict.

 Gaurav Gogoi, is a second generation Congress politician from the state of Assam and is currently serving as the deputy leader of the Indian National Congress in Lok Sabha since 2020. Gaurav represents Kaliabor parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha since 2014 and is taking forward the legacy of his father Tarun Gogoi, longest serving chief Minister of Assam. Gaurav, an alumnus of New York University is said to be a family man and maintains a low profile, but happens to be very close to former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and defends his recent speech in London. In an animated conversation with Smita Prakash, Gaurav talks about his entry into politics, Himanta Biswa Sarma and accuses BJP of misusing central agencies. He also talks about NEDA, role of regional parties in the North East, opposition unity and Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Sanjeev Sanyal is a noted historian and economist turned writer who has written seven books on India’s history, geography and freedom struggle. His latest book, Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom, talks about the story of armed resistance which wasn’t individual heroism as it has been portrayed in our history books, but was part of a wider movement towards colonial occupation. Sanjeev is a recipient of an Eisenhower fellowship, has been named young global leader by WEF and is a visiting scholar at Oxford University and an adjunct fellow at National University of Singapore. Currently, Sanyal serves as a member of the economic advisory council to the Prime Minister of India. In this edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash, author-cum-economist talks about armed resistance against the British, his family’s contribution to the freedom struggle, Savarakar, the source of the Khalistani movement and how collaborators and the Nehruvian Congress wiped out the actual history of the Revolutionaries.

With India all set to host SCO in May and G20 later in September this year, India-US relations have become a very important topic with strategic partnerships reaching an all-time high between the two largest democracies of the world. This episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash features two sessions, which includes one at Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, March 2023 and the other recorded in January 2023. The expert panel comprises former Indian Ambassador to the United States Arun Kumar Singh and Former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, who discuss various aspects of India-US relations in a revitalised Quad era, China’s resistance to Quad and Russia-Ukraine war during the first session, while in the second session foreign policy expert and executive director of Observer Research Foundation, USA, Dhruva Jaishankar and senior fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute, C Raja Mohan comes together with Smita Prakash to discuss the topic on a broader aspect by decoding the strengthened relationship in the light of a rejuvenated NATO, acceptance of Indo-Pacific, Ukraine War and upcoming elections in both countries.

General V K Singh, former chief of Army staff, donned many hats before turning to be a full-time politician. Coming from a family of soldiers, Singh served 42 years in the Indian Army, which saw him on the front lines of combat, in the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and also in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. During his four-decade-long military service, he has seen it all from being awarded prestigious medals, which include Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal, to being a controversy child with accusations of a military coup, falsified birth certificate and snooping of government servants, all of which was never proven. General Singh also joined India Against Corruption movement with Anna Hazare but moved on to the BJP and currently serves as Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Ministry of Civil Aviation in the second term of the Modi government. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, General Singh reveals the truth about the ‘coup’, the creation of the TSD, brutalities by Pakistani Army during the Indo-Pak War of 1971, Galwan and other untold stories.

With the US and India going for elections in 2024 this topic is very pertinent as there is a general consensus in both capitals and a bipartisan consensus in Washington that, despite significant differences, bilateral cooperation is beneficial to both countries. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash at the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, March 2023, the panel discussed the India-US relationship- from national security to trade, the perspective of Democrats and Republicans towards India, the Ukraine conflict, the misinformation campaign and the role of Indian diaspora in American politics. The expert panel, comprising of senior fellow and Director, Technology and National Security Program of Centre for a New American Society, USA Martijn Rasser; Director, US and the Americas Programme and Dean Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs, Chatham House, UK Leslie Vinjamuri; and Distinguished fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, USA and former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster came together with Smita Prakash and discussed various aspects of US-India relations in the view of a Democrat or Republican President in The White House in November 2024.

A Punjabi by birth, Sonu Sood’s career in films began in the Tamil and Telugu film industry, but he gradually moved to the Bombay film industry when interesting offers came his way. In this heart to heart chat with Smita Prakash, the vagaries of the film industry are discussed at length. In 2020 when there was a nationwide lockdown during the pandemic, Sood helped thousands of migrants return home. He speaks about this life altering mission of his in this podcast. Many thought that his social work was a stepping stone into politics, but Sood says he isn’t ready as yet though many offers have come his way. Sood also talks about physical and mental fitness regimes that he follows.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during the 17th edition of the GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum in Slovakia last year said, "Europe has to get out of the mindset that Europe's problem is the world's problem but the world's problem is not Europe's problem." The remark led to discussions and debates over Europe's perspective of the world. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash at the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, March 2023, the panel discussed Europe's stand on geo-political developments- from migration of refugees to European countries, to the China-Taiwan conflict, to Russia-Ukraine War, to Covid-19 pandemic. The expert panel, comprising of Portugal's Director General for Foreign Policy Rui Vinhas; Founder of Austria-based For A Conscious Experience Velina Tchakarova; and Finland's Tomi Huhtanen, the Executive Director of Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, came together with Smita Prakash and discussed various issues thread by thread.

Young politician Poonam Mahajan, daughter of veteran BJP leader, Pramod Mahajan, has carved a niche for herself in Bharatiya Janata Party. A two-time MP from Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency, she has held many important positions in the BJP. She is known more as her father's daughter, who in a candid conversation with Smita Prakash talks about her life, vision for her party and her state- Maharashtra. She recalls her entry into politics after her father's horrific murder in 2006 and the legal battle that ensued the killing of her father by his brother. She also hits out at the Congress party, the Gandhi family and Bharat Jodo Yatra. Talking about Maharastra politics, she explains the history of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and the changed scenario of alliances in the stat

Alakh Pandey, an entrepreneur also known as Physics Wallah was in the 11th grade when he began teaching younger children to supplement his family income. Later he dropped out of college to pursue his passion of teaching physics. Now his unicorn business is said to have a net worth of Rs 4000 crore. Alakh found a different way of communicating complex physics problems to get through to children. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, Alakh Pandey sheds light on the struggle he faced early in life before he established Physics Wallah. Free physics lessons on YouTube was the stepping stone. He also shares the nuances in education sector & future of ed-tech business.

Manoj Bajpayee, one of the most talented actors today has three national awards and six Filmfare trophies to his name. He has also been awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to the arts. In a candid conversation in ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Manoj Bajpayee opens up about his family, initial struggles and entry into Bollywood. He recalls how Satya’s success in 1998 helped him to get a foothold in the film industry and established him an actor. He takes us on a journey talking about his filmography and shares his experiences working with different co-stars. The Zubeidaa actor explains his fitness regime and how spiritualism has helped him to keep going in the City of Dreams, Mumbai. He recalls the proudest moment of his life when he saw the joy in his father's eyes when the boy from Bihar’s Belwa village received one of India’s highest civilian honours, the Padma award.

Dr Satheesh Reddy headed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is currently Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri dealing with the programme which spearheads India's indigenous development of defence systems and technologies. In this informative conversation with Smita Prakash, Dr Reddy talks extensively about India’s strategic missile programme and the impact it has on India’s defence system. He sheds light on different developmental programmes undertaken by DRDO for radars, sonar, drones, tanks, aircraft and their contribution during Covid pandemic. He emphasises the growth of the defence industry in India and the start-up movement in the country. He also recalls his years as a young scientist working under the leadership of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar's illustrious career as a Diplomat spans 38 years including tenures as India's Ambassador in China, the Czech Republic, the USA, Singapore and finally, as Foreign Secretary. He was picked by Prime Minister Modi himself, to be part of his cabinet in 2019 as External Affairs Minister. The articulate Dr S. Jaishankar, in an interesting conversation with Smita Prakash shares his journey from being a diplomat to entering politics. He talks about his father whose career growth as a Cabinet Secretary was halted by Indira Gandhi due to internal politics. He slams the opposition over allegations of being accommodative of China and explains the steps taken by the government to strengthen the security at the LAC. He also reveals how some foreign powers are collaborating to create a false narrative against India as the election approaches.

Noted journalist Rubika Liyaquat made a name for herself in the field of TV journalism with her fiery style of anchoring news bulletins. Whether in Zee TV or now in ABP News she continues with the same style of picking up contentious topics and getting all sides of the debate on her shows. Rubika does on-the-ground reporting and is often criticized for editorialising news. She is active on social media where true to her style, her posts are fearless and bold. Being a progressive Muslim woman professional, she finds herself at odds with those who want to box her in. In a candid interview with Smita Prakash, Rubika talks about her life, her family and her reason for becoming a journalist. She speaks her mind on the Hijab controversy and other issues related to the Muslim community. She, without hesitation, shares about her struggle to break stereotypes and explains the many trials she had to go through.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, a medical doctor by training decided to join politics and fought an election from Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir in 2014 defeating political stalwart Ghulam Nabi Azad. He holds many portfolios in PM Modi's cabinet like Minister of State Independent Charge for the Ministry of Science & Technology & Minister of State Independent Charge for the Ministry of Earth Science and Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office, Personnel Public Grievances & Pensions, Department Of Atomic Energy & Department Of Space. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, Dr. Jitendra Singh clarifies the government's position on the ongoing controversy over the Hindenburg report. He talks about the situation on the ground in Jammu & Kashmir and the measures taken by the government for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. He explains in length the history of the Kashmir issue and the roles played by previous regimes in the misadventure. He also gives us a brief glimpse into his life and career as a doctor and his journey in politics.

Kailash Kher, noted singer and songwriter emerged from being a folk singer singing devotional songs on the Ganga ghats to lending his voice to the stars of Bollywood. He has been awarded Padma Shri for his exceptional and distinguished contribution to Indian music. In a soul-stirring conversation with Smita Prakash, Kailash Kher talks about his life in penury, his time singing jingles for ad films and his break into Bollywood. He credits his success to the almighty and expresses his desire to do more for society. He also reveals about phases in his life when he tried to commit suicide and faced rejection before becoming a music sensation.

The ‘Mast Mast girl’ of Bollywood, Raveena Tandon set the screen on fire in the 1990s with her hit songs and movies. In a candid interview with Smita Prakash just days before being conferred with Padma Shri, Raveena Tandon opens up about her family life, her entry into Bollywood and her friends in the industry. She shares her experiences with adoption in her 20s and talks about the other causes that are close to her heart. She goes on to talk about her relationship with Akshay Kumar and how toxic entertainment magazines were during the 90s. Being someone who never shies away from speaking her mind she explains her views on nepotism and the cancel culture impacting Bollywood.

Aruna Irani, a versatile actress who has acted in more than 500 films still brims with enthusiasm as she recollects her experience as a child actress, and her time in theatre and language films. In a candid interview with Smita Prakash, Aruna Irani describes her life, her entry into Bollywood, her struggles and how she dealt with the issue of typecasting. She goes on to speak about her relationship with Mehmood and why she feels he was responsible for her downfall. She recounts some incidents on the sets with Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan. She also reveals for the first time the poignancy of being ‘married’ to an already married man, Kuku Kohli.

Lt Gen Kuldip Singh Brar is a veteran of the 1971 India-Pakistan War and the liberation of Bangladesh. He was also the commanding officer of Operation Blue Star and to this day, he remains on the hit list of Khalistani terrorists. In an informative conversation with Smita Prakash, 89-year-old Lt Gen Brar explains the preparations that went behind Operation Blue Star and the situation in Punjab during that time. He describes, in gripping detail, the operation and the events that followed. He recalls the assassination attempt on him by Khalistani terrorists ten years ago in London and how he fought back. He goes on to narrate his experience during the 1971 India-Pakistan War and the inside story of Pakistan’s surrender.

Annamalai Kuppusamy, the Tamil Nadu state president of BJP is one of the sharpest young politicians in the country at present. An engineer who holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the Indian Institutes of Management, Annamalai enlisted himself in the police force in 2011. Not satisfied with what he had achieved after eight years in the Indian Police Service, he joined the BJP in 2020 and was named the state unit president a year later. In an engaging interview with Smita Prakash, Annamalai talks about Tamil Nadu politics, BJP’s inroads and the stature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He explains the challenges and opportunities for BJP in Tamil Nadu and the way forward. He also slams the DMK and Chief Minister MK Stalin for creating a rift between Tamil Nadu and the rest of the country. Annamalai reveals what exactly happened with the Governor inside the assembly and clarifies the reason behind using a watch which was in news recently.

It has been a tumultuous year in the United Kingdom as it saw three prime ministers in less than two months, and the fifth in six years. Rishi Sunak, in October, became the first Indian-origin politician to head the United Kingdom. In this ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, British High Commissioner Alexander Ellis tells how the UK, after leaving the European Union, is looking up to India for cooperation in diverse fields like climate change, trade and business, pharmaceuticals among others. He is also in favour of more skilled Britishers coming to India. While terming India as a powerful country, the High Commissioner supports India's candidacy for a permanent seat in the UNSC. The British High Commissioner also sings an SRK number in the podcast.

Lt Gen Anil Bhatt (Retd), DG, Indian Space Association served for 40 years in the Army in various capacities. He handled major operations in Kashmir as Chinar Corps Commander and was Director General of Military operations during the Doklam crisis with China in 2017. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he shares his experience of bringing in normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir which led to the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019. He elaborates how the Indian Army eliminated three nephews of designated global terrorist Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar in Kashmir within days of them setting their foot on the Indian soil. In a candid conversation Lt Gen Bhatt (Retd) tells how forces dealt with the Doklam crisis as China brought forces in the Chumbi Valley- much closer to the LAC. In his current role as the DG of Indian Space Association, India opened the space to non-government private entities benefiting the Indian Space Industry. 

J. Sai Deepak is an engineer turned litigator turned author. His two books India that is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution and India, Bharat and Pakistan: The Constitutional Journey of Sandwiched Civilisation are two voluminous well-researched books on the Indian civilisation. His views are hugely popular among a cross-section of the Indian population which believes that the way Indians have read and perceived the history of their own civilisation is through the prism of their colonial masters and that Indians constantly seek validation. On the other hand, some historians feel that J. Sai Deepak and other historians are whitewashing history through an unnecessary debate of native versus colonial prism. In an in-depth conversation with Smita Prakash, J. Sai Deepak busts historical myths which have been propagated by historians for decades. From Wahhabism to Sufism to the origins of the Two-Nation Theory he explains each topic meticulously. Throughout the conversation, he emphasises the fact that there is a need for more proponents of the alternate narrative.

Three-time Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar currently serves in the Narendra Modi Cabinet as Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and also as the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Besides being a politician, Rajeev is an entrepreneur and technocrat. He doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind on matters that mean much to him like administrative reforms, national security and the welfare of Veterans. In an informative interview with Smita Prakash he opens up about his life, his time in the United States, his entry into politics and the opportunities that followed. He explains in detail the nuances of the internet and the need for better regulatory measures. He highlights the important parts of the Digital India Act that is poised to replace IT Act, 2000. He further talks about how the policies of the current government have boosted the growth of the Indian Electronics Industry and uplifted India’s workforce through the Skill India Mission.

Four-time Member of Parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi is considered one of the most influential Muslims in the world. A barrister by profession, it’s hard to pin him down in debates; something that even his greatest opponents admit. Hence most of the criticism against him is rhetorical by nature. His views veer towards being radical and regressive on some occasions and on others, nationalistic and progressive. In an interesting conversation with Smita Prakash, he opens up about his life, entry into politics, and political legacy. He speaks his mind with great conviction and shares his views on controversial issues like Love Jihad, the Triple Talaq law, and the Hijab ban. He slams both the BJP and the Congress with the same vigour for ignoring the Muslim community and for polarising the society. Through the interview, he emphasises his faith in Indian Democracy and insists that he doesn’t need a certificate of Nationalism from anyone.

India formally assumed the Presidency of the G20 or the Group of 20 developed or developing nations on November 2022. This will last for a period of one year and this one year is packed with events with several heads of state and governments visiting India. Is this just a talking forum or can this powerful group find solutions to global issues? To discuss this and more Smita Prakash spoke with Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 Presidency Harsh Vardhan Shringla. He was previously the Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassador to the United States of America. In this conversation, he explains in detail the logistics behind holding such a massive event and the immense opportunities to showcase different parts of the country. He speaks about issues impacting the World and India's role in resolving them. Through the conversation, he empasises on how the global perception of India has changed in recent times and the respect it commands on the global level. He also opens up about his personal life and encourages the youth to join the Indian Foreign Services.

What happens when an analyst on Pakistani affairs, an author and scientist, a political analyst and a researcher who speaks on political ideologies and social issues, come together on a Podcast with an Editor? Let’s tune in to the year ender edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash where in a free-wheeling conversation they discuss wide-ranging issues including Punjabi supremacy, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress party, India’s G-20 presidency, Pakistani narrative, Nupur Sharma, calls for Sar Tan Se Juda, controversy surrounding Pathan movie and the unforgettable romance in the 1981-released movie Silsila.

You don’t laugh at her but you laugh with her. If you are an avid social media user, you must have come across the saree-clad ‘Raju Ki Mummy’ passing unabashed judgment on other people’s fashion or the ‘Chanayi Kapoor’ who messes with her housekeeper in a pretentious South Delhi accent. The face behind all these characters is a single versatile entertainer and social media content creator Dolly Singh. Hailing from Nainital, Dolly is a force of talent, who effortlessly commands the screen by moulding into a variety of characters we love and often relate to. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dolly takes us on a laughter ride and a stroll down memory lane, sharing how she stepped into the world of content creation after moving to Delhi for higher studies. The young artiste, who defines herself as introvert in real life, talks about her characters, content and challenges.

Bhupender Yadav, the Union Cabinet Minister of Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is also the BJP’s election strategist. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the Union Cabinet Minister speaks about the victory of the recently held Gujarat Assembly polls and the party’s defeat in Himachal Pradesh state elections. From COP 27 Egypt to carbon emissions in India, from Kalyan Singh to Kejriwal, and from Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra to BJP’s pledge for various state elections in 2023, the party’s war room strategist parries a volley of questions in this freewheeling conversation.

Dr Vikram Sampath is the author of eight books including two-volume biography of VD Savarkar. In 2021, the Bengaluru-based historian was chosen as a fellow for the Royal Historical Society of the United Kingdom. In this edition of Podcast with Smita Prakash, the young author-cum-historian talks about India's glorious history; the unsung heroes including civilisational warriors. He elaborates how Lalitaditya Muktapida in the 7th century not only stopped the Arabs from entering India but also conquered parts of Afghanistan and extended his kingdom upto Tibet and China. Dr Sampath speaks about the heroic queens Rani Abakka and Ahilyabai Holkar and explains how the notion that Arab invaders plundered Hindu temples in India only for economic considerations is “bunkum”. He also delves into details about Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan while explaining why Indian Muslims should be inspired by Dara Shikoh and not Ghazni and Ghori. The discussion on the origin and ownership of Mysore Pak serves as a dessert in the podcast.

China's recent attempt to forcefully alter the status quo on the LAC in Yangtse in Tawang Sector was thwarted by the Indian Army. As the soldiers of People's Liberation Army (PLA) came with clubs, the Indian soldiers did not back down and responded in kind, beating back the belligerent Chinese forces. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd), Former Army Chief, tells how the PLA received a "Jhatka" in Galwan in 2020. As Indian side also suffered casualities, did it break the Army's morale? How is the situation similar or different this time? Is PLA really a modernised army or is it actually “regressive”? How was Col B Santosh Babu’s death at the hands of the aggressive Chinese forces avenged? On a gamut of wide-ranging issues, including Balakot Air Strike, Gen Naravane (Retd) answers every question with military precision.

Mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, physical, and social well-being. One's holistic health is considered incomplete without good mental health. However, mental health often takes a back seat as people still hesitate to talk about it. India has one of the world’s largest population of people with mental issues with more than 80% of people not having access to care services for a multitude of reasons, ranging from lack of knowledge, stigma and high cost of care. To have a better understanding of mental health issues in detail, Smita Prakash spoke with Kamna Chhibber who is the Head of Mental Health at the Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences at Fortis Healthcare. In an informative conversation, Kamna explained how individuals can take care of their well-being and manage emotional distress. She also talks about ways in which mental health can affect anyone regardless of age, intelligence, or social class, emphasising how a child’s mental health is just as crucial as their physical health. Throughout the conversation, she busts myths and taboos related to mental health.

Traditional folk songs are an integral part of Indian culture. Malini Awasthi has beautifully managed to capture the essence of Indian Folklore and has been able to connect the urban audience to the traditional Indian roots through her music. She has been awarded the Padma Shri and is a recipient of several other awards and recognitions. Her special connection is with her home state Uttar Pradesh and she is completely in tune with the folklore and folk music of the state. In a conversation with Smita Prakash, she opens up about her life, her achievements and her path to reach the pinnacle of folk music in the country. She emphasises on the importance of being rooted in our culture and tradition and not being swept by Western cultures. In the podcast Ms Awasthi discusses gender discrimination and women empowerment.

He doesn’t have an MBA degree, yet Prafull Billore is known as MBA Chai Wala. He flipped burgers before wads of cash made way into his hands. Prafull started the MBA Chai Wala in 2017 in pursuit of making big. Soon the young entrepreneur had his cash register ringing and the humble “thela” on a highway soon transcended into a big business. The chain now has nearly 200 outlets in India and abroad. In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the 26-year-old tells how he made it big without taking “jugaad” route, what challenges he faced, how he overcame “log kya kahenge?”, how from being called Billo Rani he became a millionaire, and how he is an epitome of the youth of today’s India.

Israeli envoy Naor Gilon has been in the news recently for taking on Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid for his comments at the International Film Festival of India. In this podcast, that was recorded earlier Ambassador Naor Gilon talks with Smita Prakash on India–Israel relations which is on a very strong footing with both the nations looking at each other as strategic partners in all spheres of life. From defence to agriculture, from cyber security to start-up culture, India and Israel have been able to set up a system of cooperation that has been a cause for envy for India’s neighbours. He focuses on the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel in 2017 was a game-changer for both countries. Ambassador Naor Gilon also opens up about his life, growing up in a family which had Holocaust survivors, serving in the Israeli Army, and having kids who are currently serving officers.

Shraddha Walkar’s murder by her boyfriend Aftab Poonawalla has transfixed the country. The gruesome details that are emerging everyday have, once again, brought to focus the issue of crimes against women in the country and especially in the city of Delhi. To shed further light on the issue Smita Prakash spoke with a former police officer who knows Delhi like the back of her hand. She was the first woman officer of the Indian police service. Kiran Bedi has worked tirelessly to reduce crimes against women. In this conversation she talks about the mentality of criminals, the need for reforms in the system and the way forward. She shares her opinions on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and what she feels he should do to make Delhi better. She also opens up about her tenure in the police force, her political stint, and her most cherished days as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. 

14 years have passed since the terror attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. For the first time ever hear from the man who led an elite covert counter-terror unit that took the fight to the enemy. Colonel Hunny Bakshi, Ex-Commanding Officer of Technical Support Division (TSD), a Military Intelligence unit set up in 2010 in the aftermath of 26/11. In an illuminating conversation with Smita Prakash, he talks about the idea behind the unit, his investigation that led to the unearthing of the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the operations conducted, and the politics that resulted in controversies for him and the unit. The survivor of three IED attacks shares about the role the media played and the consequences the nation had to face. Throughout the conversation, he talks about the discipline of the Indian Army and how it stands with the democratic principles of the country.

Palki Sharma has been a TV reporter and anchor for over two decades. She was the face of Wion before she joined Network 18 as Managing Editor and is now building a team for a new venture. In an interesting conversation with Smita Prakash, she talks about her life, tackling trolls, breaking stereotypes and the challenges of International News. She opens up about her reasons for moving from Wion and her plans for the next venture of the Network 18 Group. Through the conversation she also highlights the issues faced by women journalists and how she managed it throughout her career.

Yatinder Singh, a bodybuilder and fitness expert, is also a social media influencer through his Youtube channel on which he guides youngsters who want to take up bodybuilding as a profession or as a lifestyle. He is a three-time Mr. India title-holder and this year at an age when most bodybuilders retire, he won the title of Asia Champion silencing his critics for good. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, Yatinder talks about his humble beginnings, his potentially career-ending injury, his comeback and future goals. He shares his diet which has remained the same for years and has helped him win tournament after tournament. Through the conversation, he emphasises the importance of having a proper trainer for anyone who is keen on hitting the gym.

Padyatra which translates to ‘journey by foot' has been used as an agent of social change by religious and social reformers from ancient times. Even politicians have used it to gain political mileage, the most impactful one being the Salt March undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi against the British tax regime. Currently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a padyatra from South to North India called the Bharat Jodo Yatra which he says is to unite the nation divided by the divisive policies of the BJP government.  But are padyatras relevant in an age where even those residing in villages have access to mobile networks and television reaches every corner of the country? Will Rahul Gandhi be able to convert the crowd into votes and will it impact the next elections? To discuss these questions, we have veteran politician Sudhindra Bhadoria of the Bahujan Samaj Party who played an essential role in the Bharat Yatra of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekar in 1983. Also joining the podcast is Shantanu Gupta, founder of Yuva Foundation. He is author and biographer of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The recent happenings in Pakistan have taken a new turn after the assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Imran Khan. For the first time in history, people are openly protesting against the Pakistan Army and anti-American sentiments are at an all-time high. What do these developments mean for India and how does it impact geopolitics on the global stage to discuss more on it Smita Prakash spoke with Tilak Devasher who is the author of three widely acclaimed books on Pakistan and retired as Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat Government of India. He is currently a member of the National Security Advisory Board. Major Gaurav Arya is an Indian Army veteran and founder of the Chanakya Forum. He is a public speaker who is seen on television debates and is popular on social media in India and Pakistan.

Sarbananda Sonowal, the former Chief Minister of Assam is one of the tallest political leaders from North East India. He is currently the Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Cabinet Minister of AYUSH in the Government of India. In a detailed conversation with Smita Prakash, he talks about his journey in politics from being a student leader to now being the only politician from the North East to be part of the BJP Parliamentary Board. Sonowal sheds light on the workings of the Ministry of AYUSH and its achievements at the global level. He further goes on to explain the latest developments in the field of shipping under the current government. In this conversation, Sonowal also slams the Congress for betraying the people of North East for many years and focuses on the changes brought about after 2014.

Priyanka Chaturvedi is a Member of Parliament from the Rajya Sabha and holds the post of Deputy Leader in the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction). A former Congress spokesperson, Priyanka has been a voice for gender equality both inside and outside of parliament. She has been strident in her criticism of the BJP and does not hesitate to take on the government even on issues outside of her home state of Maharashtra. She is known to speak straight from the heart and in this episode with Smita Prakash, she does just that as she talks about issues ranging from woman empowerment to dealing with trolls, from personal life to her political journey. She opens up on why she quit the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena and what changes it brought to her political career. Through the conversation, she emphasizes the issue of stereotyping of women, especially in the field of politics

Lt Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) popularly known as 'Tiny Dhillon' is a decorated officer with a career spanning 39 years. He has served as Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence). He earned widespread appreciation for initiating unconventional, people-friendly operations during his tenure as head of XV Corps in Kashmir. His line ‘Kitne Ghazi aaye kitne Ghazi gaye’ has become legendary in the social media circuit. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash Lt Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) talks about Army life, operations undertaken and the social media plunge. He goes on to talk about what happened behind the scenes of the Balakot air strike and the implementation of Article 370. On a lighter note, he shares about his retired life, family, and love for food.

Is the Covid pandemic over? Are the Covid vaccines and boosters enough to keep us safe in the event of another wave? What are the after effects of Covid that we are living with? What about random tests doctors seem to be prescribing these days? How do doctors function under intense stress that comes with the profession? To answer these questions Smita Prakash spoke with Dr. Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr. Dangs Lab which is the busiest diagnostic laboratory in New Delhi and Dr Dhiren Gupta who is a Paediatrician and Senior Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, New Delhi.

Air pollution is one of the biggest issues faced by mankind, causing serious lung-related disorders. Research has shown that 80% of lung care patients these days are non-smokers who are exposed to air pollution. Covid has further worsened the matter with recovered persons having compromised lungs which is leading us towards a lung cancer epidemic. To discuss this important issue Smita Prakash spoke with Dr Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Institute of Chest Surgery at Medanta Hospital. He is a leading voice when it comes to lung-related issues and has been an advocate for better lung health through his organisation the Lung Care Foundation. 

Arnab Goswami needs no introduction; he has been the face of Indian television news for more than a decade. Rightly called controversy’s favourite child, Arnab doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind. In an elaborate conversation with Smita Prakash, Arnab Goswami opens up about his life, humble beginnings, rise in the media industry and how he launched Republic TV Group. For the first time ever hear Arnab Goswami talk about his ordeal inside the Taloja Central Jail and how he dealt with the wrath of it. He also shares some inside stories that are sure to raise many eyebrows.

Navika Kumar is a household name when it comes to television news. She has been a flag bearer for women journalists, one of the few woman editors of a news channel. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, Navika Kumar opens up about her family, her transition from print to television news, and the struggles of multitasking as a mother and an editor. For the first time, she narrates about what happened that evening during the controversial episode which included Nupur Sharma which drew a lot of flak. Without mincing any words she sheds light on the feud between her and friend-turned-adversary Arnab Goswami. We also come across her Zen-like persona while dealing with trolls and other critics.   

Despite BJP being in power since 2014, the right-wing narrative remains fractured. BJP is seen as ‘right wing’ due to its leanings, however, when it comes to the economy, the party’s own supporters call it more left-inclined than the left liberals ever have. Is the left actually liberal and is the right not? To discuss these political connotations and much more, Smita Prakash spoke with Abhijit Iyer-Mitra. He is someone who has a radical take on these things and is considered to be an ‘extreme liberal’ - someone who believes in total freedom of expression. He has written on military affairs - a researcher par excellence who speaks on political ideologies and social issues. Often, he is attacked by both the left and the right-wing in India for his opinions but continues to remain unfazed towards criticism.   

Pavan Varma is a former diplomat, an author and a politician who wears each hat with equal ease. He remains grounded inspite of being part of Delhi’s elite for decades. In an interesting conversation with Smita Prakash he talks about his relationship with Nitish Kumar, his days as an ambassador and the current political climate in the country. He passionately envisions a united opposition that could pose a serious challenge to the BJP bandwagon. He also sheds light on the class culture of Lutyen

Suhel Seth is a man of many talents - a brand strategist, writer, author and a television pundit who can speak uninterrupted on literally any topic under the sun. A no holds barred speaker who believes in what he say and doesn’t shy away from taking on the opponent in most television debates, Suhel has become a household name.In an interesting conversation with Smita Prakash the Marketing Maven talks about his life, passions, and interactions with the stalwarts from different walks of life. He also explains his views on politics and the current happenings in the country without mincing any words. You wouldn’t want to miss this one!

The Indian Government on September 23 released an advisory asking Indian Nationals and students in Canada to exercise due caution and remain vigilant. This came after a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities in Canada. Also gangs and criminal organisations within the Punjabi Canadian community have expanded their activities into Indian soil which came into focus with the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala. Another long standing problem is that of the Khalistani groups in Canada. To understand more about India-Canada relationship, how both countries can move forward? Should India escalate this to Prime Ministerial level? Smita Prakash spoke with Indrani Bagchi who is the CEO of Ananta Centre, a think tank based in Delhi. Indrani was the Diplomatic Editor for the Times of India for several years and covered the Ministry of External Affairs as well as interpreted it and analysed global trends with an Indian perspective.

Himanta Biswa Sarma is not just the Chief Minister of Assam but also the most influential political figure in the whole of North East India. Called controversy’s favourite child by many, he doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind. Switching sides to the BJP in 2015 has seen his popularity grow tenfold – whether it's at the Centre or amongst the masses in the Hindi heartland. In a candid conversation with Smita Prakash, the witty politician talks about his days in the Congress and the stark differences he witnessed between the cultures of the BJP and the Congress. In this conversation, he doesn’t leave a stone unturned to slam the Gandhi family and even ends up calling them “expired Drugs”. He takes on Rahul Gandhi over his “feudal mindset”, referring to him as someone “not fit for politics”. He sheds light on issues of his home state Assam varying from Bangladeshi immigrants to unauthorised Madrasas and how the BJP government has helped in integrating North Eastern states with the rest of India.

Jairam Ramesh is more than a media incharge of the largest opposition party in India. He is an author, a former Minister and a TV anchor. So much so that one critic called him the "Aishwarya Rai of TV" when he used to anchor a TV show. In an animated conversation with Smita Prakash, the maverick politician was sharp in his criticism of the media which he says is biased against the Congress. He defends the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi and says it is rejuvenating the cadres. About his past avatars, in the party and government, Jairam speaks about his interactions with Rajiv Gandhi, Dr Singh, Sitaram Kesri, Narasimha Rao and others. He gets animated when he speaks about other political parties claiming to be the real opposition as opposed to the Congress. A South Indian by birth, Jairam has learned to speak fluent Hindi and switches between English and Hindi in the interview. On who will be president of the party, Jairam hums and haws.