Research Radio
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Kāvyaśāstra and Censorship in Premodern India
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Research Radio we have Sreenath V S and Mini Chandran discussing their paper To Write Was to Cense: Kāvyaśāstra and Creative Fre...
The First Bible Women of Rayalaseema
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Research Radio we have Chakali Chandra Sekhar discussing his paper titled “Dalit Women and Colonial Christianity: First Telugu...
Crisis and change in the world and in the United States
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Research Radio we have Inderjeet Parmar discussing his paper titled “Poly Crisis or Organic Crisis?: The Crisis of the United Sta...
Rethinking India's Agricultural Extension System
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Research Radio we have A Suresh discussing his paper titled "Reinventing Agricultural Extension System in India: The Road Ahea...
Evaluating India's Entrepreneurship Policy
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Research Radio we have Anish Tiwari discussing his paper titled “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of ‘Startup India": A ...
Understanding Urban Digitalisation Projects in India: Platformisation, Infrastructuring, and Datafication
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Research Radio we have Khaliq Parkar discussing his paper titled “Platformisation, Infrastructuring, and Datafication: Regional V...
Brahminical Environmentalism and Conservation Laws in India
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Research Radio, we have with us Sanjana Meshram and Aditya Rawat discussing conservation law in India and how it perpetuates Brahmi...
Special Episode: Review of Urban Affairs 2023
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past 12 years the EPW Review of Urban Affairs has tried to be a finger to the pulse of Urban Studies in India. In this special episode of Res...
Indian Labour Intermediaries and Global Production Networks
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Research Radio, we have with us Dr. Keshab Das to discuss the changing role of intermediaries in the relationship between labour an...
Dalits and the Environmental Movement in India
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Research Radio, we have with us Prof. Mukul Sharma who will be discussing his work on Dalits and the environmental movement in Indi...
Electoral Politics in ‘Jatland’: The Changing Political Landscape in Haryana
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Research Radio, we have with us Dr. Radhika Kumar, who will be discussing the changing political landscape in the ‘Jatland’ of ...
Debt and Service: The Logic of Caste
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Research Radio, we have Rajat Roy discussing his research on Dalit Political Subjectivity. In his papers titled "From Postcolo...
COVID-19 Vaccine R&D and Manufacturing in the US and in India - Part 2
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This time on Research Radio we have with us Prof. Sunil Mani for a two-part episode on COVID-19 vaccine R&D and manufacturing in the US and in Ind...
COVID-19 Vaccine R&D and Manufacturing in the US and in India - Part 1
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This time on Research Radio we have with us Prof. Sunil Mani for a two-part episode on COVID-19 vaccine R&D and manufacturing in the US and in Ind...
Caste Among School Children in Maharashtra
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Research Radio we have Sameer Mohite discussing his research on Caste among School Children in Maharashtra. In his papers tit...
Socio-cultural Factors and Mental Health in India
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this World Mental Health Day we bring you a conversation with Sudarshan Kottai on Mental Health in India and it’s entanglements with socio-cultur...
Left Resurgence in Latin America
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Research Radio we speak to Tathagatan Ravindran about the rising ‘pink tide’ in Latin America based on his papers in EPW titled...
Race, Caste, and Class
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In her book 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' Isabel Wilkerson looks to the Indian caste system to provide the vocabulary to expose the invisibl...
Contemporary Capitalism and the 4th Industrial Revolution
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Atul Bhardwaj discusses his papers on Contemporary Capitalism and the 4th Industrial Revolution. The first paper titled 'Decay of Libe...
Criminalisation of Vimukta Communities: The Role of Police and Judiciary
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The FIRs filed to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol follow a curious template in Madhya Pradesh, our guests from today’s episode found. A...
Setting the Record Straight on Birsa Munda and His Political Legacy (Part- II)
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Although the role of Birsa Munda has been seminal in championing the Adivasi cause, his political movements and legacy have been distorted, like other...
EdTech Platforms: Transforming India's Educational Spaces?
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Byju’s is likely to be the first name that pops into our heads when we think of the words online education and EdTech. While online educ...
Setting the Record Straight on Birsa Munda and His Political Legacy (Part- I)
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Although the role of Birsa Munda has been seminal in championing the Adivasi cause, his political movements and legacy have been distorted, like other...
Anti-conversion Legislation in Karnataka
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The recent Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, passed in the Karnataka legislative assembly that claims to combat conversion is a diabolical move...
Diluting Environmental Regulations Under the Guise of Good Governance
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2012, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India reported in Parliament that the government inefficiently allocated coal blocks and caused a loss...
Namdeo Dhasal’s New Language- A reflection of the conscience of the oppressed
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Marathi poet Namdeo Dhasal challenged Brahminical literature and sought to reconstruct a caste-less society through his works. This podcast is based o...
Understanding Gail Omvedt’s Anti-caste and Feminist Research Methodology
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gail Omvedt has published more than 50 articles in EPW. This includes sharp book reviews, innovative research work and critical responses to articles ...
Dalit Politics: The dilemma of forming a dynamic alliance
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In their bid to maintain political visibility, various factions of the Republican Party of India have struck up alliances with "secular" and "non-secu...
Indian Courts and the Politics of Recognising Women’s Unpaid Care Work
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Women spend more than three times as much time performing unpaid domestic work than men in India based on 2019 NSSO data. This means women get less ti...
Will the Insurance Model Save Indian Healthcare?
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an ambitious plan to achieve universal health coverage in India: by covering medical expenses upto Rs 5...
Sensory Life of Caste in Indian Universities
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The classroom can be a space for us to engage in deep learning, rigorous debate, collaboration and critical thinking. It’s a space where our &...
Ambedkar in 2021, #7: Notes on Reading Ambedkar
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From academic writing to social media, Dr Ambedkar’s scholarship and actions are receiving renewed attention due to the efforts by Dalit-Bahuj...
Ambedkar in 2021, #6: What Role Did Ambedkar Envision For the State to Play in Ensuring Equity?
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr B R Ambedkar has written extensively about economics and development. Along with proposing landmark legislations, he was also attentive...
Ambedkar in 2021, #5: Dynamics of the Anti-Khoti Agitations in Konkan Region and Working Class Struggles in Bombay
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build unity among the working class? We'll explore how Dr Ambedkar led movements in the Konkan region against khots, or landlords...
Ambedkar in 2021, #4: What Steps Did Ambedkar Take to Empower Women?
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What steps did Ambedkar take to counter patriarchy and the caste-based order? Why should laws specifically consider caste in addressing in...
Ambedkar in 2021, #3: Probing Caste Violence at the Visible, Symbolic, and Structural Levels
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What are the implications of studying Dr Ambedkar’s texts in an Indian public university? What are the multiple forms of violence that caste thrives...
Ambedkar in 2021, #2: What Methods Did Ambedkar Use to Create Transformative Change?
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thanthai Periyar and B R Ambedkar shared several similarities in their analysis of Indian society. However, they held different views on the &nb...
Ambedkar in 2021, #1: Locating Ambedkar, The Historian
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first part of our new Research Radio special programme. This series will focus on Dr B R Ambedkar, and his mission of achieving “Libe...
#23: Revisiting Jotirao Phule’s Theory and Practice That Challenge Brahminism
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Hindu culture and the caste system," writes Gail Omvedt in her EPW article on Jotirao Phule in 1971 "rested upon Brahmanism; hence Phule, who aimed f...
#22: Why is the Judiciary Treating Reservations as an ‘Enabling Provision’ and Not a Fundamental Right?
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Debates over caste-based reservations in India consistently make front-page news. Dominant political parties and the judiciary perform vit...
#21: The Government, Markets, or NGOs—Who Can Ensure Equitable Access to Water?
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s turn back the clock to a century ago. We’re in 1923 and the Bombay Legislative Council has just passed a resolution enabling Dalits to...
#20: Are Teachers Responsible for India’s Bad Public Education System?
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Government school teachers are often blamed for the poor state of public education in India. Some scholars and commentators claim that they are incomp...
#19: Can Hospitals Play a Role in Preventing Domestic Violence?
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The strict lockdown announced last March was followed by an increase in violence against women and girls by cis-men, and particularly violence in the ...
#18: What Prevents Indian Public Hospitals from Being Hygienic?
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Wash your hands with soap for twenty seconds and wear masks." Such reminders have become ubiquitous since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic....
#17: Can Social Movements Change the Balance of Power in Educational Systems?
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Two decades ago, a survey found that only about one in four Adivasis in Tamil Nadu's Gudalur town were literate and the rate among women was &nbs...
#16: Dalit Women as Political Agents: Notes from Kerala
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
South Asia has witnessed vibrant movements against patriarchy and the caste system. However, these struggles have historically been fought separately,...
#15: Despite Having One of the World's Largest Food Security Nets, Why Are Indians Going Hungry?
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Despite having one of the largest food security programmes in the world, why are Indians overwhelmingly going hungry? Last October, India slipped to t...
#14: The Myth of Vegetarianism in India
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At best, only three in ten Indians are vegetarians, and more realistically less than two in ten are vegetarians. Yet, India is often portrayed as a la...
#13: Why Framing Disability as an Individual Problem is the Real Problem
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Indian society is suited to meet the needs of certain kinds of bodies over others that are deemed disabled. This is made clear in multiple ways: right...
#12: How Effective are Institutions for Climate Policy in India?
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
India is highly vulnerable to the effects of the global climate crises, and is simultaneously now the third largest contributor of greenhouse gases in...
#11: The Impossibility of ‘Dalit Studies’
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Colleges and universities hold the potential to transform society by raising social consciousness and enabling social and economic mobility. Historica...
Trailer: Research Radio is back!
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our second season features a refreshed format, new graphics, and an exciting line-up of scholars. We’ll focus on five themes for this season: educat...
#10: Can NGOs Remain Effective When They Become Corporatised?
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did Bangladesh come to be known as the land of NGOs, given it hosts the largest NGO, BRAC, and the largest microfinance institution (Grameen Bank)...
#9: How Have Waste Pickers in Pune Responded to Rising Privatisation and Dispossession
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Who owns waste? How does waste become valuable? Rohini Sahni and V Kalyan Shankar will answer these complex questions based on ethnographic research t...
#8: Do Indians Still Practice Untouchability?
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Which castes and religions practice untouchability the most? Can factors such as education and urbanisation potentially reduce the practice? Do those ...
#7: Who is Afraid of Pakistan’s Aurat March?
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pakistan’s Aurat March takes place every year across the country to mark Women’s Day. Past demonstrations have called for accountability for viole...
#6: Why Do Colonial Forms of Exploitation Continue in Indian Tea Plantations?
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Waking up and brewing a cup of tea, according to your preference of ginger, cardamom, amongst other spices, or stopping by your regular chai stall are...
#5: How Do Power Differences in Medical Interactions Affect Caste-based Discrimination?
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Doctors are seen as having a high degree of knowledge and expertise about diagnosing and treating ailments. The Hippocratic Oath requires them to prov...
#4: Why India’s One-size-fits-all Food Security Programme Fails to Address the Needs of Beneficiaries
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do Indians prefer accessing foodgrains under food security programmes— through direct cash transfers, the existing public distribution system or...
#3: Citizenship Amendment Act: Exclusionary Nationhood Hiding Behind the Veneer of Liberal Citizenship
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In December 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government radically altered Indian citizenship law, introducing religion as a basis for providing ci...
#2: Why Should We Be Critical about the 2018 Supreme Court Judgement Against Section 377?
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A 2018 Supreme Court ruling that decriminalised queer sex was widely celebrated. Judges and petitioners framed the move as India “decolonising...
#1: What Interventions are Most Effective to Address Domestic Violence?
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do crises centers, that are located in every district in the country, cater to the needs of women who have experienced domestic violence? Two research...