The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma

Ramachandra Guha, historian and public intellectual known for India After Gandhi, reflects on friendships that shaped his life. He talks about slowing down, music and later creativity. He traces mentors like Dharma Kumar, Shekhar Pathak and D.R. Nagaraj. He also explores intellectual ecosystems, the decline of print, and the value of intergenerational bonds.

Janhavi Nilekani, development economist and founder of Astrika working on maternal healthcare and midwifery. She talks about transforming maternity care in India, why C-section and overtreatment are so common, and how midwifery and system incentives can change outcomes. She also discusses the medical and social implications of gender-critical thinking and why sex matters in clinical settings.

V Ravichandar, civic activist and founder of Bangalore International Centre and the Literature Festival, reflects on a lifetime of city-building. He talks about urban governance reforms, low-cost sustainable projects like Lalbagh restoration, designing accountability mechanisms such as BATF summits, balancing work inside and outside government, and pivoting to culture and crowdfunding to build civic life.

Gautam John, social-sector leader and former entrepreneur who now leads philanthropic work, reflects on leadership, masculinity, parenting and community-led solutions. He talks about pausing for reflection, building deep friendships, stepping away from social media, designing convenings for serendipity, unheroic leadership and enabling others to lead. Stories range from law school to running StoryWeaver and parenting as primary caregiver.

Rukmini S, journalist and data storyteller behind Data For India and Whole Numbers and Half Truths, explains why better public data matters. She discusses building a durable public-data platform, surprising finds like large-scale home-based custom tailoring, India’s falling child population and ageing trends, and how clear methods, literacy and forensic work change policy and public understanding.

Join Manoj Kewalramani, a China analyst at the Takshashila Institution, as he unpacks the complexities of China's history and modern society. He highlights his surprising early impressions from living in China and warns against oversimplified views rooted in ancient civilization tropes. Dive into discussions on women's roles, Xi Jinping's consolidation of power, and the influence of geography and politics on China's unique identity. Kewalramani also reflects on China's dynamic future and its relationship with the U.S. and India.

Shruti Rajagopalan, a public intellectual and conference organizer, joins Pranay Kotasthane, a policy commentator, to share insights on friendship and life's winding paths. They explore the magic of spontaneous conversations at unconferences and the importance of vulnerability. The trio discusses the balance between structure and spontaneity, emphasizing small, meaningful gestures in daily life. They also delve into the fun of learning equestrian skills, reflect on personal growth, and recommend books that foster humility and creativity.

Nitin Pai, a public policy thinker and founder of the Takshashila Institution, is joined by Pranay Kotasthane, a policy scholar and colleague, to discuss their revolutionary journey in reshaping India's policy landscape. They explore the evolution of Takshashila, advocating for constitutional values and economic freedom. The duo shares insights on building a networked think tank, the importance of nurturing young thinkers, and the balancing act between advocacy and education. Their approach to addressing misinformation in public discourse is engaging and profound.

Vasant Dhar, a professor at NYU Stern and an AI pioneer, shares his extensive journey in artificial intelligence, from the 1970s to the present. He discusses how tools like ChatGPT have transformed public engagement with AI. Vasant debunks common myths surrounding AI and elaborates on its implications for human cognition. He reflects on the balance between technology and human roles in education and warns of AI's risks, including the potential erosion of truth. The conversation navigates exciting possibilities and serious challenges in our rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Ghazala Wahab, a journalist and editor of Force magazine, delves into the complexities of the Hindi heartland, a region richer in diversity than the USA. She shares her journey as a Muslim woman navigating social media's rough terrain and reflects on the erosion of decency in public discourse. The conversation explores the evolution of language, the political implications of caste, and the future of warfare in a digital age. Ghazala predicts scenarios for 2040, hoping for coexistence but warning against deepening divides.