ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

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.