Shows
A Meal of ThornsA Meal of Thorns 19 – HEIR TO THE EMPIRE with Dan HartlandPodcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!Credits:Guest: Dan HartlandTitle: Heir to the Empire by Timothy ZahnHost: Jake Casella BrookinsMusic by Giselle Gabrielle GarciaArtwork by Rob PattersonOpening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John BroughReferences:Gautam Bhatia's The SentenceAlex Pheby's WaterblackCristina Rivera Garza's The Taiga SyndromeKatherine Addison's The Tomb of DragonsElizabeth Sandifer's Hugboxing vs ScabpickingDavid BrinThe Wilhelm ScreamJack London's The Call of the WildBrandon Taylor’s “against cast2025-03-101h 22
Synthesized SunsetsXI: South Asian Speculative Fiction w/ Gautam BhatiaThis week we talked to Gautam Bhatia, the coordinating editor of speculative fiction magazine Strange Horizons and an advocate for South Asian speculative fiction right here on Substack (Words for Worlds). We discussed his latest novel The Sentence, the state of South Asian science fiction, and the tension between movements on the periphery of science fiction and its mainstream institutions. Oh, and fanfiction.This season will bring a second segment to the show: Synthesized Sunsets Backstage. In this more casual segment, Gordon and myself will unpack the main part of the episode and also discuss the most...2025-02-201h 02
Octothorpe126: I’ve Read Some NovelsJohn is a thief, Alison plays games, and Liz is bullied.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: None
Letters of comment
Andreas Davour
Bella Garcia
Constanze Hoffman
Farah Mendlesohn
Jonathan Cowie
June Young
Mike Scott
Neil Ottenstein
Raj
Tammy Coxen
Zoe O’Connell
We also heard from Bridget Bradshaw, Colin Harris, Meg MacDonald, an...2025-01-171h 00
Octothorpe122: Topical PumpkinJohn is on the periphery, Alison is carving, and Liz went to Japan.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: con artistry, privilege, racism
Letters of comment
Jake Casella Brookins
Sankey diagrams on the Ancillary Review of Books
Ali Baker Brooks
I’m a Fan of That
Christopher J Garcia
Emily January
Kat Kourbeti
SH...2024-11-0759 min
Radio Azim Premji UniversityBhakti Republic with Amit Basole| Ep. 5| Jamuna KinareIn this series finale of Bhakti Republic, host Amit Basole explores the vibrant tradition of Krishna Bhakti with historian Varuni Bhatia. Krishna Bhakti, known for its focus on Krishna’s playful and youthful persona, has long been a cornerstone of devotion in regions like Brindavan, where his divine pastimes with Radha are revered. The episode explores the unique aspects of this devotional movement, including its emphasis on prema rasa—the essence of pure love that drives followers to renounce worldly attachments. Varuni traces how Chaitanya, a 15th-century mystic, transformed Brindavan into a spiritual realm and how Krishna Bhakti spread across Indi...2024-10-2545 min
Bhakti Republic with Amit Basole | Radio Azim Premji UniversityJamuna KinareIn this series finale of Bhakti Republic, host Amit Basole explores the vibrant tradition of Krishna Bhakti with historian Varuni Bhatia. Krishna Bhakti, known for its focus on Krishna’s playful and youthful persona, has long been a cornerstone of devotion in regions like Brindavan, where his divine pastimes with Radha are revered. The episode explores the unique aspects of this devotional movement, including its emphasis on prema rasa—the essence of pure love that drives followers to renounce worldly attachments. Varuni traces how Chaitanya, a 15th-century mystic, transformed Brindavan into a spiritual realm and how Krishna Bhak...2024-10-2545 min
Current AffairsExposing the Spurious Anti-Semitism Accusations That Helped Bring Down Corbyn (w/ Asa Winstanley)Asa Winstanley of The Electronic Intifada is the author of the new book Weaponising Anti-Semitism, a bombshell exposé of how the burgeoning socialist movement in the British Labour Party was destroyed by false accusations of anti-Semitism, amplified in the British press. The book is an important contribution to our understanding of why, after such a promising take-off, Jeremy Corbyn's party leadership came to a calamitous end. Asa joins us today to explain the history of what happened and the lessons we can take from it. Asa argues that we need to understand how pro-Israel forces, and centrists more broadly, w...2024-01-1546 min
Friend of the CourtS02E07 - ReckoningThe new Janata government is keen to roll back the excesses of the emergency. Law minister Shanti Bhushan has to undo the constitutional damage of the emergency years. Legislation doesn't solve all the problems—one final battle remains. And Nani Palkhivala returns to fight for the basic structure.
The Minerva Mills case becomes the final phase of this battle between the court and the government. We then examine the legacy and impact of the basic structure judgement both in India and abroad.
Guests: Gautam Bhatia, Prashant Bhushan, KK Venugopal, Lawrence Liang, Navroz Seervai, Sandip Thakore and...2023-12-1836 minFriend of the CourtS02E07 - ReckoningThe new Janata government is keen to roll back the excesses of the emergency. Law minister Shanti Bhushan has to undo the constitutional damage of the emergency years. Legislation doesn't solve all the problems—one final battle remains. And Nani Palkhivala returns to fight for the basic structure.
The Minerva Mills case becomes the final phase of this battle between the court and the government. We then examine the legacy and impact of the basic structure judgement both in India and abroad.
Guests: Gautam Bhatia, Prashant Bhushan, KK Venugopal, Lawrence Liang, Navroz Seervai, Sandip Thakore and...2023-12-1836 min
Grand TamashaThe Indian Supreme Court in the Modi EraOver the past decade, India has witnessed significant conflict within—and around—several democratic institutions meant to act as a check on executive power. One of the most important theatres of conflict has been the judiciary—more specifically, the Supreme Court.A new book by the legal scholar Gautam Bhatia, Unsealed Covers: A Decade of the Constitution, the Courts and the State, takes readers through some of the most controversial cases that have come before the court during this critical decade. Gautam is a lawyer who has been personally involved in several important contemporary constitutional cases. He is the...2023-12-1344 minFriend of the CourtS02E05 - 7:6Judgement day finally arrives after 66 days of arguments. Chief Justice Sikri is also set to retire the next day. But the government has yet to announce his successor.
When the judges assemble, and start to read their judgements one by one, at first there is no clarity on which way the bench has ruled. Then something unexpected happens: Sikri issues an unusual statement called “View of Majority”--- some judges sign, some do not.
It soon becomes clear which way the bench has ruled: we arrive finally at the basic structure doctrine. Soon after, three seni...2023-12-1044 minFriend of the CourtS02E05 - 7:6Judgement day finally arrives after 66 days of arguments. Chief Justice Sikri is also set to retire the next day. But the government has yet to announce his successor.
When the judges assemble, and start to read their judgements one by one, at first there is no clarity on which way the bench has ruled. Then something unexpected happens: Sikri issues an unusual statement called “View of Majority”--- some judges sign, some do not.
It soon becomes clear which way the bench has ruled: we arrive finally at the basic structure doctrine. Soon after, three seni...2023-12-1044 min
The Inspiring TalkIndia’s No. 1 Sleep Expert Explains Why You Can’t Sleep at Night & How to Fix Sleep Cycle | Dr Manvir BhatiaIn this episode: 1. The science of sleep and how to have a restful sleep? 2. What are the key sleep disruptors and how to avoid them? 3. Creating a great sleep environment and tips on improving your sleep. 4. Sleep disorders and how to prevent them? 5. Sleep tracking devices- are they really useful? And a lot more. Whether you are struggling with insomnia, daytime sleepiness, sleep apnoea or simply seeking to improve your sleep hygiene, this conversation offers valuable insights and actionable tips. In this episode, we have Dr. Manvir Bhatia, one of India’s top Sleep Ex...2023-12-071h 00
The Sandip Roy ShowGautam Bhatia on the state of top courts under the Modi eraOver the past decade, India's top courts have presided over numerous landmark cases, including those related to Aadhar, Sabarimala, the Hijab row, anti-defection laws, privacy, Section 377, and the UAPA. While each of these cases holds significant importance individually, does a different narrative emerge when considering them collectively? In this episode, host Sandip Roy speaks to lawyer and constitutional scholar Gautam Bhatia regarding his latest book, 'Unsealed Covers,' and what the past decade of India's top court decisions reveals about the country's trajectory.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar2023-10-0144 min
SFF AddictsAuthor Roundtable: South Asian Fantasy (with Gourav Mohanty, R.R. Virdi, Aparna Verma, Gautam Bhatia & Tashan Mehta)Join authors Gourav Mohanty, R.R. Virdi, Aparna Verma, Gautam Bhatia and Tashan Mehta for another FanFiAddict author roundtable! During the discussion, these five talented authors share their takes on SOUTH ASIAN FANTASY, exploring the growth of speculative fiction in South Asia and its diaspora, the ability for South Asian authors to represent their culture/heritage in their work, how fantasy plays into their own history/religion/mythology, publishing struggles and successes and more.
This is the sixth edition of our monthly AUTHOR ROUNDTABLE series, where we bring a handful of authors together to discuss a topic...2023-07-281h 26
The SubverseArcx - Gautam BhatiaArcx is all about literary inspiration. In Season 2, we continue our conversations with South Asian sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction writers, tracing their ideas from conception to execution. In the first episode host Anjali Alappat chats with author, editor, lawyer and critic Gautam Bhatia. Gautam’s debut novel, The Wall (2020), and its sequel, The Horizon (2021), are filled with fascinating world building, complex characters, and fabulously convoluted plotlines. If you love twists and turns, beautiful prose, and some good old fashioned anti-establishment thinking, these are the books for you. Additionally, Gautam is part of the editorial team at Stra...2023-07-1243 min
Strange HorizonsCritical Friends: Episode 4In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Reviews Editors Aisha Subramanian and Dan Hartland talk to novelist, reviewer, and Strange Horizons’ Co-ordinating Editor, Gautam Bhatia, about how reviewing and criticism of all kinds align—and do not—with fiction-writing and the genre more widely. You can read the episode transcript at our website.2023-03-2742 min
The Wire TalksAdani should know Hindenberg report is not an attack on India Ft. PN VijayHindenburg report released merely two days before Adani's public issue, caused a stir in the industry. Resulting in business tycoon Gautam Adani canceling the public issue despite it being fully subscribed. Meanwhile, the free-fall of stocks continued. This raised many questions in the stock market as well as amongst the politicians who questioned why SEBI did not look into the group of companies. Answering and discussing all this and more is investment banker, PN Vijay in conversation with our host Sidharth Bhatia, on The Wire Talks. With over 50 years of experience in the stock market, PN Vijay w...2023-02-2130 min
BIC TALKSThe Wielding of PowerThis talk by lawyer Gautam Bhatia considers the Indian Constitution as a terrain of contestation between different visions of power. It will ask how the Constitution creates power, who wields power – and upon whom – and how power is constrained. Using the example of federalism, it argues that even as the Constitution is contested terrain, its history has been marked by a centralising drift: an incremental shift towards a homogenous and centralised vision of power, at the expense of other, more plural visions. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available every...2023-01-2644 min
BIC TALKSThe World of Indian Science FictionFrom being the preserve of a handful of American and British authors in the late-20th century, science fiction (SF) today is a global phenomenon. From Afrofuturism to the popular Chinese Science Fiction of Cixxin Liu, Hao Jingfeng and others, writers, editors, and readers around the world are turning to the genre to make sense of our world and our futures. The global character of contemporary SF is matched by the profusion of sub-genres that have come to inhabit it: climate fiction (or “cli-fi”) and “hopepunk” are just two of the many approaches to science fiction that respond to our pres...2023-01-1647 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe Constitutionality of SeditionThe fifth parliamentary elections of India in 1971, set into motion a series of events that shaped the nation and the constitution. While campaigning, political parties promised voters that the constitution would be amended, a clear indicator that the Supreme Court’s striking down of parliamentary laws, such as in the Bank Nationalisation case (1970) and the privy purse case (1970) was being seen as an obstacle to a better India. This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at the constitutional provisions for constitutional amendments. We also look at the fate of thousands of Indians since 1962, when the Supreme Court upheld the co...2022-12-1409 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaFreedom from SurveillanceArticle 21 of the Constitution guarantees every person the right to life or personal liberty. But what good is such a right if it means being under surveillance and subjected to domiciliary visits at night? This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at how courts interpreted Article 21. Just as a reminder: in the AK Gopalan case, the state upheld the preventive detention law under which Gopalan was detained. What happened though when Kharak Singh challenged the UP police laws which authorized his surveillance. We also continue in our investigations into the privy purse and what the Supreme Court decided in...2022-12-0710 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe Freedom to Fly!The fundamental right to movement under Article 19(1)(d) was carefully worded: (d) to move freely throughout the territory of India. But what about beyond the territory of India? For the first two decades of independent India, obtaining a passport meant being entirely at the mercy of the Ministry of External Affairs. But this changed in 1967. This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at the expansion of the freedom to movement, as well as the consequences of a majoritarian government driven by a socialist vision in the 1970s, under Indira Gandhi. And yes, we also begin our journey in tracing...2022-11-2310 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaA little more GoondagardiLand conflict is the most enduring form of conflict between the state and individuals. And it is here that the Goondas Act, in place in nine states, allows the state unquestionable and unaccountable power to squash dissent by detaining a person for up to a year. This episode of The Longest Constitution wraps up by looking at the Goondas Act, by discussing the increasing instances in which it is used. We also look at the famous Bank Nationalization case as well, which led to one of the sharpest confrontations between Parliament and the Supreme Court. Finally, we think about...2022-11-1610 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaActing like a ‘Goonda’?: The Goondas ActWho is a goonda? And what’s the problem with the ‘goondas’ act - in place in many states in India? As we dig deeper into Article 19, we consider the fundamental right to movement. Article 19(1)(d) guarantees all citizens the right to move freely throughout the territory of India. And Article 19(1)(e) guarantees all citizens the right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India. And yet, the goonda laws continue to give the local administration the power to extern people declared as ‘goondas’. This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at this act as well as ex...2022-11-0910 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaWho appoints Supreme Court judges?What does the Supreme Court do when parliament tries to strike down the collegium system? It strikes it down! This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at the most recent effort of the government to control judicial appointments - the 99th amendment, 2014 and its aftermath. We also begin to unravel other dimensions of ‘public order’ by looking at penal clauses which allow clamping down on the freedom of expression, to ensure public order. Lastly, we look at a monumental case in the journey of the fundamental right to property: Golaknath vs. the state of Punjab, 1967. On prop...2022-11-0210 min
Contested NationCitizenship 1: Partition and BelongingIn April, 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India was discussing the provisions for citizenship and the debates were largely on administrative points. This was all set to change post the partition. In the wake of the mass migration that followed and the unique situations it created, the bitterness across the nation saw full expression in the citizenship debates. What were they saying? How did the assembly deal with the question of citizenship? What was happening beyond the nation in this period? Joining us in exploring these questions is Ganeev Kaur Dhillon, former curator of the Partition museum, Amritsar a...2022-10-2857 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe Fundamental Right to PropertyIf you use the internet (!), this is the episode you need to tune into! But first….what does it actually mean? To have a fundamental right to property? This was a huge debate in the Constituent Assembly and Article 31 and 19(1)(g) granted Indian citizens the right to property. This meant that while Article 31 limited how the state could acquire existing property rights, Article 19(1)(g), protected the capacity of individuals to acquire a property as part of their occupation and livelihood. But how did this unravel once India became a republic? And what was the torturous history of Ar...2022-10-1210 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaTwitter and Online SpeechAre private corporations such as Twitter obliged to uphold constitutional freedoms? And why should they? Who constitutes the ‘community’ in the ‘community standards’ used to regulate online speech? Welcome to the evolving jurisprudence on the balance between private firms, constitutional freedoms and the sovereignty of the state! We look at a 2020 case where Twitter arbitrarily suspended an account of a Supreme Court advocate. Plus, starting this week, we also start on a long trek on the short history of the fundamental rights to property, Article 31 and 19(1)(f) which were repealed in 1978. Tune in! On Digital Rights...2022-10-0509 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaA Rs. 1 fine for Contempt of CourtA series of tweets by Prashant Bhushan seriously threaten the ‘majesty of the courts’? Well, the courts clearly thought so and charged Bhushan with contempt of court. In a case that illustrates the excessive and arbitrary nature of contempt of court, this episode of The Longest Constitution looks at the 2020 case, where Bhushan was fined Rs. 1 for his tweets. We also wrap up the making of New Delhi in the early 2000s, as one with a greater priority of malls on land meant for forests. On Contempt of Court: Bhatia, Gautam, 2016, Offend, Shock, or Disturb: Free...2022-09-2809 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe making of a ‘world-class’ cityHow does one make a world-class city? By image management! And dislocating the poor. Between 1995 and the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in 2010, the PIL went from being used for the poor, to against the poor. The building of malls and flyovers were prioritized over core municipal concerns: sanitation, health and education. How did this happen? By the judiciary turning into the executive and issuing orders. This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at slum eviction as well as how contempt of court has widened progressively over the years, severely crippling the freedom of expression.On...2022-09-2110 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaWhat is a Nuisance?Who is responsible for people shitting and urinating in public? This question shaped the fate of millions of slum dwellers in the capital, New Delhi. This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at how nuisance laws were interpreted until the 1990s as actions and objects, not people themselves. The absence of public infrastructures, such as housing and sanitation was seen as a governance failure, not a responsibility of slum dwellers. We also look at ‘contempt of court’ as one of the reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) and what makes it unreasonable. As well as the constitutional balance between the judiciary and...2022-09-0709 min
Over The Wire PodcastA Historic Moment: The Drafting of the New Chilean Constitution Podcast: RightsUp (LS 29 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: A Historic Moment: The Drafting of the New Chilean ConstitutionPub date: 2022-07-22Notes from Over The Wire Podcast:In advance of a nationwide referendum on the new draft Chilean Constitution, scheduled for the 4th of September, the guest speaks about the writing of this Constitution, its place in the history of Latin American constitutionalism, and the reasons why the draft Constitution deserves to be supported.Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationIn adv...2022-09-0421 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaShilpa Shetty and Privacy JurisprudenceOther than you, who can talk about your sex life? A right to privacy means determining the boundaries about what can be spoken about, and what cannot be spoken about. In this episode of The Longest Constitution, we progress with our examination of the evolution of privacy rights and look at a case concerning the actress Shilpa Shetty and her private life. We also look at a ‘reasonable’ restriction’ on our fundamental right to the expression: contempt of court. Finally, a little bit about what makes the Aadhar card a violation of our rights. On privacy: Bhat...2022-08-3109 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaKhushwant Singh vs. Menaka GandhiWhat is the balance between privacy rights and freedom of expression? As we mark the progress of privacy rights, we examine an important case which vacated an injunction against the publication of a book, holding the freedom of expression to be greater than that of privacy and observing that questions of defamation can be settled by trial. We also look at why the UIDAI did not consider serious questions of a data leak or how citizens' biometric data is shared. Finally, we look at the darkest dimension of the Delhi sealing case: the profit made by YK Sabharwal’s so...2022-08-2410 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaPhoolan Devi and PrivacyWhat is the ‘truth’ about ‘us’? Phoolan Devi discovered a movie allegedly based on the ‘truth’ about her, distorted her life completely. This episode of The Longest Constitution progresses in its journey of mapping the constitutional right to privacy. We look at the contest over truth, between Phoolan Devi and Shekhar Kapoor and observe how the Constitution is a living text, interpreted and expanded upon over time. On the question of PIL, we uncover the class conflict in the reshaping of Delhi in the 1990s and take a parting look at electoral bonds. On Phoolan Devi and privacy: 2022-08-0310 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe Taj MahalWhat comes first? Monuments or people’s jobs? In this episode of The Longest Constitution, we take a look at yet another MC Mehta petition (there were several!) and how the PIL went from being a tool for the poor to an unaccountable weapon wielded by the Supreme Court. We also look at a case where a serial killer petitioned for his right to privacy and consent when it came to his autobiography being published. The case raised the question of whether a ‘public figure’ can file for defamation? And lastly, we look into electoral bonds and their unconstitutional nature...2022-07-2710 min
RightsUpA Historic Moment: The Drafting of the New Chilean ConstitutionIn advance of a nationwide referendum on the new draft Chilean Constitution, scheduled for the 4th of September, Gautam Bhatia interviews Professor Roberto Gargarella about the writing of this Constitution, its place in the history of Latin American constitutionalism, and the reasons why the draft Constitution deserves to be supported.
Transcript available on the Oxford Human Rights Hub website: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk2022-07-2221 min
RightsUp: The Oxford Human Rights Hub PodcastA Historic Moment: The Drafting of the New Chilean ConstitutionIn advance of a nationwide referendum on the new draft Chilean Constitution, scheduled for the 4th of September, Gautam Bhatia interviews Professor Roberto Gargarella about the writing of this Constitution, its place in the history of Latin American constitutionalism, and the reasons why the draft Constitution deserves to be supported.
Transcript available on the Oxford Human Rights Hub website: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk2022-07-2221 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe Ambani’s and DefamationHave you read The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubhai Ambani? Chances are, not! While pirated copies may be in circulation, this episode of The Longest Constitution looks at the Ambani's filed an injunction against the book’s publishers. This is not unusual. Private and powerful corporations and individuals have used the clause of defamation, both under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India, as well as the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to obstruct the publication of a book of public interest, with success. We also look at how much a candidate can spend in an election campaign and the la...2022-07-1311 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaNOTA and Freedom of ExpressionConsidering the number of candidates contesting in elections who have pending criminal cases against them, what if one does not actually want to vote for any of them? This episode looks at the litigation which led the Supreme Court to introduce the option of NOTA - None of the Above in EVMs (electronic voting machines). We also look at the Delhi oleum gas disaster, which was eerily similar to the Bhopal gas tragedy but we note the differences in the litigation and outcome. And finally, we look at how television is also regulated by arbitrary and vague codes which...2022-07-0610 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe Journey of Free SpeechWhat's the big deal about an oath? A lot. And especially when it is to do with the people entrusted with the highest political offices under the Constitution of India. This episode of The Longest Constitution looks at a case that clarified the hugely important role of the President of India: upholding the Indian constitution. Apart from that, we carry on with two other journeys we are making: the story of the Dongria Kondhs and their battle against Vedanta, the mining corporation under the PESA Act. And the contested journey of free speech in India. On free...2022-05-2509 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaA Woman on a Harley-DavidsonWhat makes men hysterical? The women’s reservation bill! This episode of The Longest Constitution examines why women aren't in Parliament, and how that would help. We also look at the issue of livelihood, which is often determined by everyone but those who lose their livelihood. We look at eggs, surrogacy and orchestra performers - maybe in that order! Randall, Vicky, “Legislative Gender Quotas and Indian Exceptionalism: The Travails of the Women's Reservation Bill”, Comparative Politics Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 63-82. Menon, Nivedita, “Elusive 'Woman': Feminism and Women's Reservation Bill”Economic and Political...2022-03-2310 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaJaved Akhtar and The Copyright LawWhat do the Urdu lyricist Javed Akhtar and his speech in the parliament have to do with the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959? Nothing, really! But on what grounds can a poet or writer claim ownership over her work. And why have beggars, surrogates, and sex workers been criminalized for decades, being denied the right to sing and dance in public spaces? This episode of The Longest Constitution examines, through the lens of The Copyright Law, the kind of work which is ‘visible’ and that which is ‘invisible’ and the overwhelming burden of invisible work on women.**Read...2022-03-0210 min
Androids and Assets - The Complete PackageThe Horizon Coalition, In Conversation with Gautam Bhatia
Marshall and Stephen are joined by returning guest Gautam Bhatia to talk about his recently released novel The Horizon.
Works Mentioned
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Planetary Mine by Martín Arboleda
Aurora Rising originally titled The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton
Echopraxia by Peter Watts
Economic Science Fictions edited by William Davies
Tweet
The post The Horizon Coalition, In Conversation with Gautam Bhatia appeared first on Androids and Assets.
2022-01-3155 min
Androids and AssetsThe Horizon Coalition, In Conversation with Gautam Bhatia
Marshall and Stephen are joined by returning guest Gautam Bhatia to talk about his recently released novel The Horizon.
Works Mentioned
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Planetary Mine by Martín Arboleda
Aurora Rising originally titled The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton
Echopraxia by Peter Watts
Economic Science Fictions edited by William Davies
Tweet
The post The Horizon Coalition, In Conversation with Gautam Bhatia appeared first on Androids and Assets.
2022-01-3155 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaUntouchability at the workplaceEquality of opportunity is just one dimension of access to work, but what about dignity at the workplace? Article 17 of the Constitution of India states quite briefly: ‘Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden.’ And yet, untouchability was not defined because it was assumed that it is familiar to every citizen. It took another five years though to draft a law to penalize untouchability and its practice. How efficient is this law? And how have courts interpreted caste-based discrimination? All this and more on this episode of The Longest Constitution. Legal provisions, laws, and case...2021-12-1508 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaCaste and access to workIs discrimination visible? Or just felt? In this episode of The Longest Constitution, we look into the history of caste-based discrimination and why our constitution is committed to overcoming that. And most importantly how from B.R. Ambedkar’s experiences to questions about the necessity for reservations, we look into how the constitution proposes to undo caste-based discriminations and the journey towards that goal. Omvedt, Gail, Seeking Begumpura: The Social Vision of Anti caste Intellectuals (Navayana, 2008)Bhatia, Gautam, ‘Reservations, Equality, and the Constitution – I: Origins’, ( https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/reservations-equality-and-the-constitution-i-origins/ ) Biswas, A.K, “The making of the firs...2021-12-0809 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaThe Third Gender and Constitution of IndiaWho decides your gender? Your body or your mind? Or the state? This episode follows the NALSA judgment 2014 which recognized the third gender and more importantly affirmed the right to self-affirm one’s gender. But what did the government do? We track the success of Tiruchi Shiva’s bill to protect the rights of transgenders and the disappointment with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and look at the road ahead. Parul Chandra, “Why Tiruchi Siva moved a Private Member's Bill to ensure rights for transgender people”, ( https://scroll.in/article/723205/why-tiruchi-siva-moved-a-private-members-bill-to-ensure-rights-for-transgender-people )Gautam Bhatia, “The Constitutional Challenge...2021-11-1709 min
The Times Of India PodcastWho watches the watchmen?In today's episode, constitutional expert Gautam Bhatia and investigative journalist Josy Joseph on the role of investigative agencies and judiciary in the upkeep of democracy2021-10-2131 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaBarred from Dancing?Not everyone. Just bar dancers. Singing and dancing are our fundamental rights to freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of India. And yet at various points, governments have regulated women singing and dancing. Even at the cost of women’s passions, professions and those dependent on them. Every dance is a performance and to make arbitrary moral distinctions is unreasonable. Public morality may be the state’s mandate but what we do with our private lives, is our business! Tune in and find out more! Want to read more on this? Bhatia, Gautam, “A Constitutional Muddle: The Suprem...2021-10-0609 min
The Longest Constitution with Priya MirzaWhat’s obscene about obscenity?Nobody can say for sure! Though Section 292 of the (IPC) which defines obscenity is vague, it has been used against writers and artists like Ismat Chughtai to Saadat Hasan Manto, AIB and more recently, when Milind Soman ran naked on the beach. What is it all about? And what did a man named Cockburn have to do with it? Find out in this episode of The Longest Constitution! Gautam Bhatia, ‘The Supreme Court discards the Hicklin test’, Available at: ( https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/obscenity-the-supreme-court-discards-the-hicklin-test/ )Shruti Sundar Ray, ‘Explained: What is the measure of ‘obscenity’ in India?’, ( https://indianexpress...2021-09-0108 min
The African TrumpetBBI Vs The Doctrine Of Basic StructureOn May 14th the Kenyan High Court declared the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2021 unconstitutional. The proponent moved to the Court of Appeal who affirmed the decision of the high court. The proponents have decided to move to the Supreme Court. How has the process panned out and what will the Supreme Court decide on issues that touch on Section 255 and 257 that are quite sacred to the constitution? A conversation between The Elephant and Gautam Bhatia.2021-08-3122 min
podcasts – Rob WolfGautam Bhatia Explores Rebellion for Rebellion’s Sake in The Wallhttps://traffic.megaphone.fm/NBN5728185596.mp3 Gautam Bhatia’s debut novel The Wall (Harper Collins, 2020) is set in Sumer, a city enclosed in an impenetrable, unscalable barrier that seems sky high. To its inhabitants, whose ancestors have lived there for 2,000 years, the place is more than a city or even a country—it’s their universe. Sumer’s residents know something is […]2021-07-2200 minauthor interviews – Rob WolfGautam Bhatia Explores Rebellion for Rebellion’s Sake in The Wallhttps://traffic.megaphone.fm/NBN5728185596.mp3 Gautam Bhatia’s debut novel The Wall (Harper Collins, 2020) is set in Sumer, a city enclosed in an impenetrable, unscalable barrier that seems sky high. To its inhabitants, whose ancestors have lived there for 2,000 years, the place is more than a city or even a country—it’s their universe. Sumer’s residents know something is […]2021-07-2200 minPodcast – Rob WolfGautam Bhatia Explores Rebellion for Rebellion’s Sake in The Wallhttps://traffic.megaphone.fm/NBN5728185596.mp3 Gautam Bhatia’s debut novel The Wall (Harper Collins, 2020) is set in Sumer, a city enclosed in an impenetrable, unscalable barrier that seems sky high. To its inhabitants, whose ancestors have lived there for 2,000 years, the place is more than a city or even a country—it’s their universe. Sumer’s residents know something is […]2021-07-2200 mindystopia – Rob WolfGautam Bhatia Explores Rebellion for Rebellion’s Sake in The Wall
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NBN5728185596.mp3
Gautam Bhatia’s debut novel The Wall (Harper Collins, 2020) is set in Sumer, a city enclosed in an impenetrable, unscalable barrier that seems sky high. To its inhabitants, whose ancestors have lived there for 2,000 years, the place is more than a city or even a country—it’s their universe.Sumer’s residents know something is on the other side but have no desire to explore beyond the wall. They are content with what they have, living comfortably with the resources, rules and hierarchies that have sustained them for centurie...2021-07-2200 minnew books – Rob WolfGautam Bhatia Explores Rebellion for Rebellion’s Sake in The Wallhttps://traffic.megaphone.fm/NBN5728185596.mp3 Gautam Bhatia’s debut novel The Wall (Harper Collins, 2020) is set in Sumer, a city enclosed in an impenetrable, unscalable barrier that seems sky high. To its inhabitants, whose ancestors have lived there for 2,000 years, the place is more than a city or even a country—it’s their universe. Sumer’s residents know something is […]2021-07-2200 min
New Books in Science FictionGautam Bhatia, "The Wall" (Harper Collins, 2020)Gautam Bhatia’s debut novel The Wall (Harper Collins, 2020) is set in Sumer, a city enclosed in an impenetrable, unscalable barrier that seems sky high. To its inhabitants, whose ancestors have lived there for 2,000 years, the place is more than a city or even a country—it’s their universe.Sumer’s residents know something is on the other side but have no desire to explore beyond the wall. They are content with what they have, living comfortably with the resources, rules and hierarchies that have sustained them for centuries.But every couple generations, some people crave...2021-07-2233 min
The Wire TalksThe Whole Central Vista Has Been Non-Transparent feat. Gautam BhatiaAs India grapples with COVID-19, the incumbent in Delhi is going ahead with its planned redevelopment of the Central Vista - a 3km long path that connects India Gate with Rashtrapati Bhawan in the capital. The entire projects is estiamted to cost Rs. 20,000 crores and at the end of it, many distinct buildings will be demolished. A new parliament building, as well as new residences for the Prime Minister and the Vice President will come up. Some of the building that will be brought down include the National Museum, the National Archives and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the...2021-06-0146 min
BookasurEp 25: What do we read next?What does one learn from years of reviewing books? And what does one make of a book that defies easy reviewing? Easy, this reviewer picks up the book and goes deeper into it, and then talks of what distinguishes a book reader from a reviewer - along with some rants about the never-ending pressure to keep up.
This is episode #25 of Bookasur, talking about frogs in wells, Strange Horizons (and walls), publicity, and some free advice on choosing your next book to read. This is also the finale of Season 1 of Bookasur, so we will take a...2021-03-1427 min
Anticipating the Unintended#115 Anti-State, Anti-Government Or Anti-Nation? 🎧This newsletter is really a public policy thought-letter. While excellent newsletters on specific themes within public policy already exist, this thought-letter is about frameworks, mental models, and key ideas that will hopefully help you think about any public policy problem in imaginative ways. It seeks to answer just one question: how do I think about a particular public policy problem/solution?PS: If you enjoy listening instead of reading, we have this edition available as an audio narration on all podcasting platforms courtesy the good folks at Ad-Auris. If you have any feedback, please send it to us...2021-03-1419 min
Authors on a Podcast Talking BooksTBRcon21 - Global SFFJoin Gautam Bhatia, Yaroslav Barsukov, Deck Matthews, Robert V.S. Redick, Andrea Stewart & Luke Tarzian as they chat Global SFF during TBRcon21.2021-02-021h 26
The Kunal CallHonest Interviews #2- Mr Gautam GoenkaWelcome Back to Another Episode of Honest Interviews and this time I will be talking to Mr Gautam Goenka. He is one of the founders and partners of The Junction (Dubai) where people are given an opportunity to perform and show their creative skills whether it is Singing, Acting ,Dancing or Directing.
The Junction was founded in 2015 and since then it has given so many artists in the UAE a chance to express their talent and it has always been a special place for artists. I am very excited for this Particular Podcast as we will talk to...2021-02-0155 min
Anticipating the Unintended#103 Constitution Chronicles: 4 Books & 2 Speeches 🎧This newsletter is really a public policy thought-letter. While excellent newsletters on specific themes within public policy already exist, this thought-letter is about frameworks, mental models, and key ideas that will hopefully help you think about any public policy problem in imaginative ways. It seeks to answer just one question: how do I think about a particular public policy problem/solution?PS: If you enjoy listening instead of reading, we have this edition available as an audio narration on all podcasting platforms courtesy the good folks at Ad-Auris. If you have any feedback, please send it to us...2021-01-2709 min
Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy's PodcastCaste and Religion Based Residential Segregation in Indian Cities - Episode 4, The Feminist CityHost: Sneha Visakha;
Intro Music: Wehrmut by Godmode;
Outro Music: Opheliea's Blues by Audionautix
In the fourth episode of The Feminist City podcast, we speak with Dr. Naveen Bharathi, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI), University of Pennsylvania. Naveen’s work is at the intersection of political sociology and political economy of identity and he has worked on spatial segregation in contemporary urban India. Some issues we touch upon are: urbanisation and how cities are segregated on the lines of caste and religion, history of urban development in Bengaluru, housing discrimination and impact of gh...2021-01-2047 min
ArchiofyEP 1- A simple way to get started with architectural writingArchitecture as a profession is evolving exponentially for the past few years. It is fascinating to see many architects voice out their opinions, analysis, and research in written format. Architect Gautam Bhatia rightly says "Architecture is a profession that doesn't go by the book hence deserves writing that doesn't go by the book".
Writing architecture opens up a career option called architectural journalism. It is still a growing niche, especially in India, but I am glad to say many professionals today are considering taking it up as a primary career option. In this episode, there are basic observations about the...2021-01-1905 minAndroids and Assets - The Complete PackageYou Can’t Vote Against the Wall, In Conversation with Gautam Bhatia
Gautam Bhatia, author of The Wall, joins us to talk about his debut novel. The Wall is chock full of ideas and questions the role of law, the effects of strictly constrained resources, and how hierarchy interacts with democracy.
We mentioned our Bookshop; unfortunately, The Wall is not included in that database so you will have to ask your local bookseller to find it.
Other Works Mentioned
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson2020-10-0450 minAndroids and AssetsYou Can’t Vote Against the Wall, In Conversation with Gautam Bhatia
Gautam Bhatia, author of The Wall, joins us to talk about his debut novel. The Wall is chock full of ideas and questions the role of law, the effects of strictly constrained resources, and how hierarchy interacts with democracy.
We mentioned our Bookshop; unfortunately, The Wall is not included in that database so you will have to ask your local bookseller to find it.
Other Works Mentioned
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson2020-10-0450 min
Overthrow Cricket PodcastEp 08| SRH vs KKR| Good Old KKR Days | Ft. Darshil AgrawalIn the 8th episode of Overthrow Podcast, we invite Darshil Agarwal, a die-hard fan of KKR, and discuss the good old days of KKR with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Brett Lee and Rajat Bhatia. Darshil talks about his most memorable matches that KKR has played, all of them on the losing cause. We also discuss how KKR convincingly won the match by 7 wickets against SRH, thanks to Shubhman Gill's 70* in 62 balls.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/overthrow-cricket-podcast/message2020-09-2919 min
Overthrow Cricket PodcastEp 08| SRH vs KKR| Good Old KKR Days | Ft. Darshil AgrawalIn the 8th episode of Overthrow Podcast, we invite Darshil Agarwal, a die-hard fan of KKR, and discuss the good old days of KKR with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Brett Lee and Rajat Bhatia. Darshil talks about his most memorable matches that KKR has played, all of them on the losing cause. We also discuss how KKR convincingly won the match by 7 wickets against SRH, thanks to Shubhman Gill's 70* in 62 balls.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/overthrow-cricket-podcast/message2020-09-2919 min
RightsUpThe Transformative Possibilities of a Constitution (with Joel Modiri and Gautam Bhatia)Constitutions are the legal bedrock of many countries, but they're also political, and are produced within a specific socio-historical context, much like any text. As much as Constitutions are there to protect citizens, they can also exclude certain groups of people. And when a Constitution doesn't work for all, how do we best address this? To what extent can we reinterpret a Constitution so it's more inclusive? And when do we need to start again, from scratch? In this episode, Gautam Bhatia and Joel Modiri discuss these questions in the context of India and South Africa.
Transcript available: http://ohrh...2020-09-2535 min
RightsUp: The Oxford Human Rights Hub PodcastThe Transformative Possibilities of a Constitution (with Joel Modiri and Gautam Bhatia)Constitutions are the legal bedrock of many countries, but they're also political, and are produced within a specific socio-historical context, much like any text. As much as Constitutions are there to protect citizens, they can also exclude certain groups of people. And when a Constitution doesn't work for all, how do we best address this? To what extent can we reinterpret a Constitution so it's more inclusive? And when do we need to start again, from scratch? In this episode, Gautam Bhatia and Joel Modiri discuss these questions in the context of India and South Africa.
Interview...2020-09-2535 min
SELF LOVE with Megha BhatiaSelf Love talk with Gautam M.Check out my latest episode with Gautam M. on Self Love...!!!Share your feedback or your self-love story with me on my Instagram account @meghabhatia31You can also subscribe to my youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1tp3wVWw_w-W45rjSDYh9wCheck our self-love goodies and workshops on www.heyselflovebox.comYou can also share your self-love story with us https://forms.gle/vwwHTVNFY9vopieM72020-08-2316 min
Just Us Under a TreeSpecial Episode 3: 'What are Courts for?' with Gautam BhatiaOn our much awaited first special episode of the year, Elisha Kunene chats to Indian lawyer and scholar Gautam Bhatia about writing, activism, and the role of law in society.
Crucial listening in the time of COVID-19.
A truncated version of this interview was published by Africa Is a Country: https://africasacountry.com/2020/05/what-are-courts-for
Read the Indian Constitutional Law and Philosophy blog: https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2020-04-261h 58
FiscalYogi podcastEp 9: On the Citizenship Amendment ActHello! I am back after a long break! In this episode, I talk about the Citizenship Amendment Act. I try not to make any decisions for you, but hope that I've given you some ideas on how to research this topic better for yourself and try to understand whether this Act is good for the country, or otherwise.
Other great resources on this subject:
Amit Varma and Srinath Raghavan in The Seen and the Unseen, where they give you a detailed history of all the rules around citizenship.
https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2019/12/22/episode-152-the-citizenship-battles/
Puliyabaazi is a Hindi podcast. In...2020-01-2629 min
Agla Station Adulthood with Rytasha & AyushiEp. 21: CitizenshipOn this episode hosts Ayushi and Rytasha are joined by Andre Borges, Former News Production Manager at Buzzfeed India, they unpack CAA/NRC and its impact on the country.Show Notes-People/Publications/Accounts that have been doing some stellar reporting on the issues:
Shoaib Daniyal at Scroll
Samrat X on the Northeast
Rohini Mohan on NRC Implementation
Supriya Sharma Executive Editor at Scroll
Sukanya Shantha from the Wire
Follow Gautam Bhatia on the legal front. He's very active on Twitter and Instagram.
Publications to blanket...2020-01-161h 11
Puliyabaazi Hindi Podcast पुलियाबाज़ी हिन्दी पॉडकास्टSpecial Episode: संविधान का मुखड़ाThe Preamble of the Indian Constitution has become a rallying point for lakhs of anti-CAA and NRC protesters across India. The preamble is being read out every single day on the streets of several cities. However, the Hindi version of the Preamble is hardly being read out, possibly because it uses ornate and archaic Hindi. So in this special episode of Puliyabaazi, we attempt a simpler version of the preamble. Our hope here is that listeners will create similar versions of the preamble in other Indian languages. Please do write to us at puliyabaazi@gmail.com with your versions...2020-01-0616 min
UnboxChristmas is cancelledLinks from the episode
Citizenship Battles
Gautam Bhatia's CAA and NRC Explainer
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!2019-12-2505 min
The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit VarmaKashmir and Article 370Kashmir is in lockdown, and Article 370 is history. What does this mean for Kashmir -- and for India? Historian Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 134 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the historical, geopolitical, ideological and moral questions at the heart of the Kashmir problem. Also check out: War and Peace in Modern India -- Srinath Raghavan The Geopolitics of the Bangladesh War -- Episode 113 of The Seen and the Unseen. Understanding the India-Pakistan Conflict -- Episode 111 of The Seen and the Unseen. Uncle Sam in South Asia -- Episode 93 of The Seen and...2019-08-192h 26
Material Analysis PodcastEpisode 10 - National Register of Citizens (NRC)In this episode, first, Pramod and Chandu give a short primer on the history of the Assam colonial state and the roots of the language conflict. Then (from 24 min onward), they along with Jasmine interview Gautam Bhatia, Indian constitutional lawyer about the NRC, and discuss the role of the Indian judiciary.Music: Haradhon Rongmon, a song which was composed by Hemango Biswas and Bhupen Hazarika to appeal for peace in the 60s in a violence torn Assam2019-08-031h 13
Deep Fried Neurons Podcast#33 - Free Speech Has no Friends (Priyanka Sharma and The Meme)This Episode is just me ranting about a really sad event in Indian history. It's the story of a pattern of behavior of the Indian supreme court to censor speech in the name of their moral interpretations, over stepping the constitutional role given to them of the interpreter of laws. After reading about it for two weeks, I thought I should talk about it. As of the release of the episode, Priyanka Sharma, the woman in question has been released after alleged harassment by the police and a forced signed statement. I speak in the Indian context in this...2019-05-1911 min
The Sandip Roy Show22: Understanding the Indian Constitution, with Gautam BhatiaIn this episode, Sandip speak to lawyer and legal scholar Gautam Bhatia about his new book 'The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts'.2019-04-2136 min
NL HaftaHafta 217: Modi's interview with Arnab, Mission Shakti, NYAY and moreIn this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and lawyer Gautam Bhatia.The podcast kicks off with Gautam talking about his latest book, The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts. It draws on pre-Independence legal and political history and is an analysis of the oppressive forces apart from the State. In his book, he argues that the Constitution was intended to transform not only the political identity of Indians but also the social relationships on which legal and political structures rest.Abhinandan proceeds with a comparative interpretation of the at...2019-04-0800 min
NL HaftaChhota Hafta — Episode 217In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and lawyer Gautam Bhatia. The podcast kicks off with Gautam talking about his latest book, The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts.The discussion moves to Arnab Goswami's interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussing Mission Shakti, Madhu describes what she calls the “remarkable discomfiture” with which Modi made his announcement. The conversation also covers Rahul Gandhi's announcement of the NYAY scheme, Vijay Mallya recent statements after the Jet Airways bailout, cessation dialogues in Kashmir and Sikkim, and a whole lot more.2019-03-3000 min