All Indians Matter

286 lions died in Gujarat over the past two years, a significant number of them due to unnatural causes. While Gir's conservation story has been laudable, it may be falling prey to its own success. The growing lion population, necessitating larger territories, has resulted in greater conflict with humans and accidental deaths. There is also the spectre of disease and genetic weakening due to excessive inbreeding. Many experts suggest translocation to Juno in Madhya Pradesh. However, intent needs to translate into action quickly. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the US is not experiencing a recession yet, concerns about its onset are growing – despite the pause on reciprocal tariffs. If one does hit, it would have a significant impact on India, churning stock markets, shrinking exports and economic growth, and raising unemployment. However, there are ways you can prepare for such an eventuality. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I think of the evolution of Indian news media, I divide it into phases: post-independence, a nation finding its feet, the age of despair when the promises of freedom seemed distant, the Emergency, the political churn that followed, the economic reforms, the digital revolution, and so on. There would have been very few who'd have seen it all first-hand. All Indians Matter is privileged to have one such person on the show. Meet the amazing Rami Chhabra, a media veteran who recently released her debut novel ‘Becoming the Storm'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Study after study points to a “generational shift” in cancer cases. In other words, there is a rising incidence of cancer among Millennials and Gen Z. These findings bring into sharp perspective the challenges of modern lifestyles and diseases. Researchers say dietary choices, sedentary lifestyles and exposure to environmental pollutants are among the major reasons for the rise. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Censor board officials, while reviewing a movie on legendary Dalit poet-activist Namdeo Dhasal, asked who he was, stunning the filmmaker and sparking political and social outrage. Dhasal gave voice to not just the Dalit experience but also that of those forced to the fringes of society. His was the voice of all the oppressed. Dhasal's words transformed into action which, in turn, transformed into inspiration. That inspiration lives on for millions. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's decision to withdraw from the WHO could weaken the world's ability to respond to modern health challenges. More than ever, this is a time to collaborate on disease prevention and management. The milestones WHO has achieved while working with India are a great example of what can be achieved, although a tremendous amount is left to be done. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporate loan write-offs are justified as necessary to improve banks' financial situation and to stimulate economic activity. However, they increase the fiscal deficit and government debt, reducing the money available for social welfare and development programmes. The burden is borne by taxpayers and we now also have to make do with fewer public services. Large loan waivers also distort the market by handing corporate houses an unfair advantage – they not only access cheap credit, but avoid accountability. Smaller businesses, meanwhile, get no such relaxations and have to pay higher interest rates to make up for the loss caused by the write-offs. It's a process that reeks of corruption and has no moral root. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like with so many industries, artificial intelligence is transforming personal investing. It offers analysis and services like portfolio management at speeds and depth that were only dreamt of earlier. However, along with these benefits, there is also the spectre of data breaches and errors that can prove very costly to the small investor. Portfolio management expert Rohit Jha, co-founder of the ArthAlpha investment platform, speaks to All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India's energy demand will grow faster than that of any other country due to its sheer size and growth potential. Given the climate challenge, most of this new demand must be met by renewable sources. However, that's anything but easy. The push faces a variety of challenges, from financing to community opposition and policy uncertainty to grid integration. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions, India took the opportunity to start buying cheap Russian crude. From 12% earlier, Russia went on to account for 40% of India's oil imports. Now, fresh US sanctions mean our days of buying cheap Russian crude could be over. If India's oil import bill increases, so will inflation. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The goal is to have 30% of newly registered private cars to be electric by 2030 but range anxiety caused by the lack of adequate charging infrastructure could put paid to that. India has 200 EVs per commercial charging point, which compares very poorly to the average of 20 in the US and less than 10 in China. What's needed very quickly is greater investment in the sector, clear land acquisition norms and more tax incentives. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘City on Fire: A Boyhood in Aligarh' is a superb memoir of a boyhood spent in Aligarh on volatile communal faultlines. The author, Zeyad Masroor Khan, details the pains associated with growing up, of joy and grief and loss and evolution. Its greatest success, however, is in portraying how the relationship between Indian Hindus and Muslims ebbs and flows, at once symbiotic and conflicting. All Indians Matter speaks to Zeyad about the book and where the Indian Muslim goes from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you consider mean solar times, there is a two-hour difference across India's breadth. So, sticking to a single time zone impacts sleep patterns, health, education outcomes and economic output. Yet, governments over the decades have rejected scientific advice to switch to two time zones. They have cited “strategic reasons” and the risk of events like rail accidents caused by the confusion when crossing zones. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The term ‘shrinking middle-class' is now common and there are several indicators that it is based in fact. Consumption is down. Last year, two-wheeler sales fell and car inventory rose. The cost of living is through the roof and real wages are stagnating. The once-thriving middle-class is struggling with significant economic challenges that have significantly impacted its consumption patterns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China is building a dam on the Brahmaputra in Tibet, which will be thrice the size of the Three Gorges project. It will mean China has control over flow of the water into India, raising serious security and economic concerns. What's more, it lies on an earthquake fault zone and presents a threat to the riverine ecology as well as local communities. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Especially after liberalisation and the era of high growth, the demand for MBA degrees skyrocketed. This led to the establishment of several public and private institutions offering the degrees. However, over time, several challenges arose – not least that many of the graduates were not employable. Also, facing technological disruption in a fast-changing business landscape, management education finds itself at another inflection point. The urgent imperatives of sustainability, inclusion and competitiveness demand a transformation to ensure such education remains relevant. Dr Varun Nagaraj, Dean of the SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, speaks to All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last part of the series on India's march towards oligarchy, All Indians Matter looks at what can be done to arrest the slide. If we are to return to a state that truly cares for everyone, if we are to have strong social welfare and economic safety nets, we need a new kind of politics – the kind that breaks the stranglehold of wealth on power and is invested in social and economic justice. Sadly, many parties are fearful of economic power – of the vast conglomerates, the oligarchs who now dictate the course of our politics. The longer the situation is allowed to linger, the more entrenched oligarchic power will become. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oligarchy is a political system in which power lies in the hands of a few individuals or a single class. The source can be wealth, connections, political influence... Joe Biden referred to it in his farewell speech as President, warning of its consequences. After Russia, India has the most billionaires in the world per trillion dollars of GDP – which indicates that income and capital are accumulating in the hands of a few. This economic power translates into massive political power, so politicians find it convenient to ally with the very wealthy. This ensures that power remains with those few and grows with time. Such a system – oligarchy – erodes democracy, where power should be distributed broadly. All Indians Matter kicks off a two-part special series on India's march towards oligarchy, where it could lead us and what the possible answers could be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a nation? And who does it belong to? In India, the far-right project aims for a nation defined by Hindutva, a single language – Hindi – and a tight control on what we eat, think, who we can marry, and a hierarchy based on religion and caste when it comes to rights, freedoms and resources. There is no space for cultural diversity. Sectarianism, casteism and authoritarianism have inflicted a tear in India's social fabric, which will take a very long time to repair – if at all it can be. But democracy, multiculturalism, the rule of law, equality and the idea of India as envisaged when it gained freedom are worth fighting for. This is the final episode of the All Indians Matter series on the rise of the right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A revisionist approach towards history is among the most powerful weapons in the right's arsenal. Righting so-called historical wrongs is among the causes it dedicates itself most passionately to. Using history, the populist right manufactures a sense of victimhood within the majority and rewrites history to manufacture a glorious past that must then be recreated to make the nation great again. In Episode 2 of the All Indians Matter series that puts under the scanner the rise of the right, we look at revisionism as a political strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is transforming businesses, governance and jobs. However, as it becomes ubiquitous, it also raises privacy concerns. India has more than 700 million internet users and generates vast amounts of personal data every day, which makes for a lucrative target for cybercriminals. Sadly, data breaches are becoming common. Lack of awareness compounds the problem – many, particularly in rural areas, are unaware of digital privacy risks. Levis Wilson, director of Estontec Group, speaks to All Indians Matter about how we can protect ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a surge of right-wing populism across the world and, of course, in India. Much of it has to do with fear – of change, of immigrants, of the shrinking number of jobs, of being surpassed by groups that were historically lower on the socioeconomic order, of once mighty economies slowing, of your powerful nation now being challenged by those growing richer… Fear provides the underlying context of the political narrative. It is the human condition that the nationalism offered by the populist right provides a false but compelling answer to. The more fearful a people of an uncertain, uncharted future, the better it is for right-wing populist parties. All Indians Matter attempts to analyse this over a three-episode series. In Episode 1, we look at Europe and the changing political conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people don't understand it but a weakening rupee raises the cost of living, especially impacting the cost of essentials and leaving you with less in your pocket at the end of each month. It also impacts a wide variety of sectors, from automobiles to electronics, agriculture and aviation. The health of the rupee is, in fact, an indicator of the state of the overall economy. So, a falling rupee is bad news for you and me. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food inflation has fallen slightly but it remains way too high for comfort. This was mainly why the RBI did not lower interest rates despite pressure from the government. High food inflation affects the lower-income group more because it has less money and so a larger proportion of its earnings are spent on basics like food and fuel. High food inflation also lowers consumption across many sectors, which is bad news for the economy. Why are food prices so high and what can be done about it? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Misinformation and fake news are serious concerns, having implications across internal security, business, social justice, politics and more. They combine with deep-rooted biases to shape events, from elections to the COVID-19 pandemic. People are especially vulnerable to misinformation at a time when polarisation is widening. What can you do to avoid fake news and misinformation when the mainstream media and social networks are reluctant to address the problem and in some cases even encouraging it? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There have been several warnings that information on packaged food labels can be misleading. For example, food advertised as sugar-free may be loaded with fats, refined cereals and even hidden sugars. In July, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, approved a proposal to display nutritional information, such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat content, in bold letters on packaged food labels. However, experts feel this may not be enough to make consumers aware of the contents. Shashi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, spoke to All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been yet another disappointing COP. It's clear now that the poorer nations are least responsible for the climate crisis but most affected by it. If the COP is to have any meaning, the richer nations – historically responsible for the most emissions – will have to play their part and dig deep into their pockets. Otherwise, the COP is in danger of losing all legitimacy. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Air pollution is costing India big money. It is estimated that India's GDP would increase by $95 billion a year if it achieves safe air quality levels. As far as the human cost goes, a study showed that 464 children under the age of five die every day as a result of factors associated with air pollution. So, there is an urgent need for businesses and policymakers to get aggressive in cleaning up our air. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There have been several warnings that information on packaged food labels can be misleading. For example, food advertised as sugar-free may be loaded with fats, refined cereals and even hidden sugars. In July, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, approved a proposal to display nutritional information, such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat content, in bold letters on packaged food labels. However, experts feel this may not be enough to make consumers aware of the contents. Shashi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, spoke to All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Female-owned businesses create opportunities for other women, thus boosting their workforce participation. Also, they are less likely than male entrepreneurs to exhibit gender discrimination. So, policies that support female entrepreneurship are crucial and lead to greater social inclusion of women – much needed in a culture that perpetuates traditional gender roles. Importantly, female entrepreneurship models business ownership for younger generations of women – thus transforming deep-rooted cultural norms and gender stereotypes. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Indian agriculture finds itself at the intersection of three major challenges: ensuring food security, climate change and sustainable use of resources like water. Further, there is an overreliance on chemical inputs. Given the environmental crisis, there is a crying need for a pivot towards sustainable farming. This pivot spans policy reforms to awareness and everything in between. How can India do that while achieving its food requirements? Maninder Singh Nayyar, founder and CEO of the CEF Group, an expert on sustainable farming, speaks to All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A government survey painting a bleak picture of businesses closing down and jobs being lost in the informal sector was followed by one published by a ratings agency that said the situation was even more grim than indicated. What's undisputed is that the sector that provides most of the country's employment and more than half of the GDP is in deep trouble. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a time when institutions are failing us and our freedoms are under attack, memes offer a language of resistance that is contemporary, easy to produce and quick to disseminate. They are enabling citizens to project their democratic power and to initiate action. By doing so, memes represent a welcome addition to our democratic discourse. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The STEM workforce of women in India is estimated at 27% of the total, way behind the global average of 30% and far below the aspired-to 50%. This gender gap is even wider in leadership positions. It's an old story. Women usually have no choice when it comes to domestic and care burdens, and they face prejudice, stereotyping and other systemic barriers. So, the path to an inclusive STEM ecosystem will involve shattering stereotypes and weeding out deep-rooted social prejudices. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent study says that the rate of growth of student suicides now surpasses that of the population and overall suicide trends. Over the past two decades, student suicides surged by 4% that while overall suicide numbers rose by 2% annually. Crushed under the weight of family expectations and social pressures, with little access to counsellors or awareness about mental health, many students are choosing to take their own lives. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The debate over the need for a higher minimum wage is intensifying as the cost of living and income inequality rise. India hopes to move to a living wage regime by next year, which would set a wage floor that takes into account basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. Whatever the regime India adopts, there can be little doubt that worker incomes need to rise. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary: Fast-rising premiums, frequent rejection of claims and complicated contracts are only some of the challenges the health insurance sector presents. As a result, hundreds of millions are left out of the safety net. What's urgently needed is clarity of what's covered by policies and what's not as well as simplified claims processes. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary: In India, like elsewhere in the world, there are serious concerns about the impact of detrimental social media use on the mental health of young people. While some people suggest an authoritarian approach by parents, others prefer laws that regulate social media use by the young. Neither is optimal or practical. What's needed are more open conversations with children, a greater emphasis on mental health by educators and government bodies as well as a no-compromise approach to child safety by social media networks. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than a year since violence began in Manipur, 200 have been killed and hundreds injured. More than 60,000 have been displaced and are living in shelters. There have been several instances of rape, and attacks on homes, shops and places of worship. Locals and activists have alleged an abdication of responsibility by the government to protect lives and properties. Militarisation is at record levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, has found the time to visit country after country but not Manipur. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private universities are mushrooming in India. However, their journey has not been smooth. While acknowledging the advantages such universities offer, especially in imparting employment-oriented skills, there are also serious concerns like cost, accessibility and education quality. Abhay G Chebbi, Pro-Chancellor at Alliance University, speaks to All Indians Matter about the likely growth trajectory of private universities and the challenges that lie ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The illegal organ trade is targeting the desperately poor from within India and countries like Myanmar and Nepal. Driven to desperation by their circumstances, they are willing to sell their organs to those who can pay for them in India. A vast network of agents, corrupt officials and hospitals ensures that the affluent jump the queue for organs in defiance of the law. The vast gap between demand and supply of organs is equally to blame. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 India's embrace of digital banking and UPI have made it a leader of technologically-enabled financial inclusion. However, fraudsters have also seized it as an opportunity to steal from unsuspecting users and carry our sophisticated scams. This has left law enforcement agencies struggling to keep up with the rising number of crimes, and regulators rushing to improve financial literacy. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices