Q on Air

As we cross the two year mark since the landmark judgement to abolish section 377 of the IPC, comes a book that serves as a mirror to India's current stand on the LGBTQ community. A memoir cum manifesto, has been authored by Parmesh Shahani, who draws from his decade-long journey in the corporate world as an out and proud gay man to make a cogent case for LGBTQ inclusion. Join us for a conversation with Parmesh Shahani and Anuradha Sengupta as they discuss corporate India's recent history and future with regards to the LGBTQ community.

Taking an in-depth look at the state of the Travel & Tourism industry in light of the current pandemic as we return with Reboot: Volume 2. In a panel consisting entirely of Q Members, we sit down with Kapil Chopra & Aditya Ghosh to examine the $9 trillion industry that has pretty much come to a standstill. The conversation will be centered around the economic impact of this slowdown as we share strategies for businesses in the industry to adapt and reboot both from a service and a policy perspective.

While the pandemic has certainly added a whole new roster of words to our vocabulary, there is still a lot to be understood about the impending economic fallout.We welcomed Dr. Rathin Roy, former Director of the National Institute of Public Finance & Policy, and esteemed economist to the club as he conversed with renowned journalist Karan Thapar on the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian economy and the economic implications of increasing tensions with China.

As the rising tensions in Galwan Valley lead to a thorough re-evaluation of the Indo-China relationship, we sat down with geopolitical expert Parag Khanna, in conversation with Jyoti Malhotra streamed live at The Q to dissect and debate the role India will take on in light of changing international relationships.

The first of many to come, Reboot: Volume 1, was an important conversation centered around issues surrounding mental health in these extraordinary times.In a panel comprised entirely of members from The Q community, the conversation was moderated by our founder Vivek Narain as Dr. Prerna Kohli and Gayle Thomas shared insights on how to tackle troubles of the mind in order to better navigate a post-pandemic world.

Discussing ground realities of the COVID-19 pandemic as we learn how to future-proof organizations from the impact of a pandemic. Expert in digital transformation, Jaspreet Bindra, along with the founder and director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Professor Ramanan Laxminarayan, in conversation with Vikram Chandra.The trio shares insights and opportunities that can arise by looking at COVID-19 and immunity through and epidemiological and organizational lens.

Lieutenant General H.S. Panag, former General Officer commanding-in-chief of the Northern and Central Command, Indian Army is in conversation with Ajai Shukla, strategic affairs editor with the Business Standard. The talk is an exploration and a no-holds-barred conversation about the Indian Army with burning questions from national security to media's projection along with the intense militarization of Kashmir and the Galwan Valley stand-off.

Having spent over two decades in advertising, Rohit Chawla is recognized as one of India's leading contemporary photographers, with over 350 magazine covers, multiple exhibitions across the globe and an unfiltered sense of creative style. In conversation with journalist Manu Joseph, the duo engages us in a stimulating conversation as Rohit reveals personal anecdotes and stories behind his photographs, from the world of politics, literature, film, art and every realm of imagination.

In the past ten years, mindfulness has become a billion-dollar industry. There are over 4,000 apps designed to help us focus, sleep, switch off or reclaim a sense of calm. But if there is one brand that has led the charge in bringing mindfulness to the masses, its Headspace.Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, and ex ad-man Rich Pierson in conversation with Yoga Guru Ira Trivedi share a wealth of content on the importance of taking time out to notice our surroundings.

'Messiah Modi?' follows the thoughts & journey of one of India's most forthright journalists, Tavleen Singh.Having gone from enthusiastic supporter to disillusioned observer, Tavleen has followed the frenetic developments in the country. From lynching and demonetization up to the abrogation of Article 370 and the passing of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, with the National Register of Citizenship looming on the horizon. In conversation with leading journalist Barkha Dutt, she gives an intimate account of her subject with candour, close observation and her trademark sarcasm that puts down pretenders.

From humble beginnings in Secunderabad to the corridors of power in New Delhi, Ahluwalia played a key role in the transformation of India from a state-run to a market-based economy, and remained a constant fixture at the top of India's economic policy establishment for an unprecedented period of three decades. Narrated with wit, humour and remarkable intellect, Montek Singh Ahluwalia in conversation with Karan Thapar about his recent book, Backstage, talks about the story behind India's high growth years under the UPA regime along with its success and failures.

It's not often that we have the opportunity to sit down with political representatives of different generations sharing their views in a lighthearted and amicable manner. Our conversation with the dynamic Bhavya Bishnoi and the seasoned Mani Shankar Aiyar gave us just that, as they deconstructed the debacle that is the Indian electoral process.From sharing a dialogue around the Indian electoral system to debating the cause & effect relationship of a failed opposition stance, their topical conversation made for an interesting evening as it was expertly steered & moderated by the effervescent Ankita Mujherji through all the right questions.

Exiled to the Gobi Desert at the young age of 15 and denied schooling for 10 years, Weijian Shan endured untold hardships without ever giving up his dream for an education. His journey from a hard labourer to one of Asia's best-known investor is one of unique success - told with a splash of humour, deep insight and engaging detail. Shan is a captivating speaker and a frequent contributor to The New York Times, Financial Times and WSJ. He has worked at The World Bank in Washington DC, taught at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and held various positions at JP Morgan and TPG Capital.

Described as an MBA in the form of a book, The CEO Factory uncovers the management secrets of one of India's most iconic companies. For six decades Hindustan Unilever has remained among India’s top five most valuable companies. Sharp, entertaining and insightfully written by a director of HUL, this book decodes how this great corporation works – and sheds light on the many factors that go into building a profitable & sustainable business along the way. We sit down with Sudhir Sitapati of Hindustan Unilever, Sajiv Bhikchandani, founder of Naukri.com and Gopal Vittal, CEO, Airtel India in conversation with Chiki Sarkar - to figure out the management secrets that are behind these multiple success stories.

A modern life story: you feel pain, you pop a pill.But do we truly know what we are consuming?Katherine Eban’s Bottle of Lies exposes the deceit behind generic-drug manufacturing. Drawing on exclusive accounts from whistleblowers and regulators, and thousands of pages of confidential FDA documents, Eban reveals an industry where fraud is rampant, companies routinely falsify data, and executives circumvent almost every principle of safe manufacturing to minimize cost and maximize profit.A shocking exposé of how one of India's then-largest drugmakers Ranbaxy Laboratories fell apart; Bottle of Lies reveals how the world’s greatest public-health innovation has become one of its most astonishing swindles. We sit down with Katherine Eban, in conversation with Madhu Trehan to find out more.

Forbes called him 'the global face of Indian stand-up', Harvard Business Review came up with, 'one of the most influential comedians around the world.'From the streets of Calcutta to the university of Oxford and stages across the world, comes the story of this prolific talent as he recounts nights of wild partying, a roller coaster love-life, and a career build amidst reckless risk-taking.

n 1970, Subramanian Swamy presented a plan: a demand that socialism be sacrificed for a competitive market economic system, so India can grow at 10 per cent per year, achieve self-reliance, full employment and produce nuclear weaponry. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi denounced this plan as dangerous. Now, fifty years later, Swamy redefines his path-breaking ideas on India-specific economic development in his seminal work, Reset.We host a highly topical conversation with the ex-Commerce Minister and MP in talks with Shoma Chaudhury for an evening centered around India & the future of the economy.

As investment trends for the new decade begin to take shape across various sectors of the economy, we dive into the forefront of this conversation with entrepreneur, executive, and investor, Elie Wurtman, co-founder and Partner of PICO Venture Partners. His passion for all things innvovation, education and economic development prompted him to take a lead in Jerusalem’s resurgence as a technology hub along with fostering other business ventures across various portfolios over a period of two decades. Joining Elie for tonight's talk is the Rajesh Sawhney, Founder of GSF Accelerator and InnnerChef.

Criticism, questions & admiration - the current PM is being bombarded with all that and more from both pro and anti-BJP groups, given his decisive yet morally questionable style of politics in recent times.Decoding this new wave of governance by the powerful duo of Narendra Modi & Amit Shah is the journalistic expertise of Rajdeep Sardesai, in conversation with the articulate Shoma Chaudhury.Tap to discover how CAB, NRC, Hindutva rashtra, media, and the Congress factor in to Modi's vision for India.

Have you ever wondered what goes on within the walls of India's largest prison complex?Sunil Gupta recounts his experiences of 30 years spent as a prison officer along with award-winning journalist Sunetra Choudhry as we go behind the scenes of Tihar Jail with Black Warrant.Join us as we hear about the final hours of infamous criminals like Billa Ranga & Afzal Guru and encounter Charles Sobhraj along the way in this edition of Writers in The Q, in conversation with Sarah Jacob - leading TV anchor & senior editor of NDTV.

In The Anarchy, William Dalrymple tells the story of how one of the world’s most magnificent empires disintegrated and came to be replaced by a dangerously unregulated private company - also known as the East India Company. Award-winning author & acclaimed historian William Dalrymple is in conversation with Manu Joseph as he tells us the story of the East India Company as it has never been told before, unfolding a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power.

How, when, and where should we apply automation in our organization? Work and human capital expert, Ravin Jesuthasan provides an original, structured approach of four distinct steps--deconstruct, optimize, automate, and reconfigure--to help leaders reinvent the future of work and create optimal human-machine combinations. Listen on as Ravin shares a nuanced perspective on the future of the workforce in a world of ever-evolving automation & AI.

Far from being just a referendum outlining Britain's association with the European Union, Brexit has ended up becoming a complicated series of events that has left most of the world dazed & confused. Helping us decode this heated dialogue is Nick Booker, founder of the knowledge & learning platform IndoGenius. A resident of India for over 12 years, Nick first spoke about the nature of Britain’s EU membership at the age of 16 for Sir James Goldsmith’s Referendum Party in 1997, and has been regarded as a living and breathing resource on all things Brexit ever since. Listen on as Nick breaks down the impact of Brexit across the globe.

Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are you've heard of Wild Wild Country.As the world watched the tale of the commune that blurred the lines between community & cult, we found ourselves captivated in conversation with the original tough nut & personal secretary of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.34 years and a superbly popular Netflix documentary later, Ma Anand Sheela returns back to her homeland to address the commune & the controversy that has encapsulated most of her adult life. Listen on to hear the straight shooter that is Ma Anand Sheela.

While most people wait for luck to come knocking at their door, two writers have seemingly cracked the code on how to make one's own luck rather than wait for it.Entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Rehan Yar Khan along with Washington Post best-seller, Bob Miglani share with us unconventional insights to help increase your odds for success with real-life case studies that are both invigorating and inspiring.

From the blame-game style of politics in the '90s to the trend of right-wing heavy governance of today, Yashwant Sinha has seen it all.Having played an active role as a Parliamentarian and Cabinet Minister in two vastly different governments, Sinha is one of the few liberals that has closely monitored India through its most transformative stages.Speaking with Abhinandan Sekhri, about his autobiography Relentless, he declutters the news from the noise to highlight the audacious approach that the youth needs to adopt for its future.

Technology is opening a new front in the battle for our data. Although social media enables peer-to-peer dialogue, public discourse and political messaging; it also provides access to our data allowing mapping, psychographic profiling, mobile geo-location, ‘dark ads’, and ‘embeds’ with superior targeting. With the elections around the corner, this discussion series featuring Vikram Chandra, Shivnath Thukral, Paroma Roy Choudhry, Pratham Mittal and Umang Bedi, is centered around Internet political activism in the Indian context.

Award-winning author, former international diplomat & member of parliament, Shashi Tharoor in conversation with the ‘Devils’ Advocate’ Karan Thapar about ‘The Paradoxical Prime Minister’, the 2019 elections and Rahul Gandhi. Recorded right after the results of the assembly elections to five states in 2018, the video series is rife with Tharoor’s classic one-liners to needle the ruling party.

This fierce series features inspiring women who have cut through the ranks of a traditionally male-dominated field to establish themselves as leaders of their craft through sheer strength and determination. Watch co-author Gayatri Rangachari Shah in conversation with Barkha Dutt featuring Oscar winner Guneet Monga & Charu Khurana, the woman that moved the Supreme Court to reform a sexist & archaic law.

In this video, a clear-headed Bimal Jalan tells us why he roots his beliefs in people and the traditional theories of economics.Ex-parliamentarian and former governor of the RBI, Jalan has represented India at global financial institutions such as IMF and the World Bank. His recent book Resurgent India is an attempt at replanting faith in the minds of a nation with a majority population that is under 35 years.Listen on as Jalan highlights the future course of action for India while speaking to fellow intellect and friend, Suman Bery.

Ground Realities, Hard Choices and Tomorrow’s India is the theme of this collection of videos featuring four-time Member of Parliament from the State of Odisha, Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda in conversation with Newslaundry ’s Abhinandan Sekhri. Representing the new face of Indian politics and a departure from rhetoric, Jay Panda presents his opinions backed by hard facts and indisputable numbers.

Nobel Prize-winning structural biologist, Knight Bachelor, President of the Royal Society, brilliant structural biologist and enthralling author Venki Ramakrishnan tells the story of his race to discover the inner workings of biology's most important molecule - the ribosome, in this articulate, witty and surprisingly philosophical series of videos.

Rajdeep Sardesai in conversation with Manu Joseph on his latest book, The Newsman; making sense of the ‘fine lines between facts and propaganda’; distinguishing ‘fake’ from ‘real’ news, tracking the complex and charismatic political giant that is Mr. Modi and trying to firmly hold onto liberal beliefs in a post-truth world.

Drawing the fine line between baseless political statements and realistic viewpoints of governance is celebrated author, diplomat and politician Pavan K. Verma, who has most recently served as ex-advisor to the CM of Bihar and as MP in the Rajya Sabha.Touted as one of the most learned men on all things policy and politics concerning the Indian bureaucratic setup, Pavan takes center stage at The Quorum offering his comprehensive stance on the transitional and transactional nature of homeland politics.Listen on as he brings up retrospective anecdotes that shed light on the torrid state of current affairs.

A two-decade-long experience of working with children has led Matthew Raggett around to the philosophy that “You don’t have children, you build them.” Originally from the UK, Raggett succeeded Peter McLaughlin to take over as the headmaster of The Doon School in 2016. His presence has brought together a sense of change that has been reflected through in his recent expedition as a writer. 'How Your Child Can Win In Life' steers parents through the struggles of making their kids love learning despite living in a rapidly changing cultural, social and technological environment. Tap on the video to know more on how you can help shape your child's personality.

Author of the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history - Amish Tripathi has been described as 'India's first literary popstar.' His unique combination of crackling story-telling, religious symbolism, and profound philosophies have turned him into a publishing phenomenon. His works have been translated & published worldwide into 19 Indian and international languages and have sold more than 4.5 million copies. We discuss life, lessons & literature with one of the most influential authors in India as a part of our ongoing series titled Writers In The Q.

What happens when a senior investigative journalist starts scratching the surface on the operations of some of corporate India's biggest ringleaders only to expose more deep-seated issues in their handlings?Having worked with some of the top media houses, Senior Investigative Journalist and Former National Security Editor of The Hindu - Josy Joseph, in conversation with Abhinandan Sekhri, gives us a firsthand account of the challenges faced and lessons learnt when one tries to go up against the establishment in more ways than one.Listen on to get a first-hand account of the implications that the convoluted web of corporate India has on our society and economy.

As a nation that prefers politics sans a side of humour, Akash Banerjee is trying to create a platform to sensitize the Indian audience towards the need of political satire.The former VP of Radio Mirchi took the plunge and founded India's first and largest political & social satire platform, #TheDeshbhakt at a time when the words humour and politics could never dream of being spoken together in the same sentence.In conversation with Sanjoy Roy, Akash tells us how and why the internet serves as the perfect tool to define the narrative that political satire is trying to create in India.

Having entered the Indian entertainment industry at the tender age of 16, Lisa Ray has braved it all - from battling an eating disorder to encountering the life-altering struggle of surviving cancer - a journey that has been triumphal despite all the curve-balls that came her way. Her raw and candid attempt at penning down her thoughts gives birth to a deeper reflection of the unexpected turns that life can take. Listen on as we dive deeper into a no holds barred talk with Lisa on life & lessons in conversation as she converses with the dynamic media personality, Kaveree Bamzai.

Rhodes scholar to Oxford, grassroots level teacher, the architect of Delhi’s education revolution and the woman instrumental in transforming Delhi's government schools: Atishi Marlena Singh makes you believe that complex issues can, indeed, be fixed in India. All you need is bright minds and political will! Hear her in conversation with Amitav Virmani, CEO of a non-profit ‘do-tank’ facilitating public-private partnerships in education.

What happens when writing is as important to you as cricket is to some and chess to others… but your day job takes up most of your life (as it will if you’re India’s Ambassador to the US). Watch Navtej Sarna in a candid conversation about his travails as a writer, his insights on global politics and the global perception of brand India over the past couple of years.

A man of Islamic faith, brought up amongst the elite and the intellectual, having walked some of the highest corridors of power- author, advocate, diplomat and politician, Salman Khurshid takes the spotlight to answer some of contemporary India's underlying concerns of faith and the political dialogue surrounding it.Listen on as a lucid Shoma Chaurdury takes charge of a determined line of questioning as we explore Islam and its perception in the context of modern-day India.

Before Sundar Pichai, Indra Nooyi, or Satya Nadella, there was Rajat Gupta; arguably the first Indian to have reached the notoriously exclusive top echelons of America’s corporate world. Against the backdrop of public rage and recrimination that followed the financial crisis, he was found guilty of insider trading and sentenced to two years in jail. This series hosts snippets of the fascinating story of his meteoric rise and tragic fall from glory along with little known anecdotes from his life.

Watch acclaimed writer and captivating storyteller, Aatish Taseer and award-winning journalist and political commentator, Shoma Chaudhury in a conversation that explores India's socio-political landscape. The series of videos revolve around questions of culture and politics that are going to define our future as a nation whether it be in the narrow streets of the temple town of Varanasi or at a Modi rally in New Delhi.

As Head of Emerging Markets and Global Macro at Morgan Stanley, Ruchir Sharma is one of the most nuanced observers of India's political landscape.What better time than the eve of a landmark general election to sit down & chat with the man who has spent over two decades on the road chasing Indian electoral politics. This series highlights snippets of his conversation with Madhu Trehan, the editor-in-chief of Newslaundry, as Ruchir regales us with tales of his time on the road.

There's nothing quite like a corporate scandal to set the rumour mill going, and when that supposed scandal involves a battle for one of India's greatest business empires - you can be sure that it'll make more than just the morning paper.Financial journalist and author, Deepali Gupta lays down the human conflict set against the backdrop of board directors & business meetings as we explore the events that led to one of the greatest corporate battles our country has ever seen.A story that cast characters spanning the biggest business leaders of India - Ratan Tata vs. Cyrus Mistry.

Liberalism is at the centre of public debate these days: is the ‘Big State’ stamping out our individual freedom? Are liberal traditions intrinsic in the founding tradition of our nation, or have they got it all wrong and are anti-national? This video selection features author and journalist Sagarika Ghose exploring ‘the need to renew the meaning of Indian liberalism with new energy’ so that one can dissent with dignity and hold a difficult conversation with being difficult.

India's glorious past has created a graph of ups and downs and our country needs to come to peace with it in order to live happily with where the journey of the last 500 years has led us. That peace with the past can be achieved by honoring it and building an India in the age of Ideas– this is the candid opinion of Sanjeev Sanyal, Chief Economic Advisor to Prime Minister Modi. He confronts acclaimed journalist Barkha Dutt with sharp logic, accurate figures and vivid historical accounts in this fireside chat that we call ‘Writers in The Q’.