NRI Affairs, Pause with Nandini

Send us Fan Mail On the heels of Dalit History Month, we at NRI Affairs, wanted to begin a conversation on caste that looks at this social evil from the lens of the caste and generationally privileged, one that accepts that caste discrimination exists, that we continue to benefit from it, and explores ways to take greater collective and individual accountability.    We share our own journeys of le...

Send us Fan Mail Each year Australia marks National Reconciliation Week between 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey - the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. The first date marks the May 27 referendum in 1967, which saw more than 90 per cent of voters support the inclusion of all Indigenous Austra...

Send us Fan Mail As elections are underway in India, this is an important conversation. Human rights, hate speech, caste dynamics,  the silencing of dissent and the idea of government working with civil society for the greater good - we cover a lot of ground in this truly special conversation with the inimitable Meenakshi Ganguly. Wise, experienced, and a true humanist, she is truly a force for go...

Send us Fan Mail Megha Singh's journey as an entrepreneur will possibly resonate with many people who have had to restart or reimagine careers, balance passion with purpose, and create opportunities for themselves.  She says the working title of her autobiography could be Love. Money. God. and in this freewheeling conversation, Megha speaks with refreshing candour about her relationship with...

Send us Fan Mail Ravijeet Dang is a techie with a difference. A believer in creating social impact through technology and community engagement,  as the Managing Director of Iotasol, he is passionate about mentoring the next generation of technology leaders.   In this episode we explore an uncommon journey that led him from India, to Europe, Singapore and now to Australia. We talk passion and purpo...

Send us Fan Mail Was the Delhi Sultanate a barbaric and bloodthirsty line of rulers who imposed Islam in the Indian subcontinent by the force of their sword? Were there Muslim rulers in the South of India? How so we separate fact from fiction in understanding our complex and multi-dimensional past?  Syed Ubaidur Rahman, a New Delhi-based author and columnist answers all of this and more, as we tak...

Send us Fan Mail For countless Bengalis, Anjan Dutt is an emotion. From Bela Bose to Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na, Mary Ann to Bhalobasha, his songs captured a particular zeitgeist of 90's Kolkata. For a generation coming of age at the time, in his music, they found an unforgettable  voice for their heartbreaks and hopes, their aches and aspirations. Anjan Dutt is also an award winning actor and f...

Send us Fan Mail It is an honour to begin the first season of NRI Affairs, Pause with Nandini, 2024, with the exceptional Pallabi Ghosh, a woman who has rescued 10,000 people from traffickers, child marriage, forced marriage, child labour, and prostitution.  Pallabi takes us through hidden passages in big city brothels, to villages in Haryana with their kidnapped brides,  to far flung rural Bengal...

Send us Fan Mail Devashish Makhija often tells stories of people he doesn't belong to; of people who have been deliberately silenced or ignored by the majority, or the powerful. While he battles unimaginable odds to bring those stories to light, telling them comes with their own, often heartbreaking pitfalls.  We continue our conversation  through somewhat contentious territory as we talk abo...

Send us Fan Mail Devashish Makhija is arguably one of the most important voices in independent cinema in India today. His latest feature film Joram, produced by Zee Cinema, is set for a worldwide theatrical release on December 8, after a whirlwind global festival tour following its debut at the prestigious Rotterdam Film Festival.  In a no-holds-barred conversation, Devashish traces the genesis of...

Send us Fan Mail Shelly Oberoi, the academic-turned-politician now runs the second largest municipal corporation in India, as the mayor of India's capital city, New Delhi.  Recently in Brisbane at the Asia Pacific Cities Summit, we sat down with the Mayor for a quick conversation about the Kejriwal model of urban planning, why she left academia for politics, and some of the pressing issues in...

Send us Fan Mail Trigger warning: This episode includes references to domestic violence, child abuse, suicide, and mental health issues. This may be traumatising for some people. Caution advised. Shivam Patil is an Indian actor and activist who champions men's mental health, child safety, and gender issues. He is also a climate change activist.  Shivam is a domestic violence and child abuse s...

Send us Fan Mail Our first politician on the show, who is also a practicing doctor, with a Master's degree in film, television and media writing, Dr. Sapna Samant is an exemplary leader who is equal parts dreamer and doer.  She joins us to talk about her work as a Greens Party candidate in New Zealand, why she decided to join active politics, the changing diaspora experience, and the dangers...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to an animated, wholly embodied discussion with the inimitable Yogesh Parmar.  Yogesh is a leading behavioural scientist and the founder of GameChangers, India’s first fully integrated and diversified learning and development services enterprise. He is one of 100 Emerging Leaders in Asia, awarded by World Consulting & Research Corporation (WCRC). A certified master fac...

Send us Fan Mail Babu Gogineni is an Indian humanist, rationalist, and human rights activist who has served as Executive Director of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and is also the founder of, South Asian Humanist Association and Indian Humanists. He is also the founder and owner of Skillguru, a training organization. On this episode of Pause with Nandini, he discusses the  dis...

Send us Fan Mail This is more than a conversation.  This is a video essay of a purposeful life, well-lived. My guest on this episode is Sushama Deshpande, writer, journalist, actor, director and all round awe-inspiring human. She is playful and passionate, a serious feminist and a delightful trouble maker, who shows us things ‘polite’ society would much rather not face or acknowledge.  It has been...

Send us Fan Mail Nandita Das is a curious mix of passionate purpose and laid-back charm.  Director, producer, actor and activist, she brings a uniquely humanistic sensibility to all she does, exploring lesser explored facets of life through nuance and empathy.  After the much acclaimed film, Manto, she now presents  Zwigato, a slice of life film that holds a mirror to society through the life of a...

Send us Fan Mail Provocative, pragmatic and pioneering; Hansi Mehrotra is a force unto herself in the world of financial education. Founder of The Money Hans and one of Linkedin's top 10 voices in Money and Finance, Hansi talks us through her life and choices, the perils and pitfalls of following fads and unqualified 'finflueners' and the most sensible pathways to financial security...

Send us Fan Mail From theatre to television to film, Vinay Pathak is an acclaimed actor with extraordinary flair who slips in and out of roles with consummate ease.  We travel with him to Bhojpur and Allahabad, to  New York and Bombay,  while he talks about his craft, how he keeps it honest, and why less is more when it comes to the portrayal of truth. Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes o...

Send us Fan Mail Cultural-political activist and feminist, Radhika Ganesh talks passion, politics, and privilege as we uncover what Ek Potlee Ret Ki is, if young people are even interested in politics, and the issue with the single story - tune in as we explore all of this and more.  Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan Mail A poem for all who speak truth to power, who cannot be silenced or bought.  A poem to mark the quiet integrity and courage of an ordinary man; Ravish Kumar.  Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan Mail Darshan Mondkar, a keen social commentator takes us through his experience of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, his insightful conversation with Rahul Gandhi, and what this may mean for all Indians who want to move away from  hate and divisiveness.  Thank you for listening! Watch all episodes of Pause with Nandini on https://youtube.com/c/NRIAffairs

Send us Fan Mail A scientific temper meets a passion for the arts: The acclaimed Avijit Sarkar, in conversation with Nandini Sen Mehra.  The quintessential Renaissance Man, Avijit Sarkar speaks with Nandini Sen Mehra about his inspiring musical and literary journey, his diverse passions and interests, and his recently launched book, The Coronavirus Files. Avijit Sarkar's collection of Cartoon...

Send us Fan Mail Yogesh Maitreya, poet, translator and founder of Panther’s Paw Publication, a publishing house for Ambedkarite and Dalit literature, in conversation with Nandini Sen Mehra. Yogesh Maitreya shares his views on the dynamics of caste discrimination as they exist today, what being an ally means, and the journey that led him into the world of literature and publishing.   https://instag...

Send us Fan Mail Zehra Naqvi calls herself a wanderer, a seeker and a scribe. She is also the author of The Reluctant Mother, a story that no one wants to tell - a searingly honest look at motherhood, identity, marriage and love. She joins us on Pause with Nandini to talk about her book, what brings her solace, and the myriad ways in which she stays curious about her world. Thank you for listening...