ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Sonia Narang is one of Delhi's leading dietitians. She provides medication, healthy diet plans, weight loss programs, and workouts. Sonia advocates for realistic lifestyle changes that allow you to enjoy eating while achieving your health goals, rather than imposing strict diets. In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonia Narang debunks many myths related to the Indian diet. She also explores t...

Arjun Singh Kadian is an academic and author having expertise in Haryana's political and cultural landscape. Arjun has authored two insightful books: 'Land of the Gods: The Story of Haryana' and 'Neeraj Chopra: From Panipat to Podium'. He also worked in the policy communication department under the Haryana Chief Minister in 2018-19. His political leaning is with the BJP. In this episode of the ANI...

Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin is a veteran gastroenterologist and hepatologist, renowned for his clinical research and reforms in medical education and health sciences. He is the director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), which aims to provide cost-effective solutions to liver problems. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India. Dr. Sarin is also...

Harsh Vardhan Shringla was the Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 and the former Foreign Secretary of India. He has also been India’s Ambassador to the United States, and High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Thailand. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Amb. Shringla talks about the recent quota protests in Bangladesh. He looks into whether these protests are ju...

In 2009, following her father Sone Lal Patel's death, Anupriya Patel faced a significant challenge. She was pushed into the political arena to lead the party her father founded. Despite the subsequent party split, Anupriya Patel defied expectations. Now, a three-time MP, she leads Apna Dal (Soneylal) and holds the MoS Health & Family Welfare portfolio for the second time in the Modi government. An...

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Naor Gilon, Israeli Ambassador to India, discusses the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. He provides insights into Israel's stance on a potential ceasefire against Gaza and the hostage release deal, as well as Qatar's role in mediating the conflict due to its influence over Hamas. He further addresses the issue of misinformation and propaganda from Ha...

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti, founder and MD of Drishti IAS, shares his journey from being a civil servant to becoming an educator. Dr. Divyakirti delves into several important issues affecting the education and examination system in India. He discusses the restructuring of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the controversies surrounding the NEET-U...

In 2020, when his father Ram Vilas Paswan passed away, Chirag Paswan faced the biggest challenge of his political career. His uncle took charge of the party, and many thought Chirag's political journey was over. Sidelined by other leaders in his party, he was written off by many. But Chirag Paswan defied the odds. In 2021, he formed the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and now he has secured victor...

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, recorded at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in February 2024, two sessions are featured- "Decluttering the Discourse: Women of Iran." The first panel features Mojgan Golchin, Head of Department at the International Educational Cooperation Centre for Political and International Studies, Iran, and Neda Raefipour, Diplomat at IPIS, Iran. The se...

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (retd.) is the former Chief of Air Staff, a highly decorated officer with a distinguished career spanning over four decades. He previously served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) at Southern Air Command. During his tenure as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he played a pivotal role in the Rafale negotiations. He has joined the BJP right before the 2024...

Bhavish Aggarwal is the Chairman and Managing Director of OLA. He is an experienced entrepreneur who founded Ola Cabs in 2010, which is now India’s most popular ride-hailing service with over 50% market share. In 2021, Bhavish started Ola Electric, a company focused on electric vehicles. Within three years, Ola Cabs and Ola Electric together are valued at over $13 billion. His latest venture, Krut...

Chandrashekhar Azad has secured a seat in Parliament by garnering over 50% of the votes from the Nagina Constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Dalit leader clinched victory amidst stiff competition from opponents such as the SP, BSP, and BJP. This comes at a time when the national party BSP failed to win any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. Chandrashekhar Azad is a lawyer, chief, and co-f...

In the old city of Hyderabad, child marriages remain a significant challenge even in the 21st century. What's even more shocking is the practice of multiple marriages of these girls in exchange for money, with a majority belonging to the Muslim community. Hyderabad-based poet and activist Jameela Nishat is the founder of the 'Shaheen Women's Resource & Welfare Association,' which aims to assist gi...

Life for Dalits in India is often marked by significant challenges. Being a Dalit in India means facing discrimination and social exclusion based on their caste status. They encounter difficulties in various aspects of life such as employment, education, and social interactions. Rahul Sonpimple, a Dalit activist with a PhD in Sociology from JNU, and formerly a leader of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule St...

The Wall Street Journal describes him as the "Henry Ford of heart surgery". In rural India, he is known as "bypass wale baba". Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty is a renowned heart surgeon who has brought high-tech healthcare to the financially challenged. In a country with over 12 lakh doctors, Dr. Shetty stands out. Over his three-decade career, he has performed more than 15,000 heart surgeries, including...

Who were the Razakars? What was their role in the princely state of Hyderabad in the late 1940s? Were the Razakars engaged in violent activities against Hindus? What happened during 'Operation Polo' in 1948 that the Indian government launched to annex Hyderabad? What happened to the leader of the Razakars, Qasim Razvi? In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, two prominent jour...

Arnab Ray, also known as Greatbong, is one of India's most widely read bloggers, having won the publicly voted Indibloggies Blog of the Year in 2006 and 2008. He has written for The Washington Post, Outlook, and India Times. He is a Director of Cybersecurity and lives in the USA. Ray is known for his sarcastic takes on the Indian film industry, Indian politics, and society.  Ray's book "Sultan of...

He is a chef, cookbook author, columnist, and educator. Chef Suvir Saran wears many hats and is being called "the true ambassador of Indian cuisine and culture to the world." He left India at the age of 20 and later opened a restaurant in New York called 'Devi'. It was the first Indian restaurant in America to receive a Michelin star. He further gained fame as the breakout star of the 3rd season o...

The recently concluded 2024 Lok Sabha polls in India have taken pollsters and political analysts by surprise. While Prime Minister Modi is set to begin his third term in office, his party, the BJP, fell short of securing a clear majority as it had in the past two terms. The BJP needs allies to form the government. In the latest episode of the ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, the much-awaited "Samos...

Polls just concluded in India—the world's largest democracy. Exit polls predict NDA's return, but what is the ground reality? What factors boosted BJP led NDA coalition? We will have all these answers and more from three seasoned ANI journalists, who extensively covered the Indian elections. Joining the discussion are Ashoke Raj, Siddharth Sharma, and Suchitra Mukherjee. Ashoke shares election ins...

Anurag Singh Thakur is a BJP MP in the Lok Sabha representing the Hamirpur constituency in Himachal Pradesh. He currently holds the positions of Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs, and Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Second Modi Ministry. His father, Prem Kumar Dhumal, was a former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Previously, Thakur has also served as Minister of State for Financ...

Elections are currently underway in India, the world's largest democracy. However, as the voting progresses, there's a noticeable shift in political discourse. The focus has moved away from core issues towards topics like identity, caste reservation, and the constitution. But why are political parties deviating? What lies beneath this shift? We'll delve into these questions to uncover the truth. J...

Taranjit Singh Sandhu is a former Indian diplomat who served as India's ambassador to the United States from 2020 to 2024. He played a key role in the establishment of the Indian embassy in Ukraine. He also served as the First Secretary in Washington, held the position of Consul General in Frankfurt, and was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Throughout his caree...

Elections are currently ongoing in the world's largest democracy. The outcome of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls is of particular interest. Factors such as the influence of the Yogi administration, the electoral prospects of Congress in Raebareli, the performance of the SP, and the strategy of Mayawati's BSP regarding caste dynamics remain key points of inte...

Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an eminent diplomat who has been serving as the Minister of External Affairs for the Government of India since May 30, 2019. Dr. Jaishankar has played a pivotal role in shaping India's diplomatic strategies, particularly amidst the dynamic shifts in global geopolitics. A member of the BJP, Dr. Jaishankar also serves as a Rajya Sabha MP, representing Gujarat. Previous...