Indian Ocean (English)

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we speak with Menaha Kandasamy of the Ceylon Workers Red Flag Union in Sri Lanka. Tea from Sri Lanka reaches cups around the world. But the workers behind it—most of them women—continue to face low wages, unsafe conditions, and the long shadow of a colonial plantation system. In this episode, Menaha discusses the workers’ tribunal on plantation labour, the chall...

A deep dive into Nepal’s geopolitical landscape as the world moves toward multipolarity. Dr. Khagendra Prasai and Tauqueer Ali Sabri unpack the global transition from US-led unipolarity to a more contested multipolar world. We explore how these shifts shape Nepal’s position between India and China, the risks of great-power rivalry, and the openings and challenges for left movements in South Asia....

In this episode of Indian Ocean, Vinod Koshti , Project Manager at Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) South Asia, speaks with Renu Thakur , founder of Association for Rural Planning and Action (ARPAN), about the untold struggles of single women in rural Uttarakhand - widowed, divorced, deserted, or unmarried - who continue to be denied their rightful share of land. Together, they explore why land is fa...

What does agrarian capitalism really look like in Bangladesh? In this compelling episode of Indian Ocean, Prof. M. M. Akash, one of Bangladesh's leading economists, joins host Vinod Koshti from RLS, South Asia to explore the layered realities of rural life, agricultural labour, and evolving class structures. From the resilience of smallholder farmers and the rise of bottom-up capitalism to the...

In this episode of Indian Ocean, Tauqueer Ali Sabri speaks with Dr. Heinz Bierbaum—Chairman of the Executive Board of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation—on the urgent challenges and possibilities for the global Left. From democracy to the gig economy, far-right populism, migration, and climate justice, the discussion explores how the Left is responding to a rapidly shifting world order. Disclaimer: Vie...

On Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, we return to his warnings and radical proposals — not just about democracy, but about the deep-rooted economic and social structures that keep it from working. In this episode of the Indian Ocean podcast, Tauqueer Ali Sabri, project manager at RLS South Asia, speaks to Professor Sukhdeo Thorat about caste, race, women, economic discrimination, and why Ambed...

India’s sugar industry relies on the hard labor of informal workers, many of whom face exploitative conditions, withheld wages, and even debt bondage. In this episode, Rajiv Kumar, program manager at RLS South Asia, speaks with Sudhir Katiyar from the Centre for Labour Research and Action about the challenges faced by sugarcane harvesting workers, the shortcomings of existing labor laws, and the p...

The gig economy is booming in India, but at what cost? While platforms promise flexibility, millions of workers struggle with low wages, lack of social security, and algorithmic control. In this episode of Indian Ocean, we speak with labor law expert Babu Mathew about the challenges gig workers face and the fight for fair wages, social protections, and collective bargaining rights. #GigEconomy #Pl...

In this episode, we sit down with Maximilian Schirmer of Die Linke to discuss the party’s remarkable success in Berlin. How did they mobilize voters, especially young people, and bring the question of class back into mainstream politics? What lessons can progressive movements worldwide learn from their campaign? We dive into the strategies behind their victory, the challenges of countering the far...

Bangladesh has a long history of student-led movements shaping its political landscape. In this episode, renowned economist and academic Anu Muhammad discusses the historical role of student activism in Bangladesh and its impact on recent political upheavals, including the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. In conversation with Vinod Koshti, he reflects on the power of student...

In this episode, we talk to Sandeep Chachra on the importance of COP. We break down what took place at COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan and what to expect from COP30 which will take place in Brazil in 2025. Sandeep Chachra is the executive director of ActionAid Association and managing editor of the journal Agrarian South . Disclaimer: Views are personal and not necessarily those of the Rosa Luxembu...

In this episode, we talk to Swasthika Arulingam about the Presidential elections in Sri Lanka that took place on 21 September 2024. For the first time, a left-leaning candidate was voted into the most powerful position in the country. Swasthika is a human rights lawyer and activist known for her commitment to women's and girl's rights. She was actively involved in the Aragalaya mass movement that...