Line Of Truth

In this enriching episode, join us as we engage in a fascinating dialogue with Haroon Khalid, an anthropologist and prolific author whose literary exploration delves deep into the tapestry of culture and religion in Pakistan and its neighboring regions. Haroon, an alumnus of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and The University of Toronto, provides us with insights into his transforma...

How did the armed forces manage to control the Chinese intrusion without busting the capital budget? How did the government bring down the pension allocation by Rs 9,150 crore? Lt Gen Prakash Menon joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to analyse the defence budget for financial year (FY) 2021-2022, the pension allocation cuts, and the increase in capital outlay. Read 'A Human Capital Investment Model for I...

Why are the farmers protesting against the reforms that are claimed to promote efficiency of agriculture and what are their biggest concerns? An audio documentary following Ratnadeep Chakraborty and Simran Kaur Thandi, a final year law student at Panjab University as they report on the world's largest movement from ground zero and try to find the answer.  This podcast wouldn't have been possi...

What does India need to be a global power? Why is American's gross human right violation in Afghanistan and Iraq overlooked with the larger picture of 'war on terror'? How can intelligence agencies adopt to the world of information warfare? Former R&AW Chief Vikram Sood joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about the importance of nations to build narratives and control them so as to improve the...

Truth neither has a boundary nor can be restricted to one! We are chasing truth, one story at a time. The 'Line of Truth' is a podcast series hosted by the Journalist and Columnist, Ratnadeep Chakraborty. The show takes on a public policy or an issue affecting the country every episode and dissects it with analysis from the panel of experts on the show. The listeners are free to derive their own c...

Why it is critical to mould Public Policy schools as institutions of practice? Will a Masters in Public Policy be a MBA in future? Does India need it's version of a RAND? Citizen for Public Leadership (CPL) founder Prateek Kanwal joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about the first-of-its-kind organisation for advocating for progressive public policy and developing the next generation of leaders th...

Do you need a structure to workship a deity? Is belief and faith the same? What is the Indian model of wealth accumulation?  Bestselling Mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about his prodigal writing speed, the historical judgement of Ram temple and the traditional Indian business model. You can buy Devdutt Pattanaik's books from here: https://amzn.to/32VoYIP Ill...

The basic story of Kashmir has always been in a highly contested piece of land between India and Pakistan and since Partition, there have been three wars fought over it.  But does the story end there? The history of Kashmir is contested and is way more complicated than be just reduced to binaries.  Professor Hafsa Kanjwal joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about the history of Kashmir s...

Why can't the Indian Media speak truth to power? The media industry has expanded tremendously in the last decade. Instead, of having a diverse and vibrant press from this expansion, the Indian media now is more influenced by corporates and political pressure.  The Co-founder & CEO of Newslaundry, Abhinandan Sekhri joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about independent media, a revenue mode...

The stories of second-generation Kashmiri Pandits post-exodus is filled with the constant struggle of keeping their culture and rituals alive with the distant memory of a piece of land they can call their ' home '. Practising Advocate of Delhi High Court, Rashika Raina and Student of CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Shreya Raina joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about their constant struggle as...

Are we moving towards the American tradition of late-night satire where shows pack in factual news with tongue-in-cheek commentary? Political Satire is booming in India and the reason is all about the controversy surrounding their opinions. It is with a dry humour that political satirist are making their points without necessarily lampooning the politicians.  Akash Banerjee, founder and host...

What was the formula that Modi-Shah used to win the general election for the second time in five years? What was the core issue in the election: a development agenda or national pride?  Will the Modi magic work in the assembly elections or does the BJP needs to work on its allies? Bestselling author and veteran Journalist Padma Shri Rajdeep Sardesai joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to decode the 2...

Did Nirbhaya’s rapist, Ram Singh, commit suicide or was he murdered? What was the last wish of Maqbool Bhat and why wasn't it delivered? Is the hanging of Afzal Guru a stain on India's democracy? Mary Morgan Hewett Award recipient veteran journalist and author, Sunetra Choudhury joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about life inside Asia's largest prison, the hanging of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat,...

Should you compromise your ethics over money? Can you be friends with a person from opposing political opinions? Would Zaira Wasim be treated differently if she was a Hindu? Hiba Beg joins Ratnadeep Chakraborty to talk about what it's like to be a millennial journalist in India and a Muslim in Modi's India.  Get in touch with Hiba at https://twitter.com/HibaBeg

In the middle of the night of 19th January 1990, half the population of Kashmir Pandit was on the street, running to save their lives.  January 20, 1990, was the day when thousands of Kashmiri Pandits, including the old man, were forced to flee from their homes - their paradise. Over 60,000 Kashmiri Pandits escaped from the separatist insurgency as violence peaked in the early 1990s. Most of...

Kashmir has been misrepresented by Bollywood for a long time. Lush green hills, shikara rides, Dal lake and fetishization of ordinary Kashmiris are the imageries you find in a Bollywood movie. Ashvin is one of the only directors who have tried to give a human side to the conflict and narrated the story of Kashmiris like never before. After two successful documentaries and a decade long experience...

The Indian media has often painted the picture of Kashmir in binaries. An entire generation of Kashmiri youth has taken on the Indian state, both online, and on the streets. Initially, the protests on the streets were peaceful, as large crowds gathered to protest fake encounters, land transfers, human rights violations, and cases of sexual violence, demanding an end to the occupation and the right...

Is liberalism a western idea or does have its root in India? Can you be a liberal and patriot at the same time? How will the nationalist rhetoric with a claim to challenge the pernicious effects of neoliberalism affect the Indian polity in the long run? Liberalism is central to public and political debate at this moment and it is more challenged in India today than in any other democracy in the wo...