Radio Azim Premji University

Is there a uniquely Indian idea of freedom? The music of our beating hearts weaves the multifaceted tapestry that is India. This Independence Day, we remind ourselves yet again what it means to be Indian. Hosted by Vineet KKN Panchhi of The Jai Hind Project, this special edition of Samvidhaani Pitaara is aptly titled “Hindustan Ki Nayi Geetmala - Azaadi Special” — a playlist of tunes and voices th...

Did you know that Indian Yellow, the pigment with which Vincent Van Gogh painted the luminous moon in his masterpiece Starry Night, was prepared from the dried urine of cows fed exclusively on mango leaves? Or that India, despite being the world’s largest producer of mangoes, exports less than 1% because Indians can never be done eating their produce? Or that we may be throwing away the most nutri...

Fun fact: In 2002, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) rebranded to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) after losing a legal brawl with the World Wildlife Fund. Whatever name it goes by, the raging popularity of televised professional wrestling—a mix of mock combat and showmanship—is no accident. Despite its wild and boisterous nature, WWE’s over-the-top theatrics have found a dedicated following...

Rahul De, who teaches economics at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, is obsessed with the business of sport. Of particular interest to him are sporting activities that are off-radar for the mainstream, yet command a devoted fan base. Think WWE, kabaddi, running… How do these sports find a market, build loyal communities, and generate money for participants and promoters alike? Co-presenting the s...

The distinguished anthropologist Irawati Karwe wrote, “I found a new definition of Maharashtra: the land whose people go to Pandharpur for pilgrimage.” Pandharpur, near the city of Solapur, is a sacrosanct destination for the Varkari path within Hinduism, centred around the worship of the deity Vitthal or Vithoba, a form of Vishnu. The Varkaris are a part of the Bhakti movement, a spiritual tradit...

Ever wonder why an addict just can't quit? The science of addiction goes beyond biology. In this special episode of Campus Cast from Radio Azim Premji University, a unique cast of characters explores the surprising factors that contribute to this complex phenomenon. Imagine Brain and Hormones having an argument! That is one description of the conflicted personality of addiction. We dive deeper to...

Boyfriend. Cargo. Distressed. Flare. Mom. What do these terms have in common? If you’ve ever shopped for jeans, you’ll know the answer. It takes about 15 minutes and 12 steps to produce a pair of finished blue jeans. In this episode of Story Of…, host Richa Govil gets under the skin of a fabric that is arguably a second skin for people globally. It is estimated that 4.5 million pairs of jeans are...

The radio crackles to life. We rewind to April 2, 1952. A day that is set to go down in the history of India, and the history of the world, as a triumphant day for democracy. At the counting stations, ballot boxes have been emptied for every last vote to be counted. We wait with bated breath for the results of independent India's first-ever general election to be declared. This is a significant mo...

The Stream - Edition 1, May 2024 Welcome to The Stream from Radio Azim Premji University. This specially curated seamless listening experience features excerpts from your favourite podcast episodes interspersed with specially commissioned original music tracks. Featured in The Stream - Edition 1, May 27, 2024: Shows and episodes - Big, big numbers - the place value system Excerpt from It’s A Math...

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya’s birthday is observed as Engineer’s Day in India. Born on September 15, 1861 in the village of Muddenahalli about 60 km from Bengaluru, Visvesvaraya was told that he was of poor health and would not live long. His parents, who had migrated from Andhra Pradesh, ignored the disturbing prophecy and gave him a good education. Young Visvesvaraya continued his studies in B...

It is said that Sone Ki Chidiya, the proverbial Golden Bird that is a metaphor for the India of yore, was endowed with an embarrassment of riches and draped in a tapestry of textiles. Indian textile-making is a vibrant tapestry of tradition, innovation, and cultural significance that spans millennia. Our 5000-year-old textile-making heritage encompasses an array of cultural signposts, with multipl...

How much do you know about the people behind the Constitution of India? Samvidhaan Ke Naam, this special episode of Samvidhaani Pitaara, is presented as a game show to test your knowledge, and have some fun, while you learn about the minds that influenced the letter and spirit of the Constitution. Samvidhaan Ke Naam is presented by Vineet KKN Panchhi for Radio Azim Premji University.

Love is a racket emotion. On the tennis court, it signifies emptiness, loss, humiliation. And, yet, it is love for the game that keeps the most tenacious players going. Not to forget, love keeps them going long after their glorious fifteen seconds on grass or clay have evaporated into the mists of history. Archana Venkataraman basked in that spotlight. She was a rising star. It takes a family wedd...

The Fakirani Jats live in the Rann of Kutch, where the 2500 sq-km Banni grassland segues into salt marshes and marine mangrove wetlands abutting the Arabian Sea. The livelihood of this pastoralist community is built around their pack animals, particularly the rare and hardy Kharai camel, a breed uniquely adapted to the region’s terrain and climate. As increased salt extraction and industrialisatio...

The story of Lantana is one of unintended consequences. A strong-smelling flowering plant with clusters of colourful pink, yellow, and red blossoms that resemble miniature wedding bouquets, Lantana is hard to miss in the Indian countryside. Despite its alluring appearance, the plant has earned the dubious title of an invasive species, which rapidly outcompetes native flora and poses a challenge fo...

“For the people of Dakshina Kannada, Bhootas are above god,” declares Umashanker Periodi. “Because, unlike gods, Bhootas talk to them.” Periodi, who hails from a family that is involved in Bhoota Kola, is a seasoned mentor and former Head of Karnataka State at Azim Premji Foundation. Although he grew up in a Dakshina Kannada village enveloped by the aura of rituals and traditions, as a college stu...

Chekrovolu Swuro came agonisingly close to fame, only to have the wind whisk it away from her. Taking aim at glory is not quite enough for an archer. For the arrow to chart a victorious course, it is equally important to have the wind in one’s favour. Lesson learned, she bowed out from the limelight that was so briefly hers to cherish. Swuro made history as only the second athlete from the northea...

Chāwal, Bhāt, Sādam… it is almost impossible to picture Indian cuisine without a steaming mound of rice. Accompanied by a ladleful of boiled lentils, a seasoning of roasted cumin seeds, a dollop of ghee or curd, cooked along with meat or vegetables, or served with a side of curried fish, it is the centrepiece of a square meal in many regions of India. Did you know that the English word ‘rice’ may...

Even if you are not a sports enthusiast, you’ve most probably heard of Sania Mirza, PT Usha, Rani Rampal, Deepika Kumari, and Bachendri Pal. But what about Archana Venkataraman, Rita Gombu, Vandana Rao, and Sarita Devi? Probably not. While some soar to stardom, others remain in the shadows despite their exceptional talents. Welcome to Almost Perfect, a captivating series that unearths the remarkab...

In 1984, Bachendri Pal became a household name when she conquered Mount Everest, becoming the first Indian woman to do so. Her success, however, cast a shadow over her teammates. Chandraprabha Aitwal, Rita Gombu, Rekha Sharma, Harshwanti Bisht, and Sharawati Prabhu also attempted the climb but fell short of the summit — and the ensuing stardom. Rita Gombu Marwah hails from the first family of Indi...

In the second part of "Unboxed - The Harmonium In India," host Sharmadip Basu details how the European-origin harmonium, adapted for Indian conditions, became a favoured instrument across genres. Despite its affordability, portability, and durability, nationalists criticised its foreign origins, and purists disapproved of its inability to handle microtones (shruti). Figures like Nehru, Gandhi, Tag...

Dastaan-e-Samvidhaan | दास्ताँ ए संविधान | Radio Azim Premji University by Radio Azim Premji University

The Kole Basava community, native to Andhra Pradesh, considers their cattle as family. These itinerant musicians are often seen on city streets seeking alms as they lead their decorated bulls and cows while playing the nadaswaram, a traditional woodwind instrument. The traditional lifestyle sustaining these musicians is no longer lucrative, leading many to migrate to cities like Bengaluru, where t...

“Banni Kelona” (Come, Let’s Listen) is a series in Kannada from Radio Azim Premji University that looks at the vanishing traditions of marginalised communities in the state of Karnataka. In our first episode, we look at the lives of the itinerant Kole Basava musician community. Tune into Radio Azim Premji University to listen.

Growing up in West Bengal, Sharmadip Basu believed the harmonium, a common sight in the region’s middle-class households, was an Indian instrument. However, while reading Milan Kundera’s The Joke, he stumbled upon a mention of the harmonium in Moravian folk music, prompting him to delve into its origins. His findings fascinated him even more. The harmonium had arrived in India through Christian mi...