Welcome to Episode 102 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. There are many good reasons to start a business. In this episode, Amit and Ajay take you through a few of them — and then Amit elaborates on the mindset you need to get started. This is Part 1 of a grand two-parter. If you don’t start a business…

When we think about state intervention, the first principle we consider is whether it is necessary. But we should also think about whether it is possible — and how easy or hard it is. How do we figure this out? Welcome to Episode 101 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay lays out the…

Firms are the means of economic progress. India's micro, small and medium enterprises have been hobbled for decades, and flounder even today. Sudhir Sarnobat and Narendra Shenoy join Amit Varma in episode 419 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss this landscape -- and Sudhir's brilliant new venture that aims to tackle this. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NO…

We’ve reached episode 100 — HURRAY! — and it’s time for another session of Ask Me Anything. Amit and Ajay take questions from gentle readers about a variety of subjects, from Ajay’s love of suffering to Amit’s (dubious) haircare. (The two are not related.) Mad fun, watch! TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Under the Banyan Tree03:38 The…

Regulation always has the potential to go wrong. But in India, it’s been worse than in much of the world. It has become a tool of oppression of the worst kind. Welcome to Episode 99 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit talks about the theory of regulation in general — and Ajay deliv…

Why did the attacks in Pahalgam happen? What took place in the skirmishes after that? What have we learnt about geopolitics and our military preparedness? Pranay Kotasthane and Aditya Ramanathan join Amit Varma in episode 418 of The Seen and the Unseen to try to clear some of the fog of war. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also c…

We define a state as the entity that has a monopoly on violence. But does political authority lead to political legitimacy? How do we define legitimacy? What happens without it? How should we approach it as citizens. Welcome to Episode 98 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay draws f…

Data is apolitical and always useful, right? Then why is the caste census so controversial? Pranay Kotasthane and Raghu S Jaitley join Amit Varma in episode 417 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss its history, context and implications. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Pranay Kotasthane on Twitter, LinkedIn, Am…

We often assume that art and genius are the playground of the youth. Well, while giving himself an education in art during a vacation in Spain, Amit realised that all the great Spanish masters did their most powerful work in old age, when thehraav met mastery. The light in winter is different. Welcome to Episode 97 of Everything is Everything, a we…

The most astonishing men lie in the far, forgotten corners of history. Kavitha Rao joins Amit Varma in episode 416 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on the life and times of two magnificent failures, Chatto and Roy. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Kavitha Rao on Twitter, Instagram, Amazon and her own web…

Last week, we went through a 101 of globalisation: the first principles, why it rocks, why tariffs are terrible. We also did a potted history of how it spread and almost unravelled. Now, it’s time to come to these current times. Is globalisation doomed? Welcome to Episode 96 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Aja…

Globalisation is great. Tariffs are terrible. But why? What is the history of trade? What is the history of the ideas around it? Today, more than ever, it is important to understand. Welcome to Episode 95 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay give a 101 masterclass on why gl…

For all the toxicity of social media, it is also a source of much Good Gyan, as every day the best minds in the world think aloud for our benefit. Here’s another conversation about some more wisdom that we have gathered! Welcome to Episode 94 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 …

Social media may be addictive, even sometimes toxic, but it is almost magical in one gift it gives us: every day, the best minds in the world think aloud for our benefit. And some of us, gentle readers, are listening & taking notes. Welcome to Episode 93 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episo…

Too often, we think a Strong Man will solve all our problems, and that decisive leadership is all a nation needs. This could not be more wrong. We need strong rules, not strong rulers — and we need those strong rules to restrain the state. The secret to prosperity lies in rules, not discretion. Welcome to Episode 92 of Everything is Everything, a w…

He observed our society from up close as an advertising man -- and then became an iconic storyteller on Twitter. Ramakrishna Desiraju aka Ramki joins Amit Varma in episode 415 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about his journey, and all that it taught him. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Ramakrishna Desiraju a…

He learnt his craft from Shyam Benegal, became a pioneer & a legend of advertising filmmaking, learnt & taught scuba diving, started the Prithvi Cafe, and lived every moment to the full in a million different ways. Prahlad Kakar joins Amit Varma in episode 414 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about his long and wondrous life. (FOR FULL LINKED SHO…

We think of the state as a monolithic beast -- but it should be anything but monolithic. The state exists to serve us, not rule us, and for that, we must have checks and balances -- and the best kind is the separation of powers. Welcome to Episode 91 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, …

One of India's tragedies lies in the schooling of our children. We have let our kids down. Can we fix this problem? Shaheen Mistri joins Amit Varma in episode 413 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe her journey -- and what she has learnt about education. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Shaheen Mistri on Inst…

All of us suffer from constraints in our life. Some are small -- and some can be huge. We should take inspiration from people who have fought huge constraints and broken barriers despite the obstacles in their way -- and sometimes because of them. Welcome to Episode 90 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah…

There are few things a government can do to harm society more than Industrial policy. It sounds well-intentioned, but is born out of hubris and results in disaster. Welcome to Episode 89 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay breaks down the thinking behind industrial policy, the prac…

Society needs free speech. Democracy needs free speech. For our lives to have meaning and purpose, WE need free speech. Welcome to Episode 88 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit lays out the case for free speech absolutism -- and also, the troubled history of free speech in India. …

So much in history never made it to the popular imagination -- such as the battles of 1967 in which India beat China. Probal DasGupta joins Amit Varma in episode 412 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his time in the Indian army -- and his fascinating discoveries as a military historian. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also ch…

Humanity has progressed more in the last few decades than in all of history before that. Moore's Laws -- yes, we used the plural -- go some way in addressing that, as do a couple of other frameworks shared in this episode. Welcome to Episode 87 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, you wi…

Amit had a minor heart attack recently. As he was put back together, he reflected on how the miraculous technology that was reviving & renewing him was a result of rebels questioning conventional thinking. Indeed, all progress depends upon that. Welcome to Episode 86 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. …

Business and life can sometimes be seen more as a search for values than a quest for profit. Private equity pioneer Vishal Nevatia joins Amit Varma in episode 411 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe his journey towards finding his true north. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Vishal Nevatia at True North. 2. I…

Our longest episode so far might also be the most fun. In episode 85 of Everything is Everything, Amit Varma and Ajay Shah tackle a barrage of words & concepts & names thrown at them with responses of Underrated, Overrated or Complicated -- and then they explain why they feel that way. Enjoy the lively disagreements! :) For magnificent, detailed, j…

War has changed. Sometimes, an act of war doesn't seem like war at all. Often it can't be detected, or attributed, or responded to. It's a messy world. Welcome to Episode 84 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay lays out the many kinds of Hybrid Warfare in this modern world -- and th…

She's an economist, an institution-builder, an ecosystem-nurturer and one of our finest thinkers. Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 410 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about her life & times -- and her remarkable work. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Shruti Rajagopalan on Twitter, Substack, Inst…

What is atheism? Is it a belief system? Is it political? Don't we need religion in our lives? Welcome to Episode 83 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit describes the thought processes that led to him becoming a non-believer -- and busts common myths around atheism. TABLE OF CONTENT…

A policy that works in one country often cannot simply be transplanted onto another. The invisible infrastructure that is needed to make it work may not exist. But what is this invisible infrastructure? Why is it invisible? Why do specialists often get it wrong? Why is everything everything? Welcome to Episode 82 of Everything is Everything, a week…

He's lived a rich life as a journalist, a human rights activist, an author, a columnist -- and now he's written a great book on Gujaratis. Salil Tripathi joins Amit Varma in episode 409 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his life, his learnings, these times we live in -- and the times that came before. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSE…

Chess is a beautiful game -- and holds many lessons for life. A lot happened in chess in 2024: Gukesh Dommaraju won the World Chess Championships, Arjun Erigaisi reached 2809, India won Olympiad golds, Magnus Carlsen threw his weight around -- and there are Life Lessons in it for all of us. Welcome to Episode 81 of Everything is Everything, a weekl…

Firms are awesome. So is creative destruction. In a well-functioning market, firms die, new firms are born, there is rebirth and renewal. For this to play out smoothly, there has to be a good bankruptcy process, so that resources & people are not tied up in unproductive zombie firms. Welcome to Episode 80 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podca…

His earlier episodes on this show have been huge hits, and as he completes a trilogy of books, he returns to complete a trilogy of episodes. Amitava Kumar joins Amit Varma in episode 408 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about writing, noticing, painting, travelling, trees, and unfulfilled train journeys. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNS…

There is a man who steals the electricity bills of everyone in his apartment block. Why? Can he find love and redemption? Two young Sikhs take a stand defending a bridge. Why? What do they really want? Two great chess players take each other on. Are they playing the game on the board, or some other game? There is a child in the mail. What? A child …

Nuclear power has been given a bad name. It is the safest form of energy, and a huge leap forward in solving for climate change. What's more, with small modular reactors becoming feasible, it may end up being far cheaper than it used to be as well. Welcome to Episode 78 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Sha…

He was born in Sikkim and lives in the USA, and in the course of engaging with his identity, has written powerful books of Sikh history, and revived its music. Sarbpreet Singh joins Amit Varma in episode 407 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his life, his writing, his music and the lessons of Sikhism. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSE…

Many of the objects we grew up with have disappeared with time -- and overall, progress is a damn good thing. But many of these lost objects also represent a different way of doing things and of living life, and some of that would have been worth holding on to. Welcome to Episode 77 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma…

Hinduism contains multitudes -- and is contained by multitudes. Any simple story you tell about it is bound to be false. Welcome to Episode 76 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay put together a potted history of Hinduism that goes beyond simple narratives and acknowledges …

She worked with Femina for 26 years, 12 of them as editor. And she wrote numerous biographies after that. Sathya Saran joins Amit Varma in episode 406 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss Indian society, feminism, femininity, her life as a journalist and the art of the biography. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1…

The study of humanity is the study of humanity. Everything is everything. And yet, different disciplines of study have imprisoned themselves in silos, refusing to learn from each other. Welcome to Episode 75 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss a great paper from Bi…

Every simple story about it is wrong: Hinduism contains multitudes. And it went into the directions it did for specific reasons. Manu Pillai joins Amit Varma in episode 405 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the role of history in the shaping of Hinduism -- and Hindu nationalism. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out…

Which Indian hasn't experienced a KYC nightmare? And yet, we have normalised it. We should instead fight it. India's KYC is not just the worst such measure in the world, it is also an infringement on our rights. Welcome to Episode 74 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging…

Should alcohol be banned? What about recreational drugs? Gambling? Hate speech? You may disapprove of certain things, but if they do not infringe anyone's rights, then turning them into crimes tends to backfire. We should think hard about what we classify as crimes -- and also examine our own morality. Welcome to Episode 73 of Everything is Everyth…

Songs, albums, books, films are the way they for a reason -- and those reasons are outdated. The dominant forms of creative expression evolved because of constraints that no longer apply. We should free our minds and look beyond them! Welcome to Episode 72 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CO…

Our societies, our norms, our values are all shaped by stories from the past. Devdutt Pattanaik joins Amit Varma in episode 404 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his life, our society and why we should take mythology seriously. Note: This is Part 2 of a 12-hour episode, being uploaded in two parts now because Spotify and YouTube don't allow upl…

Our societies, our norms, our values are all shaped by stories from the past. Devdutt Pattanaik joins Amit Varma in episode 404 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his life, our society and why we should take mythology seriously. Note: This is Part 1 of a 12-hour episode, being uploaded in two parts now because Spotify and YouTube don't allow upl…

Our societies, our norms, our values are all shaped by stories from the past. Devdutt Pattanaik joins Amit Varma in episode 404 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his life, our society and why we should take mythology seriously. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out 1. Devdutt Pattanaik on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn…

Finance is the lifeblood of every economy. India's financial system has taken decades to evolve to where it is today -- and we still have a long way to go. What has this journey been like? What can we learn? Welcome to Episode 71 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma & Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 02:56 Chapter 1: Bank…