Bangladesh Liberation War, Misrepresentation of Indian Culture in Cinema & Arts, and more
Namaste,
Hope you are safe and doing well.
We had yet another week filled with information-packed episodes for you to enjoy. From exploring digital media & narratives to decoding the Indian securities market, we had yet another information-packed week at Bharatvaarta.
#75 - Why is Indian culture misrepresented in Cinema and Arts? | Kaushal Inamdar & Nivedita Tiwari
In this episode, we speak to award-winning musician, Kaushal Inamdar, and noted television actress, Nivedita Tiwari, about how Indian traditions and culture are depicted in mainstream arts and cinema.
We begin this discussion with Kaushal ji explaining very eloquently how the representation of culture has evolved over time in our movies and music, while Nivedita ji speaks about the impact that OTT platforms have had on the kind of stories that are being told and how the focus has moved beyond metros to small towns and villages.
We then discuss the politicization of arts – is this a recent phenomenon? Is there scope for activism through arts? Should the artist impose their own sensibilities into their art? And why are so many artists now of a Leftist persuasion?
We end with suggestions from both guests on how we can sensitise artists and creators to native Indian traditions and culture, so there can be a more accurate reflection of the same in the mainstream arts and what the government can do to help the same. This is a fascinating, nuanced discourse in the ways art can impact society.
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#74 - How did India liberate Bangladesh? | Aadit Kapadia & Mohal Joshi | Geopolitics | Bharatvaarta
Revolutions are impossible when they begin and inevitable at the end. The liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 is one such revolution. You have heard facts and figures before about the war, but learn from our experts Aadit Kapadia (Co-founder, MyIndMakers) and Mohal Joshi (Host, India Rising Podcast) about the circumstances leading up to the war, what really happened in the 13 days that went by, who were the heroes of that very significant moment in history, and what has happened since then.
Aadit and Mohal begin by explaining the Political and Military significance of the war and how Indira Gandhi’s political mandate and influence impacted her decisions. Mohal speaks about key events in the war such as the Tangail air drop, Operation Trident, the bombing of the Governor’s office in Dakha.
Aadit speaks about the role of the US, USSR, and China in this geopolitical drama. Aadit speaks about the role of the Mukti Bani in the liberation, and how the presence of General Yahya Khan influenced the politics in Bangladesh. They then then explore the political impact of the liberation war on Pakistani power structures.
Aadit and Mohal end the podcast with learnings from the war and play out some interesting counterfactuals in terms of what would have happened if alternate actors had been involved and events had materialized. This is a rich, insightful episode on a very significant period of history.
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The Weekly - Skip the news, watch the Weekly
Aashish (c_aashish), Srivatsa (s_srivats) and Roshan (@carygottheblues) discussed the following:
Wistron plant disturbance in Karnataka
Kerala local and Goa ZP results
GDP forecast revision
30 GW renewable energy park in Kutch
Ola Electric scooter and Torrent gas investment in TN
PM’s interaction with space start ups
Well, that’s it for now.
Wish you a great week, ahead!
Yours sincerely,
Aashish
For the Bharatvaarta team
The Bharatvaarta podcast is a commentary on Politics, Policy and Culture focused on India.