The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma

Amit Varma

All Episodes

Feb 13, 2023

In a Silent Way

He's a guitarist, a composer, a producer, an audio engineer and a teacher. Gaurav Chintamani joins Amit Varma in episode 316 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his reflections on music and life. (FOR FULL LIN...

387 mins

Feb 06, 2023

Arshia Sattar and the Complex Search for Dharma

The Ramayana is not one book, but a living text with countless versions across languages, each reflecting the values of its time and place. Arshia Sattar joins Amit Varma to share her insights from decades of s...

269 mins

Jan 23, 2023

The Long Road From Neeyat to Neeti

Public policy may seem arcane and complicated, a field only for geeks. But all our lives are shaped by it. Pranay Kotasthane and Raghu S Jaitley join Amit Varma in episode 313 of The Seen and the Unseen to desc...

255 mins

Jan 16, 2023

Ashutosh Salil and the Challenge of Change

He is an IAS officer who has just co-written a book about Gandhian social workers in Vidarbha. Ashutosh Salil joins Amit Varma in episode 312 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the difficult work of bring...

233 mins

Jan 02, 2023

Abby Philips Fights for Science and Medicine

Known online as The Liver Doctor, he's a crusader against quackery of all sorts. Cyriac Abby Philips joins Amit Varma in episode 310 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe his journey to becoming a doctor-scien...

265 mins

Dec 19, 2022

Saaz Aggarwal Enters a Vanished Homeland

Borders and nation states can sometimes seek to divide communities -- but isn't that a bit like cutting water with a knife? Saaz Aggarwal joins Amit Varma in episode 308 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss he...

224 mins

Dec 12, 2022

Suyash Rai Embraces India's Complexity

Indian society, the Indian state and the Indian economy are all complex beasts that defy simple narratives. Suyash Rai joins Amit Varma in episode 307 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe how he has tried to...

374 mins

Dec 05, 2022

The History of the Planning Commission

Society cannot be designed in a top-down way. Central planning was a historic blunder that harmed India -- even though it was conceived by great men with good intentions. Nikhil Menon joins Amit Varma in episod...

279 mins

Nov 28, 2022

Coomi Kapoor Has the Inside Track

She's been a journalist for half a century, wrote the definitive book on the Emergency, and is revered for her political insight. Coomi Kapoor joins Amit Varma in episode 305 of The Seen and the Unseen to discu...

167 mins

Nov 21, 2022

Make Me a Canteen for My Soul

Food is more than just sustenance for the body. Food contains stories, memories, emotions, and the ingredients of the self. Sameer Seth and Yash Bhanage join Amit Varma in episode 304 of The Seen and the Unseen...

221 mins