Vaad
संवाद # 349: Why Hindus are afraid of Valmiki Ramayana | Ami Ganatra
Ami Ganatra is a bestselling Indian author and management professional who has built a rare bridge between the corporate world and India's classical knowledge tradition. An alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, she spent over fifteen years in consulting and business management across sectors and geographies before turning her deeper intellectual energies toward the texts that shaped the civilisation she grew up in.Her work is defined not by imaginative retellings but by a strict commitment to the original Sanskrit sources, presenting their insights with a focus on contemporary relevance — a rare discipline in a space crowded with popular mythology. She fi...
संवाद # 348: Kargil exposed this BIG Flaw in Indian military. It's still not fixed | Ajay Ahlawat
Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd) A seasoned fighter pilot and strategic military thinker, Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd) brings over 25 years of distinguished service in the military (Indian Air Force) and civil aviation. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Dec 1996, after graduating from the National Defence Academy (NDA), he has operated high-performance fighter jets, besides handling various command and staff appointments.He has extensive experience in aerospace operations, force application in support of national security, and planning of complex operations. He is a qualified civil aviation pilot as well and holds type ratings on the Boeing 737, Airbus...
संवाद # 347: Ex-Punjab DGP reveals inside story of Op Black Thunder, Khalistani militancy, KPS Gill
S.S. Virk is a decorated Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1970 batch who played an instrumental role in tackling militancy in Punjab throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Deputed from the Maharashtra cadre to Punjab during its most turbulent period, he served as SSP Amritsar, DIG (CRPF), and spearheaded key counter-terror operations, including the historic Operation Black Thunder in 1988 where he survived a critical AK-47 gunshot wound in the line of duty. He later rose to serve as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab as well as DGP of Maharashtra.
संवाद # 346: How Indian state (mis)treats its heroes - exhibit Sandhu family of Punjab
Jagdish Kaur Sandhu is a civilian recipient of the Shaurya Chakra, awarded for her exceptional bravery alongside her husband, Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Shaurya Chakra), brother-in-law Ranjit Singh, and sister-in-law. Based in Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran, Punjab), the Sandhu family stood as an unyielding bulwark against terrorism throughout the 1980s and 1990s, surviving over 40 armed attacks and fierce sieges by Khalistani terror outfits. In October 2020, Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu was martyred after his security was abruptly withdrawn, and Jagdish Kaur continues to fight relentlessly for justice, truth, and national integration.
संवाद # 345: How India failed the Hindus of Punjab
Ranju Aery Dadhwal is an author, researcher, and independent journalist who has documented the socio-political history and human cost of the Punjab militancy era. Through extensive ground research, oral histories, and documentation—most notably in her book RED CARD —she sheds light on the lived experiences, massacres, and long-standing struggles of victims and displaced families from the 1980s and 1990s.
संवाद # 344: Why Pakistan deported me: Ground reality of Lahore & ISI | Harpreet Walia
Harpreet Walia is an Indian globetrotter with roots tracing back to undivided Punjab. Having traveled across Pakistan twice—visiting Lahore, Gujranwala, and beyond—he shares raw, eye-opening accounts of ground realities, unexpected encounters with intelligence networks, and what everyday life across the border truly looks like beyond official narratives.
संवाद # 343: "Saudi Arabia Will Not Survive": War Veteran Col. Rajesh Pawar Warns of Total Collapse
Colonel Rajesh Pawar (retd) is a former officer of the Indian Army and is now a seasoned war correspondent and defense journalist for India Today. He is best known for his fearless ground reporting from some of the most volatile conflict zones in recent history.His expertise lies in global geopolitics, modern warfare tactics, and defense strategy. Most notably, he provided extensive on-ground coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, reporting live from Kyiv even as the city was under siege.More recently, he has covered the Israel-Hamas war, reporting from locations like Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea to analyze...
संवाद # 342: Why India’s GOAT Fighter pilot was forced to leave the Air Force
Manish Bhatnagar, a former Major in the Indian Army, is widely known for being the first officer to report the initial Pakistani intrusions during the Kargil War in 1999. Despite his early warnings, the intelligence was overlooked by the higher command, leading to significant consequences. Major Bhatnagar has since become a vocal advocate for accountability and transparency within the military, especially concerning the lapses during the Kargil conflict. His experiences and insights offer a compelling perspective on the challenges and responsibilities faced by those in uniform.Shubham Sharma is a researcher on Indian Military History and Warfare.
संवाद # 341: Sukhwinder Singh Kaka returns from Jail, again!
Bank details of Sukhwinder Singh Ji:UPI ID: Sukhwinderdayalsingh@axisbankName - Sukhwinder singhBank - Axis bankA/C no - 925010014248741Ifsc code - UTIB0002804Name - Sukhwinder singhBank - PNB Kapurthala branchA/c no - 3492000110276098Ifsc code - Punb0349200
Sukhwinder Singh, also known as Dayal Singh or Kaka, is a significant figure in the history of Khalistani militancy in Punjab. Born into a turbulent era marked by the rise of separatist movements, Sukhwinder witnessed firsthand the violence and chaos that engulfed Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s.Sukhwinder was born in Punjab and grew up...
संवाद # 340: Why Indian Army downplayed incredible Kargil victory of Pt 5770
Shiv Kunal Verma is an Indian military historian, author, and filmmaker renowned for his extensive work documenting India's military history and cultural landscapes. Born into an army family, he received his education at The Doon School and Madras Christian College. Verma began his career by opening trekking routes between Kashmir, Zanskar, and Ladakh. He later transitioned into journalism and filmmaking, producing acclaimed documentaries such as Salt of the Earth for the Indian Air Force and The Standard Bearers on the National Defence Academy.As an author, Verma has penned several significant works, including The Long Road to Siachen: The...
संवाद # 339: How Pakistan army ran RAPE camps in Bangladesh
Shiv Kunal Verma is an Indian military historian, author, and filmmaker renowned for his extensive work documenting India's military history and cultural landscapes. Born into an army family, he received his education at The Doon School and Madras Christian College. Verma began his career by opening trekking routes between Kashmir, Zanskar, and Ladakh. He later transitioned into journalism and filmmaking, producing acclaimed documentaries such as Salt of the Earth for the Indian Air Force and The Standard Bearers on the National Defence Academy.As an author, Verma has penned several significant works, including The Long Road to Siachen: The...
संवाद # 338: How Indian Army saved Punjab from Pakistan in 1965 war | Shiv Kunal Verma
Shiv Kunal Verma is an Indian military historian, author, and filmmaker renowned for his extensive work documenting India's military history and cultural landscapes. Born into an army family, he received his education at The Doon School and Madras Christian College. Verma began his career by opening trekking routes between Kashmir, Zanskar, and Ladakh. He later transitioned into journalism and filmmaking, producing acclaimed documentaries such as Salt of the Earth for the Indian Air Force and The Standard Bearers on the National Defence Academy.As an author, Verma has penned several significant works, including The Long Road to Siachen: The...
संवाद # 337: How Indian Pilots 'Slayed' Pakistan's 'Made in US' Jets in 1965 war
Shiv Kunal Verma is an Indian military historian, author, and filmmaker renowned for his extensive work documenting India's military history and cultural landscapes. Born into an army family, he received his education at The Doon School and Madras Christian College. Verma began his career by opening trekking routes between Kashmir, Zanskar, and Ladakh. He later transitioned into journalism and filmmaking, producing acclaimed documentaries such as Salt of the Earth for the Indian Air Force and The Standard Bearers on the National Defence Academy.As an author, Verma has penned several significant works, including The Long Road to Siachen: The...
संवाद # 336: How Nehru's favorite General cost Indian army 281 brave soldiers at Namka Chu
Shiv Kunal Verma is an Indian military historian, author, and filmmaker renowned for his extensive work documenting India's military history and cultural landscapes. Born into an army family, he received his education at The Doon School and Madras Christian College. Verma began his career by opening trekking routes between Kashmir, Zanskar, and Ladakh. He later transitioned into journalism and filmmaking, producing acclaimed documentaries such as Salt of the Earth for the Indian Air Force and The Standard Bearers on the National Defence Academy.As an author, Verma has penned several significant works, including The Long Road to Siachen: The...
संवाद # 335: Shocking & untold military truths of 1947 India-Pakistan war in J&K | Shiv Kunal Verma
Shiv Kunal Verma is an Indian military historian, author, and filmmaker renowned for his extensive work documenting India's military history and cultural landscapes. Born into an army family, he received his education at The Doon School and Madras Christian College. Verma began his career by opening trekking routes between Kashmir, Zanskar, and Ladakh. He later transitioned into journalism and filmmaking, producing acclaimed documentaries such as Salt of the Earth for the Indian Air Force and The Standard Bearers on the National Defence Academy.As an author, Verma has penned several significant works, including The Long Road to Siachen: The...
संवाद # 334: What Actually Happened in Kargil Is Coming Out Only Now | Vikram Jit Singh
Vikram Jit Singh is a distinguished journalist and columnist. With a career spanning several decades, he has gained recognition for his in-depth reporting and analysis on defense and security issues.Singh served as a war correspondent, notably covering the Kargil War and counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir from 1997 to 1999 and again in 2004. His frontline experiences during these conflicts have provided him with unique insights into military operations and the challenges faced by the Indian armed forces.In addition to his written work, Singh is a TV analyst specializing in defense, where he offers expert commentary and analysis on current military...
संवाद # 333: How IAF helped army in Kargil war | Anchit Gupta
Anchit Gupta is an aviation historian, researcher and the founder of IAFHistory.in, a digital archive dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of the Indian Air Force. An Air Force “brat” who grew up in an Air Force family, Gupta has spent years researching archival records, veterans’ accounts, photographs and official documents to uncover forgotten stories of India’s military aviation history.Professionally, he is an investment professional and Managing Director at Samara Capital, and is an alumnus of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is the author of RAF India to Vayu Bhawan: The History of Air Hea...
संवाद # 332 (Part 2): 25 Brutally Honest solutions for failing Middle Class | Amit Sangwan
If you want to join Amit Sangwan's courses, just send a Whatsapp VAAD25 to 9289886158 and get 25% discount.Amit Sangwan is a Gurgaon-based content creator, private investor, astrologer, marital-counsellor and real estate consultant whose straight-talk videos have made him a familiar face across India’s YouTube landscape. Branding himself the “No. 1 Clarity Giver,” he runs a cluster of channels—Sango Life Sutras, Clarity for Youth, Guruji from Gurugram, Sango Real Estate and Sango Saral Jyotish—that blend advice on career strategy, relationships, property investing, and Indian philosophy.Sangwan’s mantra—“people need clarity, not motivation”—underpins his candid, sometimes controversial takes on trending na...
संवाद # 332: Darkest truths of Indian Middle Class Families | Amit Sangwan
If you want to join Amit Sangwan's courses, just send a Whatsapp VAAD25 to 9289886158 and get 25% discount.Amit Sangwan is a Gurgaon-based content creator, private investor, astrologer, marital-counsellor and real estate consultant whose straight-talk videos have made him a familiar face across India’s YouTube landscape. Branding himself the “No. 1 Clarity Giver,” he runs a cluster of channels—Sango Life Sutras, Clarity for Youth, Guruji from Gurugram, Sango Real Estate and Sango Saral Jyotish—that blend advice on career strategy, relationships, property investing, and Indian philosophy.Sangwan’s mantra—“people need clarity, not motivation”—underpins his candid, sometimes controversial takes on trending na...
संवाद # 331: Biggest truths about Sikhism they don't want you to know - A Nihang tells all
Avtar Singh is a Nihang Sikh, associated with the Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal under the leadership of Akali Baba Maan Singh Ji 96 Crori. His passion lies in delving into the deeper, unaltered history of Sikhism. Through his research, he aims to bring forward the historical reality of Sikhi’s alignment with Sanatan Dharma, challenging modern narratives established by institutions like the SGPC and other such groups.
संवाद # 330: Top economist's TWO BIG WARNINGS for Modi government | Prasanna Tantri
Prasanna Tantri is an Associate Professor in the Finance area and Executive Director of the Centre for Analytical Finance at ISB. His research areas include- banking, financial inclusion, financial contagion, regulation, and the relationship between politics and finance. He teaches a course on Indian financial systems.
संवाद # 329: Prashant Kishor reveals BIGGEST cracks in BJP's CORE strategy
Adarsh Pandit is a graduate from IIT Delhi. He is a political strategist.
Why India needs a Taxpayers Janata party NOW
In this video, we dissect the frustrations of India's middle-class taxpayers. Despite footing a massive portion of the nation's bills, taxpayers receive almost nothing in return regarding healthcare, education, or social security. We explore why the "crab mentality" punishes high earners and propose a comprehensive, points-based "Kar Yogdaan Credit" system to reward taxpayers with real, tangible benefits and incentivize tax compliance.
संवाद # 328: Ex Khalistani exposes dark truth of Punjab police & militants | Kuljinder Dhillon
Kuljinder Dhillon is a common man from Majha region in Punjab. Like tens of thousands of youth, he also got swept away by the Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale-led Khalistan movement in late 1970s and early 1980s. He was inside the Golden Temple when the Indian Army launched a military operation codenamed 'Blue Star' to take control of the holy complex back from Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was using the Sikhism's holiest site as a launchpad for his terrorism and anti-India activities.Kuljinder Dhillon actively participated in the battle with Indian army on 4th & 5th June 1984. He was arrested later from...
How Modi Sarkar Completely Misread India’s Anger
Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned, finally!
संवाद # 327: Dark truth of Khalra, Satluj, KPS Gill & Punjab's Khalistan terror | Puneet Sahani
Puneet Sahani is an independent researcher and commentator known for his work on Sikh history, identity, and the intersection of religion and politics in South Asia. He is particularly recognized for his critical perspectives on the evolution of Sikh identity and the Khalistan movement.
संवाद # 326: How Harsha won the Game of Thrones | Jay Vardhan Singh
Jay Vardhan Singh is currently doing his PhD in Ancient Indian History at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. His area of interest includes the Ancient and early medieval history of the Indian subcontinent.Follow Jay’s YouTube channel (English): @JayVardhanSingh ; Hindi: @ThestoryofIndia
संवाद # 325: Why PoK wants to be free from Pakistan | Ex ambassador Dinkar Srivastava
Dinkar P. Srivastava joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1978. He has served in Karachi in the early 90s. Also served in the Middle East, Washington, Brussels and Tehran.In 1993-94, as Director (UNP), he was part of successful Indian lobbying efforts against four Pakistani attempts to have resolutions on J&K adopted in UN General Assembly and UN Commission on Human Rights. He was involved in the drafting of National Human Rights Commission statute. As Joint Secretary (UNP), he participated in Indian lobbying efforts to contain the diplomatic fallout of the Pokhran II nuclear tests and prevent the internationalization...
संवाद # 324: India's top geopolitical expert's 3 BIG predictions on Russia-Ukraine, Iran-US wars
Colonel Rajesh Pawar (retd) is a former officer of the Indian Army and is now a seasoned war correspondent and defense journalist for India Today. He is best known for his fearless ground reporting from some of the most volatile conflict zones in recent history.His expertise lies in global geopolitics, modern warfare tactics, and defense strategy. Most notably, he provided extensive on-ground coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, reporting live from Kyiv even as the city was under siege.More recently, he has covered the Israel-Hamas war, reporting from locations like Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea to analyze...
संवाद # 323: Colonel explains Indian army's BIGGEST challenge today | Col Yogander Singh (retd)
Colonel Yogander Singh is a retired Indian Army officer and military historian, with special focus on Haryana. He has written several books, most prominent among them being 'Hal Wa Samshir: Politico-Military History of Haryana', Future Ready Indian Army and 'Effective Deterrence: Thoughts on India's Security Policy and Structures in the Twenty-first Century'.
# 322: Why India's bureaucracy sucks ft. Dr Abhinav Pandya
Dr Abhinav Pandya, a Cornell University graduate in public affairs and a bachelor's from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, is a founder and CEO of Usanas Foundation, an India-based foreign policy and security think tank. He has authored books named 'Radicalization in India: An Exploration (2019)' and 'Terror Financing in Kashmir (2023)'.He had previously advised the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir on security issues during the critical times when Kashmir's special status, Article 370, was revoked.He has written extensively for several national and international newspapers, and worked with the International Labour Organization, the United Nations.His latest book...
संवाद # 321: India's legendary bureaucrat explains poor quality of new expressways | RC Sinha
Dr Ramesh Chandra Sinha is a 1962-batch IAS officer whose six-decade career produced some of the most consequential infrastructure projects in modern India.As Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) under PWD Minister Nitin Gadkari, he built India's first world-class expressway — the 95-km Mumbai-Pune Expressway — completing it in 36 months at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore, which was Rs 50 crore below the MSRDC's own estimate and roughly half of Reliance's competing bid that came with 78 concessions. He raised Rs 2,400 crore from the open market through non-convertible debentures on an equity base of just Rs 5...
संवाद # 320: संवाद # 320: Vishal Bhargava's NEW BOLD prediction on Gurgaon's real estate market
Vishal Bhargava is one of India's most independent voices on real estate — a journalist and analyst who has tracked the sector for nearly two decades from inside both finance and media. He began his career on the institutional side, with stints at CLSA India and Bank of America, before moving to financial journalism at The Economic Times and ET NOW.Today he writes regular columns on real estate, and runs BHK-Voice, his independent platform that has become required reading for serious homebuyers, builders, and policy-watchers. He is based in Mumbai and applies the discipline of an equity analyst to a...
संवाद # 319: Kashmir expert who predicted Pahalgam has a NEW WARNING | Dr Abhinav Pandya
Dr Abhinav Pandya, a Cornell University graduate in public affairs and a bachelor's from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, is a founder and CEO of Usanas Foundation, an India-based foreign policy and security think tank. He has authored books named 'Radicalization in India: An Exploration (2019)' and 'Terror Financing in Kashmir (2023)'.He had previously advised the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir on security issues during the critical times when Kashmir's special status, Article 370, was revoked.He has written extensively for several national and international newspapers, and worked with the International Labour Organization, the United Nations.His latest book...
संवाद # 318: Sanskrit scholar exposes pseudoscience in the name of Hinduism
Nityānanda Miśra is a Mumbai-based finance professional in the investment banking industry. He specialises in quantitative finance, equity market microstructure, algorithmic trading, and execution consulting. He is an alumnus of IIM Bangalore (2007) and a gold medalist from Gujarat University (2004).Nityānanda is a multifaceted personality—a Sanskrit scholar, a polyglot, a grammarian, a littérateur, an instrumentalist, a musicologist, a researcher, an editor, an author, and a book designer. He has authored thirteen books, including several bestsellers. He is also a professional onomastician, specialising in Sanskrit names.Nityānanda is passionate about Indic culture, literature, music, and arts. H...
संवाद # 317: India's BIGGEST cover-up - Rajiv Gandhi's murder investigation | Anirudhya Mitra
Our guest today is the journalist Anirudhya Mitra. In May 1991, when a former Prime Minister of India was assassinated at Sriperumbudur, Mitra was a young reporter who had joined India Today magazine barely a month earlier. Over the next ninety days, he covered the hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's killers from closer than almost any other journalist in the country — his investigative stories became known as the "inside story" of the assassination. That reporting also made him a target: he was followed, threatened, and publicly branded a CBI agent by both the DMK and the LTTE chief Prabhakaran himself. For th...
संवाद # 316: India's legendary nuclear scientist tells the truth about Pokhran, US-India N-deal
Dr Anil Kakodkar is one of the senior-most living architects of India's atomic energy programme and a Padma Vibhushan awardee. He joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1964. He served as Director of BARC from 1996 to 2000 and as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, from 2000 to 2009.He was among the small group of scientists at Pokhran for India's first nuclear test — Smiling Buddha — on 18 May 1974, and played a central role a quarter-century later in the five Pokhran-II nuclear tests in May 1998 that established India as a declared nuclear weapons state.As a working engi...
संवाद # 315: India’s National security is now compromised | Dr Chaitanya Giri
Dr. Chaitanya Giri is a distinguished space scientist, astrochemist, and technology strategy analyst whose expertise bridges planetary science, space policy, and astropolitics. He serves as a Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation's (ORF) Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology and is an Associate Professor at FLAME University.Dr. Giri holds a Ph.D. in Astrochemistry from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research. His scientific career includes significant tenures at the Earth-Life Science Institute at Tokyo Institute of Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Carnegie Institution for Science. Notably...
संवाद # 314: Muslim scholar explains Islam's biggest weakness | Zahack Tanvir
Zahack Tanvir is a Hyderabad-born independent journalist, counter-extremism expert, and the founder and editor of the UK-based media outlet Milli Chronicle. He specializes in international affairs and counter-terrorism, having completed academic programs in these fields at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands and the London School of Journalism.His educational background is diverse, also comprising an engineering degree in Computer Science from Osmania University, a post-graduate diploma in AI and Machine Learning from IIIT India, and a Master’s in AI-ML from Liverpool John Moores University.Tanvir identifies as a traditional Muslim who is vocally "anti-Islamist," often criticizing ex...
संवाद # 313: Why Pakistan is desperate to END Iran war | Vaibhav Singh
Vaibhav Singh is founder of Defensive Offense and DO News.