What's Wrong With Indian Agriculture? | Episode 18 | Everything is Everything

[@tarangrathi4956]

Hi, I'm an 18 year old law student from Pune and I've been watching Amit's work for about half a year now. Thank you for the wonderful insights you bring - I, like most people my age, was wedded to socialist ideas - but you, along with other Indian thinkers like Shruti Rajagopalan and Ajay Shah have brought me a new pair of glasses with which I can look at the world. Thank you for your commitment to ideas and I hope more and more people see where India has gone terribly wrong.

[@obedrossi]

I've heard so many episodes of The Seen And The Unseen and today, after all those years, I finally know what Amit Varma looks like.

[@docamityadav]

The best part about the show is that Amit would talk on a topic in great detail and then Ajay is like: I have 2 things to add to that 😍😍 The man has so much experience and knowledge that he always has something to add. Lovely show ❤

[@ashishkothari5205]

Thanks to Amit and Ajay for this service to humanity!

[@rjv_mntn]

+1

[@prafity]

Truly delightful show. First thing I do on Friday. Stopped consuming other content to spend time watching this. Have always looked up to Ajay's work being in capital market but has been great to discover Amit and his podcast Seen & Unseen. Having an Intellectual crush on this show.

[@Saurabh_Mediyum]

Fantastic show... Makes an hour pass in a jiffy. Some topic requests: - 'Guns, Germs and steel' from an Indian perspective - Why we missed the boat on the Industrial revolution and what can be done to not miss the next ones. - Demographics - would love to hear your thoughts on the ongoing trends in the country and the world apart from the usual noise from the media. - How to think like Amit and Ajay - what made you the multidisciplinary thinkers you are and can an average person become like you with the right exposure and incentives?

[@ajayshah5705]

Demographics -- hold that thought! Almost there. The ultimate grand question is about why India is poor and many elsewhere have done better. (For a sense of how far behind is India, please see blog.theleapjournal.org/2021/08/what-year-in-history-of-advanced.html ). The Kelkar&Shah book tries to take on these things, www.mayin.org/ajayshah/books/isotr.html . There is nothing more important for the future of India than figuring out these grand ideas. I think many of us in the Indian middle/upper class are graduating out of basic questions of prosperity. It's good for us to increase the prioritisation on intellectual things and on our understanding of the society. You are here, I'm sure you know Amit's SATU (seenunseen.in/). In Everything is Everything, there's a weekly feed of about an hour. Both systems (SATU and EiE) are backed by Amit Varma level of show notes so there are plenty of URLs to follow through. There are now a lot of good books on India - examples include The Silent Coup, Missing in Action, Caged Tiger. If you can, build a reading group: where people separately read one chapter at a time (e.g. of Kelkar&Shah or of any book that you fancy), and come together to discuss & debate. These things can work really well. It's important to read and it's important to articulate + debate.

[@siruguri]

@ajayshah5705 I am conducting a survey-based study relating to the perceptions of progress and economic equality among Indians, and am reaching out to Indians with an interest in these topics. Would you be open to speaking with me over a video call?

[@Saurabh_Mediyum]

@@ajayshah5705Thank you so much for taking up the suggestion!!! this was undoubtedly the best Diwali gift this year 😄🙏. Thanks for the detailed notes, they have led to quite a few new books on my shelf. I just started on the ISOTR and must say that it's just as addictive as your show. I will take up your idea of a book club, starting with my colleagues who share interests in these topics.

[@BAbhijeet]

Hi, ..I am from sugar belt region in western Maharashtra... specifically from Sangli. I agree everything you said on sugarcane issue but the argument which I hear from farmers here is Sugar cane farming doesn't need much attention and needs very less n occasional labour as compare other crops you have mentioned. Labour is a big issue here. Also here in Sangli, only those areas where there is surety of water opt for sugarcane crop and because of big lift irrigation projects in our region that area is increasing. It's definitely not sustainable. It also causing degradation of soil to a severe degree since drip or sprinkler is not used in Sugarcane farming. Pursing farmers to opt for other crops in very challenging here.

[@Rohwit]

Barely begun watching and one has to love the childlike ‘I have a limerick for you’ by this other gentleman. What a relief to know I have 2 episodes to consume.

[@remojoseph1985]

I religiously look forward to this show every weekend. Broadens my horizons. Thanks and keep em coming! Can't believe I get this for free :)

[@rutuljoshi462]

This is a great show. It was a pleasant surprise that Prof. Ajay Shah and Amit Verma - both celebrated in their right have come together to create this really insightful show. Can you talk more about the state of our cities and how we improve their quality of life? Like how misplaced ideas and misconceived policies have ruined the agriculture sector, the same has happened in the urban sector too. Whether we talk about political autonomy, financial decentralization, infrastructure, or transport planning - there are issues of misplaced state interventions everywhere. May be, a full episode on the same be required.

[@ajayshah5705]

Dear Rutul, Yes we will, but I want Bimal's book to come out first! Until that I feel I'm stealing his ideas.

[@namangovil7909]

I had stumbled upon an podcast (now discontinued) named Econ Central that Amit used to do back in the COVID times. As a student of economics, I was intrigued and used to listen to each episode multiple times. From there I got hooked to The Seen and the Unseen, and was quite impressed by one of the early episodes that Amit did with Ajay Shah. I had heard a lot about Shah from my professors (Ajay happened to be their neighbour back in his NIPFP times) and my previous boss (Ajay was his PhD guide). I always hoped if Amit could do more episodes with Ajay Shah so that I could listen to more and more of his views and experiences. Hence, this podcast is nothing short of dream come true for me. It actually was serendipitious that I came across Econ Central and now am listening to this wonderful podcast!

[@InosukeHashibira-h8q]

Econ Central was so good. i still remember the episode where they suggested so many books in the show's last episode. hope this show gets a long run

[@kavisidhant]

such an amazing show, also Amit you deserve as much love as Ajay.. you both are amazing

[@Agastya26]

Wonderful episode!

[@shilppatel691]

Hi Amit and Ajay, great episode, I got really nice insights on the topic and also learned to think about economics of agriculture from the first principles. Thank you, 😊

[@varadmurtipatil6476]

I watch tons of content everyday.... But this is the first time I'm commenting on something. Great job both of you. Really admire. One more thing Sharad Ji also coined was dichotomy between India and Bharat. Such a great leader and I'm really fortunate to be closely associated with some of his founding team of Shetkari Sanghatna.

[@abhpad]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this Ajay ji and Amit ji

[@subhalkhanna9886]

Hi Amit, I hope this comment reaches you as such the competition has become. This is a brilliant series, the only limitation in "The seen and the unseen" was not only the time but also the incentive for the speaker to structure his enlightenment in few words. Everything is everything has filled that gap, although I must say it is sometimes not the exact balance between a define structure and time to discuss everything which is anyways very difficult to do. In only this episode I found out the balance to be partly off compared to others. What is negative subsidy ? Why has the gap been 2 and 20 ? I will have to study these since I have not found answers to both of them here. I know Iam asking for too much, it is very difficult to discuss everything in everything, that is why I applaud your efforts to the fullest and be a reader than be alone a listener.

[@HarjeetSingh-xl4bg]

Absolutely loved this podcast! Insightful discussions that really broaden perspectives. 🤯

[@123456misha]

Brilliant episode as always. The both of you are so inspiring.

[@MeetMehta-pp7iw]

Given that Seeing like a State was often mentioned in some of the episodes, it will be interesting to listen to the discussion of the ideas of that book in one of the sections of future episodes.

[@sandeepanb2005]

Beautiful show yet again! What I like especially is the neat analysis of the agricultural sector which confuses me to no end.

[@VineetPanchhi]

You are better every week. Thank you.

[@rushabhsagara8766]

Thanks for taking my demand of a must recommendation of one book per episode by Ajay!! That was pure fun! And also, what an eye-opening episode! Never knew about the agricultural land scam that Amit ranted about; anyway, now I know why SRK's daughter bought acres of "agricultural land"! Also, to Amit, even though we appreciate Ajay more than you, it is just because you have become a constant in our life - like a family member. You are just too close, man! Anyway, the zeal with which Amit spoke on Sharad Joshi has just pushed me to research on this man! Overall, what an episode, yaar!! Keep it coming!!

[@amitvarma]

Thank you -- and I was kidding about Ajay hogging the praise. I am the founder president of the Ajay Shah Fan Club (ASFC), and it fills my heart with joy when I induct new members!

[@rushabhsagara8766]

😂😂 Honored to join this esteemed club headed by you!

[@90vivekgrewal]

Why is this not getting more views!!!!

[@sathyendrababu7868]

The only reason that this show does not get so many comments vis_avis a troll on X is that U guys overwhelm the gentle reader.. 😅❤ Ajay Shah is a power house of knowledge, sorry wisdom and Amit is the raider of the knowledge ark who gets it bang on.. ❤🎉 GM food, most of us, I guess, are with Shah.. Talking to an empty room really brought tears💧😢 Can states change land laws such that anyone can buy any land for whatever the purpose😅😅

[@ultrafilmandvideo]

Since you mentioned that you like appreciative feedback, would just like to say that I'm a great fan of this show and the sparkling and insightful conversations you have. It's amazing how both of you are extremely knowledgeable about so many things, and yet are able to speak about them in such a simple, accessible and engaging way. I look forward to every new episode eagerly as it is always so intellectually stimulating. I also like the touches of fun and humour that lighten things up. Thanks for this wonderful initiative, and do keep it up! Chris

[@mdarun]

Fantastic show, as always! I must admit listening Amit and Ajay (this and many other earlier episodes) has changed my view on GMO foods & in general agriculture principles . If done right it has soo much potential to help humanity and increase productivity.

[@jaydeepdaripa7472]

Fantastic episode. I think you must do an episode on power sector as well. Ajay has a paper too and like Agriculture, government intervention in power sector is neither economically nor ecologically sustainable.

[@viditdamele7906]

Great show!!

[@kedarbhide007]

Great discussion. Thanks a lot.

[@MohanGowda1996]

Awesome Podcast. Keep it going ❤

[@ganeshkadu6168]

Simply Great

[@aditimascarenhas5608]

Amit looking goooood

[@shubhamjaiswal2337]

Loved the episode . Thanks Amit

[@hgabliddilbagh]

This episode helped me clear some cobwebs, especially the example of looking at farm workers as employees of a corporation. Also, I recalled something Amit mentioned in a recent TSATU episode. To understand any issue you find where is the coercion. Quite applicable to this episode as well.

[@kanchanmajithia1658]

Fantastic show, and a very insightful episode as always! Love how you'll also make it delightful by having light hearted anecdotes and moments in-between :)

[@kamalnayan3368]

commenting to remind u sirs we admire u too much try tobring more podcast in one week

[@srinivasreddy3821]

Very great episode .. enjoyed it

[@dankaxon4230]

episode 86 of seen and the unseen was insane. He went into great depth describing everything wrong with farming in India. Such an insightful episode. Would love to see him come back.

[@saurabhshirke3225]

Great episode. Sharad Joshi wanted his volunteers and fellow farmers to be well aware about the current happenings. For this he wrote book named as जग बदलणारी पुस्तके Books that changed world. He had a great vision.

[@butterchickenandnaan]

Loved it

[@vk89s]

Wonderful show. I’m surprised how much information is compresses in 1hr 😮. Can you please explore if you can enable memberships or a patreon link? I’d happily pay for this content.

[@muralineel]

There were rice control orders to prevent moving rice across India. Rohit De mentions this in his wonderful book - A people’s constitution.

[@priyaranjanmarathe]

Thanks for the show Amit and Ajay Ji. Would be great if you could publish it as an audio version as well. Thanks for the lovely recommendations!

[@satendrathakur1713]

Amazing podcast. Call me a luddite but I oppose GMOs(more so in case of grains than cotton, jute, etc) even though I haven't read a lot about them. I hope Amit is somewhat more skeptical about them cos the research is currently ongoing, and the debate is not settled yet. Also, thanks for introducing me to Sharad Joshi. I read he was the single rajya sabha MP who opposed women's reservation bill in legislative bodies during the UPA era, and his reasoning was very apt. But alas, the bill has now been passed.

[@srinivasreddy3821]

Such profound speakers :)

[@renujha2614]

I must have missed some bit where we became Gentle Readers instead of listeners / audience.... But this is lovely to hear and engaged conversation that I enjoy very very much

[@AnandKumar-hs2nd]

Can we please have an episode with ajay on linux computing

[@AdityaRaj-qn7lt]

Do an episode on supply of health care providers such as doctors and nurses

[@abhimanyugupta532]

Unix session!

[@AjayBabu_S]

Great episode as always. Got to learn a lot about the topic by listening to your wonderful conversation. Please keep it going

[@bobanmech]

Great episode

[@krishnagilda8286]

Thank you for the podcast. Topic Recommendation: Design Thinking, systems thinking and their application in public policy making

[@tariqmusthafa8186]

Good stuff! ❤

[@pranavlucian]

Amazing as always!

[@abhishekshukla2876]

This one for the algorithm 😅 Great show though 👏👏

[@tejaspandhare5304]

Wonderful episode as always. Packed with insights and food for thoughts. Two questions: 1. Sharad Joshiji's poem -- so is middlemen to blame, what role would middlemen play in farm/food systems if we adopt market reforms? 2. Genetically modified crops - Nassim Taleb, whom I respect, thinks it's a bad idea. Would love Ajay sir to explore more on what can go wrong with GM crops?

[@amitvarma]

Good questions. Answers: 1. Thw middlemen are not the problem, the system is. Right now, the APMC insulates the middleman from competition, so in our example the farmer sells for 2 rupees and the consumer buys for 20. If middlemen had to compete, like in other markets, the farmer could sell for 10 and the consumer buy for 12, and the middleman eould still make money. We usually need middlemen -- they are typically a necessary lubricant. The issue here is competition and freedom and choice. 2. Taleb is wrong in this case. He has one hammer for every nail. His hammer is not appropriate for this nail. GM foods have been proven safe over decades. Read my piece linked in the show notes. Also, the precautionary principle would basically end all human progress.

[@tejaspandhare5304]

@@amitvarma thank you for the succinct and prompt response sir!

[@mathursand]

Great show as usual 👍

[@5amyak]

Thanks for your efforts, I am a recurring watcher now. Please cover few topics related to entertainment (sports, movies, games etc.)

[@zeta99]

Great stuff. I hope this episode doesn’t become like Sharad Joshi talking to an empty room in Rajya Sabha. Will share it so it reaches more people & hopefully will spark some thoughts.

[@KingVivaan]

Please do an episode on Palestine and Israel conflict…would love to hear Ajay’s in-depth analysis on the same.

[@amitvarma]

We discussed it, and we felt that neither of us have the kind of in--depth understanding we need to tackle that subject. We don't want to wing it.

[@ajayshah5705]

Sorry, Israel / Palestine is not one of the 16.

[@pawan-td6ff]

I've been loving this podcast so much, hope you continue for a long long time. Just one minor observation, you almost exclusively focus on the economics of things, like it's a cure-all for everything. maybe there are layers you are missing? for example in the GMO crops, the licence is held by foreign MNCs and they tend to punish farmers who keep the seeds and grow their own in the next cycle. thus creating a dependency and a continuous harvesting of profits. Doesn't that warrant some discussion too?

[@yalothomas]

Great show, Please do an episode on Ajay's UNIX insights. Thanks

[@ajayshah5705]

Is in development.

[@chandu5406]

I love watching everything is everything and eagerly look forward to new episodes. What I found confusing was that at one stage we are dating that it is the middle man in agriculture who is taking in all the profits leading the farmer to suffer but at the end Mr Ajay says that we shouldn't demonise the middle men. I found these two statements to be contrary. Could you clarify. Thanks.

[@amitvarma]

The middlemen do take all the profits in an APMC system, but it is not their fault -- it is the fault of the system. If the APMC wasn't a monopsony, and farmers could sell to anyone, then middlemen would have to compete and their profits would be far less. So it is not the middlemen who are at fault but the incentives set by the system. That is Ajay's point: do not demonise the middlemen, but question the system that forces a farmer to sell at 2 rupees and a consumer to buy at 20.

[@phddsc5143]

​@@amitvarma The current free market system will replace a large number of middle men by a small number of large companies. Please have a look at the situation of US farmers in this documentary:kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5OukpmalLmBacUsi=dk-2rkIkM2gGEqB_

[@notavailable358]

Is there any list of books recommended by you guys over time? It would be a great list.

[@Kiaoranz]

Good 👍

[@ankitjangra9885]

Where did Ajay get that shirt? I'd like to buy one!

[@isneeshm]

Thank you for a different perspective on the problems and possible solutions in agriculture. Being part of permaculture circles and permaculture thinking has made me a bit averse to science in this field and scared of the unknowns and unseens it may bring along, because scientific knowledge is always incomplete in my view, we are always learning new things and realizing our mistakes later. The best ways are to learn from nature and apply those principles to the problems that deal with the sensitive sphere of ecology which we have already harmed in such a big way. This episode has given me some pointers that are different from my idealist ideas. Thank you for that.

[@ajayshah5705]

There are three distinct lines of attack through which the food system should be viewed. (a) The basics of resource allocation -- that's what we have done here, this is about the food system. (b) The question of sustainability -- this is the book recommendation, the Wizard and the Prophet. Finally, (c) The question of a food system that's conducive to health. That's also a distinct problem. Each of these three perspectives is important and needs to be understood. In some ideal world we'll bring all of them together. At present, the Indian food system is bad on all three counts.

[@isneeshm]

Thank you, looking forward to more discussions on these. Will definitely get the book.

[@manmeetsingh1712]

I sell cheap, you buy expensive. Corporates in the middle, take everything.

[@lokeshkakarla7952]

A har kisan ki market badha hai, Saal bhar ki mehnat, kuch pal ki phal hai... A har fasal ki market badha hai, Jo 'samay ki darwaze' se guzarni hai... Khuli sparda to ham bhi chahte hai, lekin Mazboori hai samay ki, jo zuban ki aazadi cheenti hai. Real problem for farmers is time value depreciation' which deprive bargaining power of farmer & trigger price volatility

[@dayaramvanjani]

Hi , whenever you are talking about India's shortcomings viz-a-viz lack of openness for example please also take into account geopolitics as well. Thanks for the wonderful insights.

[@ajayshah5705]

There is little contradiction between openness and security. Mostly, it seems that the security state (either physical security or economic security) is an excuse for more state power, and then this sustains underdevelopment.

[@SunilFrancisGeorge]

India's farmers have been growing more patience than crops since Independence - perhaps it's time to cultivate some solutions that yield more than just questions.

[@usermaneunavialable]

Hi Amit, I have a request. Can you please make an episode on decoding Delhi’s now scrapped excise policy. What went wrong? How is it different from other states? what they could have done better? if this will impact state embracing refroms? And why are they finding it so difficult to get relief from court? Thank you.

[@krushnpathak]

Really in-depth regarding the economics behind agriculture.However i would like you guys to also consider the political implications that would occur due to changes in some outdated laws and also the difference between the indian sentimental farmer(someone who doesn't understand economics too well) and the agricultural businesses that operate outside our country. I felt that it was missing and was something that should have been considered during the discussions.

[@ajayshah5705]

Generally farmers are reasonably smart. As a thumb rule, the quality of a political system is seen in the extent to which state power does not interfere in the working of the price system. In bad political systems, the state goes against the grain of the price system. That's a key source of the failures in India, of India being a poor country.

[@krushnpathak]

@ajayshah5705 however india cant make any radical changes to align our agricultural policies with the rest of the world , not because India is a poor country but due to the political constraints on the party in power who always has to choose the option which will be accepted by the masses and may not be the right policy to go forward with.In such a scenario do you recommend taking the right action and facing the wrath of the voters? This is in regards to the fact that india has already been interfering more then they need to in our agricultural landscape and backing out is a major policy change that may not be accepted by farmers.

[@ajayshah5705]

​@@krushnpathakYes it's hard. The bad policies create narrow beneficiaries. The comprehensive reform holds the possibility of a big jump in agriculture output, food exports and better health. The pie becomes bigger! The policy makers puzzle is to walk carefully in the political economy puzzles , doing side payments along the way, going to the end state with a bigger pie.

[@phddsc5143]

Please check out great benefits enjoyed by American farmers in this beautiful documentary: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5OukpmalLmBacUsi=dk-2rkIkM2gGEqB_

[@girishgujar3624]

I am a nephew of Sharad Joshi and would like to recommend his book titled metaphysics of markets

[@mamunurushankar3358]

After listening to this Episode, Modi's Farm bills, to be fair, were in the right direction. Do you agree? With farm bills taken back, we have a long way to go to realize a market economy for Agriculture. At least on some fundamental issues, I feel, Politicians should work together keeping aside their political differences. As an aside, I wonder how this discussion would have shaped up if Yogendra Yadav participated in this Episode! Thanks.

[@rijzone]

It was absolutely in the right direction, Ajay has confirmed that in an earlier episode of Seen and the unseen.

[@arnabkundu3406]

The problem is the government should take the farmers in confidence while drafting this laws and not call them terrorists....that might help😅

[@mamunurushankar3358]

I Agree. Reform always has to be undertaken with the consensus of all the stakeholders involved. A top-down approach would defeat the whole purpose. That is what has happened in the case of Farm bills. @@arnabkundu3406

[@rhitamgoswami9127]

Thanks for this much needed episode. Around 1:10:58 mark, Ajay speaks of the “populist backlash against middlemen”. Isn’t it warranted to some extent in this case, because they are a concentrated minority (as defined by public choice theory) which is capturing 70-80% of the value in the chain without adding any value to the net product. They are rich, powerful, entrenched with local politicians and landed elites. It is not in their incentive to give up this privilege where they (with their scaleable land holdings and monopsonic powers, can dictate terms to small farmers at one end and retailers at the other end) can thrive on MSPs while small farmers are devastated. Isn’t that backlash in fact a moral one? IMO, Ajay’s characterisation rather fits the other aspect of hatred towards entrepreneurs which is captured well by the socialist Ambani-Adani caricature perpetuated by a certain section of the political class, media and even the intelligentsia. In the this case, at least they are creating value for the shareholders.

[@amitvarma]

The problem is not the middlemen per se but the law that created the monopsony called the APMC. Without it, middlemen would have to compete in a healthy way and we would all be better off. In other words, don't see the individuals, see the incentives.

[@ganeshkadu6168]

Show should have included something about the farm laws proposed by the govt which couldn't be passed

[@oflavia2910]

Can we have an episode on the plight of singles marginalisn in society, the economics and social impacts of singlehood, the options of community cohabiting, and other ways/options of living apart from marriage, family units.. maybe point us to books, podcasts, sites in this regard. For eg, living with someone you dont have a family relation with, by virtue of expanding ones circle but also meeting human needs for comraderie and companion living. Thanks

[@ajayshah5705]

Email me?

[@SiddharthSingh-vg2fu]

Wonderful episode. Just one point though; is this the same Mr Joshi who was the only Rajya Sabha MP to vote against the bill of reserving 33% seats in the Parliament and Assemblies for women in 2010? P.S.-People contain multitudes

[@dkhasnabish]

The role of the middleman is sort of trivialized. They add value - credit, pickup, storage, transport, sale. It is not someone pocketing a margin. It can be lower or higher, but that is another debate.

[@amitvarma]

Oh, middlemen are incredibly important -- but you need competition there. When you grant a monopoly to a hand-picked middleman, it is a recipe for hell. We want many middlemen, not just one.

[@aryapraagya]

Ajay looks like Gerald from Gerald Undone, please look him up, holy!!

[@dinesh512512]

I never knew anything sharad joshi, thanks for letting me know

[@jagatra]

Agree completely with Ajay having to recommend a book on each episode but why stop there? Recommend a recipe. A new type of food or cuisine. An electronic device. An app even.

[@ajayshah5705]

Nannari

[@jagatra]

Thank you. Also bought some kefir today.

[@ivanlobo397]

Human beings be it farmers or anybody else are intelligent, know what is best to them and in living their life they lead their life, this mode of arguments may be sweeping generalizations in the context of India. No doubt capitalism has progressive imperatives but it also has baggage of alienations. Please read Martin Hugglund's "This life: Secular faith and spiritual freedom". Listening to you is a nice time to spend with ideas.

[@parthsarthisrivastava649]

Probably a noob doubt, don't you think for a luxury good like Avocado whose base prices are high already (and hence by default attract people with high affordability), the price increase would still need to be steep for people to drop it? With essential goods, the price resistance might be due to necessity but for luxury goods, it could be due to affordability?

[@ajayshah5705]

Sure, it could run many ways. We're saying: Think about the working of the price system (the price has to go up enough so that 10% of demand steps away). This could be low ("low price elasticity") or it could be high ("high price elasticity"). Some things (wheat? salt?) are price inelastic. In this case, small quantity fluctuations go with big price fluctuations. This is the sound of the price system at work.

[@mayurdhar4399]

Any possibility of having the conversation in Hindi - or atleast have few of them ? I hope that will enable more people to access these insights

[@ajayshah5705]

English is the lingua franca. While there is a core of debate in English, there are many people who then turn around and ferry ideas and insights into Japanese, German, Malayalam, etc.

[@nittesh]

A cat in the house ? Probably she is also interested in the conversation :)

[@anirudhacharya4844]

Both of Sharad Joshi's book, "Down To Earth" and "Taking To An Empty Room" are available only as hard physical books, it is not available as an ebook. Is there a way to petition Amazon Kindle to also publish these books as ebooks? Does anyone here have enough influence to talk to Amazon and get this done?

[@rtnashisdutta]

If you can make an episode on Peter Senge's Fifth Discipline and related systems science

[@rounakdatta3225]

While the ideas are always crisp and HD in every episode, Amit was a bit less HD (beyond focus of the camera) in this? :D

[@ajayshah5705]

Sorry! We're trying....

[@kushalpratap6222]

sir please improve your thumbnail and channel icon

[@VineetPanchhi]

Also start mentioning the date and year you are recording, not just date. This will be a historical record in no time.

[@श्रीयोगेशचंद्र]

Put a profile picture…😂

[@chiragshah6419]

How is Shah Marathi?

[@ajayshah5705]

Ajay's parents are from Kutch and Saurashtra but he grew up in Maharashtra and claims to speak Marathi at the quality of a native five year old.

[@rohanch07]

I can't believe you both are supporting Fascist farm laws. Sikhs of Punjab gave up their lives for fighting against these anti-minority & anti-Farmer laws and here you two are supporting this dangerous idea. Shame on you. Remember- No Farmer, No Food.

[@gururajkulkarni3259]

MSP is very similar to Reservation, intention is good but outcome is not. can you please folks talk about reservation in coming weeks ?

[@ajayshah5705]

The road to hell is paved with the best intentions. We should always be skeptical, about the self-interest of the state, and about the complexities that interfere in translating the use of coercive power into welfare.

[@anishbaby]

Whenever I go to Blossom Book House , I look for you @amitverma :) big fan of yours

[@amitvarma]

Thank you. While Blossoms is my favourite book store in the world, I am based in Bombay, so the odds are against you spotting me there!