Ep 382: Kushal Mehra Dives Into Hindu Thought

He describes himself as a dharmik skeptic, and has written a book about how atheism evolved within Hindu philosophy. Kushal Mehra joins Amit Varma in episode 382 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his intellectual evolution-- and his journey as a podcaster. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Kushal Mehra on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and his own website. 2. Nastik: Why I Am Not an Atheist -- Kushal Mehra. 3. The Cārvāka Podcast -- Kushal Mehra's podcast on KZbin. 4. Kushal Mehra's KZbin monologues. 5. 'How We Spend Our Days Is How We Spend Our Lives' -- Amit Varma. 6. Hanlon's Razor. 7. Tim Urban's tweet on getting to know people. 8. The Harm Principle. 9. Deepak VS and the Man Behind His Face - Episode 373 of The Seen and the Unseen. 10. A Life in Indian Politics - Episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Jayaprakash Narayan). 11. I, Pencil -- Leonard Read. 12. Why People Believe Weird Things -- Michael Shermer. 13. Richard Dawkins on the God of the Old Testament. 14. Vinamre Kasanaa and Prakhar Gupta on KZbin. 15. Kushal Mehra on Dostcast. 16. A Meditation on Form - Amit Varma. 17. Sowmya Dhanaraj Is Making a Difference -- Episode 380 of The Seen and the Unseen. 18. The God Delusion -- Richard Dawkins. 19. Robert Sapolsky’s biology lectures on KZbin. 20. The Evolution of Cooperation -- Robert Axelrod. 21. A Manual for Creating Atheists -- Peter Boghossian. 22. A Godless Congregation - Amit Varma. 23. Tell Me You Love Me -- Amit Varma. 24. Dr Chatterjee and therealnihal's Instagram post on friendship. 25. The New Atheism and the Four Horsemen. 26. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett on Amazon. 27. ‘Wet Streets Cause Rain’ - Michael Crichton. 28. The Big Questions -- Steven Landsburg. 29. Three cultures of atheism: on serious doubts about the existence of God -- Simon Glendinning. 30. Charvaka and Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa. 31. Tattvopaplavasiṃha - Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa. 32. The Rooted Cosmopolitanism of Sugata Srinivasaraju - Episode 277 of The Seen and the Unseen. 33. Imagine There’s No Svarga: Rediscovering Cārvāka, India’s 2,700-Year-Old Atheistic Tradition -- Kushal Mehra on Quilette. 34. Moral Foundations Theory, proposed by Jonathan Haidt, Craig Joseph and Jesse Graham. 35. Hitchen's Razor. 36. Consciousness Explained -- Daniel Dennett. 37. Who We Are and How We Got Here - David Reich. 38. Soul and Sword: The History of Political Hinduism -- Hindol Sengupta. 39. Hind Swaraj -- MK Gandhi. 40. Yugank Goyal Is out of the Box - Episode 370 of The Seen and the Unseen. 41. Hindutva -- Vinayak Savarkar. 42. Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India -- Akshaya Mukul. 43. The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism - Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Akshaya Mukul). 44. Rangila Rasul. 45. The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva - Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel). 46. The Populist Playbook -- Episode 42 of Everything is Everything. 47. Don't Insult Pasta (2007) -- Amit Varma. 48. Caged Tiger: How Too Much Government Is Holding Indians Back - Subhashish Bhadra. 49. Subhashish Bhadra on Our Dysfunctional State - Episode 333 of The Seen and the Unseen. 50. The Progress of Humanity -- Episode 101 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Steven Pinker). 51. Colours of the Cage -- Arun Ferreira. 52. Modi's Domination: What We Often Overlook -- Keshava Guha. 53. The BJP Before Modi - Episode 202 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vinay Sitapati). 54. Anand -- Hrishikesh Mukherjee. 55. How We Do the Small Things -- Amit Varma. 56. How Not To Get Trolled -- Amit Varma. 57. The Pursuit of Happyness -- Gabriele Muccino.. 58. Andaz Apna Apna -- Rajkumar Santoshi. 59. I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto -- Tupac Shakur. 60. Shiv Kumar Batalvi on Rekhta. 61. Bulleh Shah on Wikipedia. Amit’s newsletter is explosively active again. Subscribe right away to The India Uncut Newsletter! It’s free! Amit Varma and Ajay Shah have launched a new video podcast. Check out Everything is Everything on KZbin. Check out Amit’s online course, The Art of Clear Writing. Episode art: ‘Study’ by Simahina.

[@kedarbhide007]

Started listening to podcasts, conversations on KZbin through Kushal Mehra's channel and recently discovered Amit Verma and Ajay Shah. Glad to see these 2 coming together.

[@Faith-ej6ve]

I have similar story

[@noneoftheabove666]

Same story but the journey was other way around ha ha. I listen to Kushal more and Amit less these days.

[@thomascromwell6840]

​@@noneoftheabove666Well Amit doesn't care what his audience likes. He speaks openly about what he believes and does not placate the beliefs of his audience. Kushal is the exact opposite.

[@noneoftheabove666]

@@thomascromwell6840 Kushal has invited people from the other side multiple times to appear on his podcast. If they don't wanna come, it's not his problem now is it

[@adityasivaram982]

I have been watching Kushal and Amit for a long time now... Never knew that you both were talking about doing an episode together. This episode has come as a pleasant shock and surprise. I am so happy!!!

[@BHUPENDRAMONDAL]

This is insane 5 and half hours long but its expected from Kushal, its a treat for sure. loving every second of this.

[@bharathutra]

I'm half way through the podcast, Kushal is a bundle of knowledge and articulation is so good with his ideas. This is so good to listen

[@mridulsharma7994]

The opposition in India will keep eating shit in the elections until they stop gatekeeping public debates and intellectual discussions. It's only polarising the masses against them. Amit is doing something important here. He's building common ground. Congrats to both him and Kushal.

[@Anish61097]

I think Kushal answered all question straightforwardly. Please bring him again. Would love if Amit also comes to Charvak Podcast! I love both of you.

[@srikarraoayilneni7074]

I see there's lot of bots buying likes here. Kushal is a BJP supporter but an honest individual who speaks his mind. I don't see a problem in that.

[@thomascromwell6840]

He is a BJP supporter but it is impossible to be an honest BJP supporter.

[@wonji5385]

@@thomascromwell6840 why?

[@AA13494]

bjp needs to be anti-islam and not anti-muslim. its confusing. the khans are jihadi and other examples are exceptions. indian muslims are toxic bcz of islam

[@jishnu9551]

​@@wonji5385The guy who you're replying to doesn't like BJP so no one else should

[@srikarraoayilneni7074]

@@thomascromwell6840 Ohhh really? So Atal Bihari Vajpayee isn't an honest man? Or any other great leaders like Nitin Gadkari, Manohar Parikar are less honest? For me BJP has produced more honest Statesman in the past 2 decades than any other political party. Congress party right now doesn't have the statesman leaders that it had in the past. Almost all of them have resigned ✌️

[@ishantjain108]

theres so much to keep up amit, im still not able to finish everything is everything eps and heres one already, dont want to miss out on anything

[@sagar696]

Intellectual who doesn't take himself seriously. What a breath of fresh air.

[@telugupadyalu...6927]

Amit says putting aap mlas and congress in jail is not giod politics but when amut shah was put in jail during congress term is not to be looked into 😅

[@Peace_keeper112]

Amit shah case was criminal .these are civil..and mostly without proof..

[@syd3294]

Never thought you both would come on the same podcast, but so glad you did. Hopefully you can do this again.....civilized discussion is what we need

[@sumitdutta7043]

Sir can you invite Swami Sarvapriyanada for talk on Religion.

[@ivanlobo397]

Good episode Kushal and Amit. Let ideas gel.

[@arnabkundu3406]

Amit please give time stamps

[@rakeshbarman3486]

kushal is actually suited for these multiple hours podcast

[@abhinavkumar3411]

Great podcast sir.

[@supergogeta7003]

WTF 5 hours and 30 minutes, it'll take multiple days to listen to this for me 😂😅

[@66sbjaygoti80]

3:43:39 now I am really waiting for this book to come👍👍

[@Burner__]

5:22:50 This is the problem with cultivating a rightwing crowd. One knows every appreciation of west comes with brown sepoy comment that's why he has to clarify every time.

[@introvert_2023]

Great. I'm subscribed.

[@66sbjaygoti80]

Great podcast

[@ishankanwar8411]

Amit Verma have problem with anti muslims,anti catse, misogyny but not problem with anti Hindu.

[@thomascromwell6840]

Because there is no such thing as anti-hindu in a Hindu majority country where Hindus are overrepresented in positions of power in the state, military, civil administration, and in the private sector. Hindus have disproportionately more wealth and higher education status. To say there's anything anti hindu in India is like PragerU calling someone anti-white for showing reality

[@punyashloka4946]

It will take sometime.

[@anayjoglekar1788]

The crossover we all wanted!

[@charvaka9675]

हम हिंदुत्ववादी....भारतीय लेफ्ट से जाती निर्मूलन, नारी उत्थान, और नास्तिकता भी छिनेंगे और वो भी वीर सावरकर जी के तरीकेसे... ......नास्तिक निरीश्वरवादी.

[@HXRDIK19]

lauda mera

[@RajeevKumar-wl6ei]

The self-aggrandizing flex rant he goes on in the beginning is quite grating. Okay, we get it - you're incredibly smart, regimented, morally centered, well-read among other virtues. He reminds me of an entire class of privileged people I grew up with in the 90s, they strongly believed their pov is the best bar none. Also, bro Amit😂 you're such a cut above intellectually. I wonder how you made it through the parts where he gloats and gloats ...and gloats.

[@sharad539]

My thoughts exactly.

[@utkarshsingh-rp2dq]

He was not wrong about social media though.

[@ankushmamgain8227]

If that were the case the conversation wouldn't be 5:30:00 long...he would've ended it before 3 hours

[@RajeevKumar-wl6ei]

@@ankushmamgain8227 not denying the redeeming content of the conversation.

[@PT-mt6qw]

Haha...same thoughts. But even though Amit is definitely cut above ( a few cuts actually), it is important to engage with folks from all over the belief spectrum. I'd love to see Amit engage with Anand Ranganathan and J Sai Deepak as well.

[@hsrivas]

Amit, I’ve always enjoyed your podcast (even though we don’t agree on everything). It’s great to see you break out of your comfort zone and engage with folks across the spectrum. Huge respect. Another interesting episode would be if you could invite Vikram Sampath to your show.

[@eternalrebel9555]

Timestamp?

[@hritvikkishore6624]

OMG. This is a pleasant surprise

[@aryankumarprasad1574]

Kushal should do more of these 5+ hrs podcasts. Meri BBSR see Ranchi wali train me time nikal gya aram se

[@und1sputedsaura972]

finally my 2 fav podcasters together

[@yj9032]

Amit is way above Kushal

[@und1sputedsaura972]

@@yj9032 except philosophy and Indian polity, yes I agree

[@AA13494]

why is amit varma obsessed with muslims and cow slaughter?? aur koi kam nahi hai kya musalmano ko?? itni schemes di hai modi ne, around 350, azane hoti hai zor zor se, bakri idd pe brutal halal slaughter hota hai WTF

[@yj9032]

Amit wanted to talk about economics as well, but Kushal wanted otherwise. However, oppression of minorities should not be ignored.

[@mihirparulekar184]

That bankim, bunk-im pun by Amit 😂

[@rajalakshmibalasubramani955]

Call kunal shah for upcoming podcast

[@prayaanshmehta3200]

5:10 personal values

[@ud1976]

5:03:48

[@AA13494]

Kushal mehra is being hindu hitchens and saying, we dnt need to make the same mistakes, while doing exactly the same. hitchens criticized xtianity, kushal is critizing/confusing hindus while islam is going untouched. the four khans were created to confuse hindus and present the so called moderate muslims(hypocrites) they hv been nothing but manipulative. stop giving examples of sports person and artist. they do things for money. its like saying aurangzeb veena bajata tha and MD rafi used to sing bhjans. itna hi pasand hinduism to ghar wapsi kar lete

[@sidharthm11]

Kushal is just ❤❤

[@sagar696]

03:04:20 Teja mai hu, mark idhar hai 😂

[@syd502]

Teja reference is so funny

[@charvaka9675]

कुशल ने क्या धोया हैं अति राइट और अति लेफ्ट को....🤣

[@ric1666]

The hypocrisy and narcissism of this man is laughable. And I don't understand why Amit Verma questioned him more thourghly? Because the things coming out of his mouth is ridiculous and can be challenged easily by any common person.

[@vishnuprasad7574]

Can you challenge few things ?? Also share timestamps so it is easier for others

[@cinefile0075]

Amit verma wants to increase his reach. For that he gave him platform. That's ok but didn't give any sensible retort when he was ridiculously making stupid claims.....

[@sreecharan4300]

sanjay rajoura and kushal mehra podcast on atheism would be great fun 🤣🤣 Abhi konsa temple control loose hua BJP ke undhar. Kushal bhai u selectively cherry pick good things and conveniently avoid speaking bad things. Elitist ho aap bhi. india was under congress for 75 years konsa khatre mei agaya tha Hindu. 5000 yrs of imprint cannot be effected by any 5yr govt. Papad bhel rahe hai BJP bus kahtra dikake mutton, macchi, mangalsutra karke. Its evident and their seat share should reduce drastically and i hope Gadkari comes to power or 5 yr cong rule will not be a bigger harm than present dispensation. On EVM being solid , tik hai par Aaj hi ek banda 8 times vote kiya (viral video hai) ek din mei. aise aur kitne pakde nahi jare?? Uska kya. My exam got delayed by 3 years reconduction of exam due to leaks and court cases from 2017 to 2020 (SSC CGL) and because of 2 marks i missed excise inspector post. Now i know many recruits in my office who cheated and are in same post. apko yeh gussa samajh mei nahi aayega. 10yrs 15 T - you need growth rate of 14% real but now it is 5% real. Modi jaisa mat feko bhai So privileged to hear both your views on such diverse topics. Thank you

[@noneoftheabove666]

Kushal does not support complete temple freedom. He wants individual temples to decide on that issue. You have probably never heard him before

[@sreecharan4300]

@@noneoftheabove666 This was in context when he was talking of cons of previous cong gvts. So ab 10yrs mei BJP kya ukadliya on this issue.

[@Sawerase797]

Operational airports built in India : 1947 - 2014 74 Built 2014 - 2023 74 Built 2023 - 2025 72 Projected ------------------------------- Total Airports - 220 by 2025 Rs 85,000 crore CAPEX will be spent on 72 new greenfield airports going forward.

[@Sawerase797]

External Debt to GDP 1991 28.3% 1996 26.6% 2001 22.1% 2014 23.9% 2017 19.9% 2019 19.8% 2020 21.6% 2022 19.9% 2023 18.6% The external Debt to GDP ratio of India is at the lowest point in last 33 Years

[@Sawerase797]

External Debt to GDP 1991 28.3% 1996 26.6% 2001 22.1% 2014 23.9% 2017 19.9% 2019 19.8% 2020 21.6% 2022 19.9% 2023 18.6% The external Debt to GDP ratio of India is at the lowest point in last 33 Years

[@ArunLakra]

I don't buy the 4-5hrs of reading everyday. Although agreeable on many of the opinions expressed, there's a clear lack of morality and sencerity from Kushal. One instance is where he says that he finds the term Godi media laughable. Modi has been great for 10yrs because of a single 1hr meet event. That's disconcerting. Well, not everyone can be expected to be perfect.

[@yj9032]

I got a headache, this guy is so annoying!

[@telugupadyalu...6927]

amit a left and kaushal right winger

[@unified2002]

Please bring Acharya Prashant

[@KP-py5ih]

God Kushan is so wanabeee guest. Bakwas episode

[@wrongenglish1]

aree kisko bula liya.. mood hi kharap kar diya.. ap mere favorite ho aisa mat karo..😢😢

[@Globaldob]

The worst guest on the show?

[@distilledpoison7563]

You are same as those RW, the visceral hate you have for opposite views is appalling.

[@Globaldob]

​@@distilledpoison7563 this cocksuck is currently live streaming with Pradip bhandari. how can I respect him?

[@jishnu9551]

Did he hurt you ?