Pondy Lit Fest

Pondy Lit Fest The Pondy Lit Fest 2022 edition will be held in the first weekend of August (5th to 7th August). Block the dates!

Our themes this year will be Freedom 75 and Sri Aurobindo's 150th birth anniversary.

19/08/2026

Why were some Hindu families leaving parts of rural Bengal?

Pradeep Bhandari describes what he says was a pattern involving:
• Alleged harassment of Hindu families
• Political patronage and protection
• Complaints allegedly receiving no effective action
• Families eventually leaving their homes
• Resulting demographic changes in some localities

He presents a hypothetical 10 Hindu / 10 Muslim household example to explain how he believes this process could unfold over time.

The clip comes from a wider discussion on Bengal’s political transformation, communal tensions, political patronage and Hindu identity.

HinduIdentity BengalElections PoliticalAnalysis PLFConversations IndiaPolitics

17/08/2026

From survival to opportunity. 🇮🇳

What happens when basic necessities are no longer a constant concern?

Economist Prasenjit K. Basu discusses how access to essentials such as:
• Food & nutrition
• Cooking gas
• Sanitation
• Basic financial and social support

can give people the foundation to think beyond survival — toward entrepreneurship, economic opportunity and a better future.

A perspective on how welfare and economic development can intersect in India.

EconomicGrowth IndianEconomy PrasenjitBasu PLFConversations IndiaDevelopment EconomicDevelopment

12/08/2026

What does Hindu identity mean in the BJP’s political worldview? 🇮🇳

Pradeep Bhandari argues that Hindu identity is central to Bharat, while emphasising that there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste or religion.

We also discusses:
• Hindu identity and Indian nationalism
• Secularism and constitutional equality
• Vote-bank politics
• Religious appeasement
• The competing political visions shaping India

Watch the full conversation on PLF Conversations.

Appeasement VoteBankPolitics PradeepBhandari PLFConversations WestBengal IndiaPolitics

27/07/2026

Did the Pahalgam attack change the geopolitical balance in the Middle East?

Economist Prasenjit K. Basu discusses:
🇮🇳 India's ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia
🇵🇰 Pakistan's diplomatic strategy
🌍 The wider geopolitical consequences of the Pahalgam terror attack
💰 His claims regarding a reported cryptocurrency deal involving Pakistan and members of Donald Trump's family

Watch this thought-provoking perspective from PLF Conversations.

Pahalgam ForeignPolicy InternationalRelations PLFConversations PrasenjitBasu

23/07/2026

Why do Indians buy so much gold? 💰🇮🇳

According to economist Prasenjit K. Basu, the answer isn't inflation.

He argues that while most countries buy gold to protect against rising prices, India's inflation has remained comparatively low in recent years.

Instead, India's strong demand for gold is driven by:
✨ Cultural preferences
📈 Long-term wealth preservation
💍 Generational buying habits

An interesting perspective on India's unique relationship with gold.

PersonalFinance Investment Finance PrasenjitBasu PLFConversations

21/07/2026

Is caste politics discussed equally across all communities?

Pradeep Bhandari argues that political discourse has focused heavily on caste divisions within Hindu society while paying comparatively less attention to caste divisions within Muslim society.

He connects this argument to broader debates around:
• Vote-bank politics
• Electoral coalitions
• Identity politics
• Bengal and national elections

This reel features the speaker's perspective from the full PLF Conversations interview.

IdentityPolitics Elections Politics PLFConversations India

21/07/2026

Why is Gaganyaan such a big deal? 🚀🇮🇳

According to ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, it's about much more than sending an Indian into space.
It's about:

🚀 Building cutting-edge technology
🔬 Advancing science and engineering
🇮🇳 Strengthening India's capabilities
👨‍🚀 Inspiring the next generation of scientists and astronauts

As he explains, every breakthrough in human spaceflight creates innovations that benefit the entire nation.

Gaganyaan isn't just India's next space mission—it's an investment in India's future.

VikramSarabhai Innovation Science STEM India PLF2025

15/07/2026

Ever wondered why petrol prices don't fall much even when crude oil gets cheaper? ⛽🇮🇳

Economist Prasenjit K. Basu explains the government's strategy behind fuel pricing:

• Why excise duties increase when crude prices fall
• Why retail fuel prices remain relatively stable
• How the policy supports India's long-term shift away from fossil fuels
• Why excise duties are now being reduced as global oil prices rise

A simple explanation of an economic policy that affects every Indian.

RenewableEnergy Economics Finance PLFConversations PrasenjitBasu

14/07/2026

Is the rupee really in crisis? 🇮🇳📉

Economist Prasenjit K. Basu explains why India's $691 billion forex reserves don't automatically guarantee a stronger rupee.

In this clip, he discusses:
• RBI's currency intervention
• Why the rupee weakened
• The role of foreign exchange reserves
• How today's situation compares with past currency crises

A concise breakdown of one of the biggest economic debates in India today.

Finance IndianEconomy Currency PLFConversations PrasenjitBasu

08/07/2026

📍 What changed the political equation in Bengal?

Pradeep Bhandari explains why he believes Mamata Banerjee's electoral strategy failed in 2026 despite a significant vote base.

He discusses appeasement politics, voter consolidation, and the changing political landscape in West Bengal.

Do you agree with this analysis?

BengalPolitics ElectionAnalysis Politics PLFConversations ReelsIndia

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