What's your ism?
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What's your ism is a podcast about ideas and ideologies that claim to liberate the world and somehow always fall short. TNM's Sudipto Mondal and his guests grapple with impressive sounding isms -- Marxism, Feminism, Ambedkarism, religious systems -- and their inherent contradictions. An attempt to understand academics, activists, politicians, artists, rebels and wannabe revolutionaries who are in search of grand unified theories to solve the problems of the world.
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49 Episodes
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What does justice really look like for India’s working class and oppressed communities? This week on What’s Your Ism?, Clifton D’Rozario, lawyer, CPIML leader, and long-time grassroots activist, joins host Sudipto Mondal to talk about fighting evictions, caste injustice, and class exploitation. From representing informal workers and slum residents to critiquing the limits of India’s judiciary and Constitution, Clifton lays out his Ambedkarite Marxist approach to revolution, rights, and redistribution.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProducer: Maria Teresa Raju, Bhuvan MalikEdit: Dharini Prabhaharan Promo: Nikhil Sekhar, Jaseem Ali Design: Krishna Kumar Camera: Ajay R Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From Mandela to Mamdani, and from Trump to Malema, this is a global story of resistance, betrayal, and unfinished revolutions.In Episode 47 of What’s Your Ism?, journalist Nic Dawes speaks with Sudipto Mondal about the promises of liberation, the politics of redistribution, and whether the Left can still imagine a future beyond fear.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProducer: Bhuvan Malik, Editor: Jaseem Ali, Production Assistance: Prajwal Bhatt, Shone Satheesh, Aarav Gupta Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who are the real hands behind India’s clean cities? Sudipto reflects on the civic workers we rarely see, Dalit and migrant labourers who segregate waste, drive garbage trucks, and often live without rights or recognition. This episode follows the money, the power, and the politics behind urban sanitation. Anchored in his conversation with Du Saraswathi, and framed by Shailaja Paik’s work on caste and morality.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik and Edited by Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when movements don’t speak to each other? In Episode 45 of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal is joined by Du Saraswathi — who has spent decades bridging Ambedkarism, Marxism, and feminism. A conversation about caste, cleaning, theatre, and what it takes to be seen in a world that looks away.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this Reflections episode, we return to Dandakaranya — a region where governments change, but the war stays the same. From banned militias reborn in uniform, to Maoist martyrdom that costs young Adivasi lives, this episode unpacks the contradictions inside the State, the rebels, and civil society. Featuring the voices of Prof. G Haragopal and Degree Prasad Chauhan, with reflections on who speaks for peace — and who keeps dying in its name.Like Sudipto’s Ism show? Support him: https://rzp.io/rzp/tnm-wyi Or become a subscriber: https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, human rights activist Degree Prasad Chauhan discusses how Adivasi identities have been appropriated by Maoist movements. He delves into the symbolic use of figures like Hidma, highlighting the lack of genuine representation and decision-making power for Adivasis within these movements. Chauhan also critiques civil society's role in sidelining Adivasi voices, emphasizing the need for authentic leadership and inclusion in dialogues about their own futures.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“They say the Maoists are gone. But who will stop the mining?”In Episode 42 of What’s Your Ism?, Prof G. Haragopal—veteran human rights defender and peace negotiator—speaks to Sudipto Mondal about structural violence, broken promises, and why civil society must still try—even when peace seems impossible.Like Sudipto’s Ism show? Support him: https://rzp.io/rzp/tnm-wyi Or become a subscriber: https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What’s Your Ism? Reflections – Episode 3 In this third episode, Sudipto Mondal reflects on his conversation with Dr. Raees Muhammad — formerly Ravichandran Bathran, scholar, activist, and founder of Dalit Camera. The discussion moves beyond religion and resistance, into a quieter but more powerful space — the toilet. From Raees’s reflections on ritual purity and his conversion to Islam, to Slavoj Žižek’s classification of toilets as ideological structures, and Milan Kundera’s theological riddle about God and shit, Sudipto asks: how does a civilisation that denies its own shit justify its obsession with purity? This is not about provocation — it’s about confronting what caste tries hardest to hide.Like Sudipto’s Ism show? Support him: https://rzp.io/rzp/tnm-wyi Or become a subscriber: https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal sits down with Dr. Raees Muhammad—formerly Ravichandran Bathran—the founder of Dalit Camera. A pioneer in grassroots video journalism, Raees speaks candidly about his departure from Hinduism, his conversion to Islam, and how casteism pushed him to reshape his identity and politics.From his early days as a student activist in EFLU to founding Dalit Camera as a counter-media platform, Raees reflects on the violence, erasure, and faith that shaped his journey. This is a story of dissent, survival, and resistance from the margins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of What’s Your Ism? Reflections, Sudipto Mondal re-opens his conversation with Anand Neelakantan by focusing on a striking excerpt from Asura—where Ravana, in victory, still yearns for caste validation. This leads to a deeper reflection on who the Shudras really are and what status they occupied in Indo-Aryan society. A philosophical and political unpacking of what Ambedkar understood that Ravana could not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal hosts Anand Neelakantan, bestselling author of Asura and Ajaya, to discuss how mythology is shaped by caste, politics, and power. Neelakantan dissects dominant narratives in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, questioning why some figures are remembered as heroes while others are cast as villains. From caste-coded storytelling to Hindutva’s mythmaking, he explores the ways in which history is rewritten to serve contemporary ideologies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the first edition of What’s Your Ism? Reflections. Sudipto Mondal looks back at his conversation with János Orsós, founder of a Roma school in Hungary inspired by Ambedkar, and reflects on what was left unsaid—from statelessness to social segregation across continents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From Maharashtra to Miskolc: What’s Your Ism? travels to Hungary where a Roma activist found hope in Ambedkar. János Orsós, founder of the Dr. Ámbédkar School, speaks with Sudipto Mondal and Prajwal Bhat about Hungary’s racial segregation, state complicity, and how Ambedkar’s legacy of education and justice offers a way out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it take to run an independent newsroom for 11 years?How did a digital-first newsroom survive without corporate backing or political influence? Dhanya Rajendran & Vignesh Vellore sit down with Sudipto Mondal to reveal the highs, the struggles, and the big fights that shaped TNM’s journey. From newsroom dilemmas to financial risks, this is an unfiltered look at what it really takes to keep journalism honest.TNM turns 11, and we’re celebrating with a Buy 1, Gift 1 Subscription!Subscribe to TNM-NL and gift a friend or family member a year of independent journalism. Join the movement: https://pages.razorpay.com/tnm-11thOr take a monthly subscription- https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ammu Joseph, a pioneering feminist journalist and founding member of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), shares her inspiring journey on What's Your Ism? with Sudipto Mondal.The conversation explores her groundbreaking works in Indian journalism, early works in Eve’s Weekly magazine & the process that led to the formation of NWMI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sudipto Mondal features Gauley Bhai in this What's Your Ism? special. Their journey from Kalimpong to Bengaluru isn’t just about music—it’s about survival, resistance, and reclaiming identity. Their sound is a weapon, their songs a protest, and their stage a place of hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this What’s Your Ism? holiday special, Sudipto Mondal sits down with Manjeet Sarkar—a comedian and filmmaker using humour to break barriers. The conversation explores his experiences as a Dalit performer, his reflections on identity, and the role of comedy in addressing social justice. P.S. They also share a personal discussion on food and its cultural roots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Parvaaz isn’t just a band—it’s a cultural movement. In the first of What’s Your Ism?’s holiday specials, Sudipto Mondal and Gokul Chakravarthy delve into how Bengaluru nurtures collaboration and diversity. Parvaaz’s journey from college jam sessions to progressive rock pioneers reveals the heart of Bengaluru’s cultural vibrancy. Watch as they discuss music, identity, and why Bengaluru remains the city of rock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 30 of What’s Your Ism? takes a personal turn as Dhanya Rajendran interviews Sudipto Mondal, the voice behind the show. Sudipto revisits his early struggles in journalism, the societal realities he confronted, and how these experiences shaped his purpose and perspective. This is the story of a Dalit journalist who has been telling others’ stories—now telling his own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of What's Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal and Dhanya Rajendran host M.G. Devasahayam, a former IAS officer and army veteran, to discuss critical issues facing India today and compare it to the emergency era. From the flaws in EVM-VVPAT systems to the systemic destruction of democratic institutions, Devasahayam provides a hard-hitting analysis of India’s electoral process and governance. Drawing on his firsthand experiences during the Emergency and his extensive career, he explores how Hindutva politics and institutional decay are threatening democracy.Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel or listen to this podcast, available on all streaming platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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