Deepak Disagrees

Shambhavi Naik believes gene editing in children should remain unregulated beyond ensuring safety and compliance with existing laws. But what does "safe" mean? Where do we draw the line between therapy and enhancement? And what if someone goes rogue? Shambhavi is the Head of Research at Takshashila and chairs its Advanced Biology programme. A PhD in Cancer Biology, she has contributed to WHO guidelines on gene editing, India’s risk assessment of genetically modified crops, and the Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Committee’s work on the DNA Profiling Bill. Episode notes: ⁠⁠https://deepakvs.com/podcast⁠

Amit Varma believes the relationship between the state and society should be rooted in the classical liberal contention of rights. But why does he believe this? Why not prefer anarchy? And most importantly—why should you own yourself? Amit is a celebrated journalist, podcaster, and two-time Bastiat Prize winner. Through his writings and his iconic podcast, The Seen and the Unseen, he has spent decades making the case for liberty and individual rights. Episode notes: ⁠https://deepakvs.com/podcast⁠

Anupam Manur believes price controls are a recipe for disaster. But is he overlooking the potential benefits? Can government intervention really stabilize markets and protect consumers? And what happens when markets are left entirely to their own devices? Anupam is a Professor at the Takshashila Institution, where he specializes in economics and public policy. His work spans diverse areas, including labor markets, international trade, and the gig economy. A frequent writer and commentator, Anupam is passionate about making economic concepts accessible to all. Episode notes: https://deepakvs.com/podcast

Tanuj believes the AI hype train has gone too far. But is he being too short-sighted? Can AI really replace humans en masse? And what do terms like 'intelligent' and 'conscious' actually mean? Tanuj is the head of People+AI, an AI initiative under the EkStep Foundation. He works on policy issues related to AI, digital identity, payments, data protection, and drones. In a previous life, he was a venture capitalist and an entrepreneur. Episode notes: https://deepakvs.com/podcast

Nitin Pai believes we do not regulate social media enough. But what about free speech? Who decides what we allow? And does it really threaten the edifices of democracy Nitin is the co-founder and director of the Takshashila Institution, an independent think tank and school of public policy based in Bangalore. He dabbles in everything from high tech geopolitics, synthetic biology, space, defence economics, maritime strategy and ethical reasoning. Episode notes: https://deepakvs.com/podcast

Manoj Kewalramani believes the right to artistic expression must be absolute. But what is art? How is it different from speech? And why does the right to swing your fist end where my nose begins? Manoj spent two decades in India's best news organizations before becoming the head of China Studies at the Takshashila Institution. Episode notes: https://deepakvs.com/podcast