Arcx is all about literary inspiration. In epiode two of this season, host Anjali Alappat speaks to Indian sci-fi legend, Manjula Padmanabhan. A prolific author, playwright, journalist, and comic strip artist, Manjula’s latest collection, Stolen Hours and Other Curiosities (2023), is filled with short stories written between 1984 and today - and more relevant than ever.  

We discuss the collection in depth, wherein a vampire discovers an endless feast in the subcontinent, an atheist reporter attends a divine conference, a man frozen in time catches a glimpse of the future, an enterprising philosopher experiences the bureaucracy of the afterlife, and much more. 

Join us as we chat about unconventional upbringings, the arrogance of youth, what it takes to shape characters and scenarios, religion, tolerance, and Alice in Wonderland. 

You can follow Manjula on Instagram @manjulapadmanabhan.

Arcx is a mini series from the Subverse, the podcast of Dark ‘n’ Light, a digital space that chronicles the times we live in and reimagines futures with a focus on science, nature, social justice and culture. Follow us on social media @darknlightzine, or visit darknlight.com for episode details and show notes.