The VM Podcast
The VM Podcast is a Vichaar Manthan project that examines modern issues through a Dharmic lens. Host Sumit Sharma interviews thinkers and practitioners about dharma, sustainability, liberty and human flourishing. The show aims to reconnect classical and ancient ideals with contemporary life. Episodes are earnest conversations intended to deepen understanding of dharma and its relevance today.
Episodes
EP51 - Why are We This Way: Hindu Dharma in 2026 with Ami Ganatra - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
We are thrilled to welcome back Ami Ganatra, joining us in person! Ami is a celebrated author, scholar, and former management consultant who specialises in stripping away modern fiction, television drama adaptations, and political spin to reveal what the original Sanskrit texts actually say.In this episode, we move beyond the epics and dive deep into the Shastras to explore her latest book, Why Ar
EP50 - Sanatan Dharma: Hinduism beyond Border, Race and Theology - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
The conversation explores how Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) transcends geographical, racial, and theological boundaries. Key questions address the definition of Hinduism beyond the geographical entity of Bharat (India), the issue of temple access for non-Hindus, and how the religion accommodates diverse theologies, from belief in a personal God (like Krishna) to the non-dualism (Advaita) of Brahman.T
EP49 - What is the Role of British Hindus in Decolonising the Indian Story? with J. Sai Deepak
What does it really mean to decolonise? 🇮🇳In this powerful and incisive interview, the famous author and Indian Supreme Court Advocate, J. Sai Deepak, shares his thoughts on the urgent need for a mental de-coloniality.We discuss the vital role of the British Hindu diaspora, the "self-loathing tendency" he believes is holding the community back, the colonial biases within India's constitution, and
EP48 - Kalaripayattu, the Mother of Martial Arts; with Kiran Chukkapalli
https://www.thinkpeace.in------------------------------------------------------------The VM Podcast is a Vichaar Manthan project exploring modern-day issues through a Dharmic lens. Through in-depth interviews with some of the best thinkers of our time, the podcast explores how we can better understand dharma, and our lives, and recapture the ancient and classical ideals of sustainability, liberty
EP47 - Indian Life Sciences and Herbal Medicine, a gift from Bharat, with Amarjeet Bhamra
Amarjeet S Bhamra is a long time champion of Complimentary and Alternative Medicines and an Author and Lecturer on Indian Traditional Sciences, who recently led a very successful national campaign to save herbal medicine.https://youtu.be/37GHRXnmRfY?feature=sharedhttps://indiaincgroup.com/UK-India-100-2018/uk-india-100-influential-2018.pdfhttps://www.whc2023prague.com/amarjeet-s-bhamrahttps://itsa
EP46 - The Unity of Faiths with Dr. Shamender Talwar
https://www.tuff.earth/------------------------------------------------------------The VM Podcast is a Vichaar Manthan project exploring modern-day issues through a Dharmic lens. Through in-depth interviews with some of the best thinkers of our time, the podcast explores how we can better understand dharma, and our lives, and recapture the ancient and classical ideals of sustainability, liberty an
EP45 - Love all, Feed all, Serve all, Go Dharmic, with Hanuman Dass
Founder & Chair of Go Dharmic, a volunteer organisation for universal compassion and social action inspired by Dharmahttps://godharmic.com/https://hanumandass.com/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moving-Mountains-Guide-Hanuman-Chalisa-ebook/dp/B093R49WPX/ref=sr_1_1------------------------------------------------------------The VM Podcast is a Vichaar Manthan project exploring modern-day issues through
EP44 - From Calisthenics to Consciousness with Riki Warren
Riki has been practising advanced bodyweight movement, yoga and mixed martial arts since 1992, more recently specialising in Calisthenics since 2012. He currently holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive L-sit ring muscle ups, achieved 2019. He was awarded a Batchelors degree in Biology from the University of London in 2009, going on to further qualify as a sports therapist and biome
EP43 - Threads of Discourse: Dharma, Politics, and Society with Kushal Mehra
Tune in for a conversation with Kushal Mehra ji, host of The Cārvāka Podcast, India's most popular podcast on economy, politics, geopolitics, religion, history, social issues and current affairs.We discuss how the West often misunderstands India, Kushal believes the West doesn't understand the concept of soul-deep diversity and that they tend to think that everyone in India thinks in the same way,
EP42 - Planetary Transgression and why we need Climate Healers, with Dr. Sailesh Rao
Dr. Sailesh Rao has over three decades of professional experience and is the Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated towards healing the Earth’s climate. A systems specialist with a Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, Dr. Rao worked on the internet communications infrastructure for twenty years after graduation. During this period, he blazed
EP41 - Simplicity, Spirituality and Service to Others with Mahimarnava Das, at Bhaktivedanta Manor
------------------------------------------------------------The VM Podcast is a Vichaar Manthan project exploring modern-day issues through a Dharmic lens. Through in-depth interviews with some of the best thinkers of our time, the podcast explores how we can better understand dharma, and our lives, and recapture the ancient and classical ideals of sustainability, liberty and flourishing.Tune in,
EP40 - Being Different, Live in Conversation with Rajiv Malhotra
Being Different, Live in Conversation with Rajiv Malhotra, eminent author and founder of The Infinity Foundation.------------------------------------------------------------The VM Podcast is a Vichaar Manthan project exploring modern-day issues through a Dharmic lens. Through in-depth interviews with some of the best thinkers of our time, the podcast explores how we can better understand dharma, a
EP39 - Rebuilding Communities: 18 States and Counting with Kiran Chukkapalli
Our social persona and acceptance throughout our lives are often defined by how well we ‘fit in’ to society. Yet every society has those who reject social conventions - or in the eyes of some, social restrictions - in favour of absolute ‘freedom’. There are even those who defy all stereotypes, using their freedom to undertake spiritual sadhana (journeys) and engage in dedicated service to society
EP38 - Seeking Sanctity, Finding Dharma with Fred Stella - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
A lot of our childhood memories and curiosities are forgotten as we grow older. We get comfortable in our surroundings, are influenced by friends and family, and our identity generally freezes to resemble that of our closest circle. But for some, early experiences are filled with uncommon questions that turn into a journey of seeking, leading to roads not commonly trodden. It takes courage to expl
EP37 - Discipline, Dedication, Dharma with Dev Dutt Sharma - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
The internet is full of advice, ‘life hacks’, self-help blogs, vlogs, ‘How I live my life’ videos from 20,000 different people and whatnot. We have access to all sorts of ‘quick fixes’, and with technology expanding all around us every day. Machines are now handling mundane tasks, and online tools writing automatically for us, all available widely, as our social interactions become increasingly di
EP36 - Mother Earth Bhumi Global - with Gopal Patel - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
The idea of ‘One World’ or ‘One Family’ - ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ - is one of the central themes in the Hindu philosophy. And no other issue has highlighted this truth in recent times as has the effects of climate change that the world has been experiencing lately. Changing weather patterns, natural disasters, melting glaciers and the rising water levels have heaped large-scale destruction of live
EP35 - Kautilyanomics with Sriram Balasubramanian - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Historically, Bharat was a thriving centre of trade and commerce, contributing to a major percentage of the world GDP. Exploring some of the architects of this vibrant economy, the name of Kautilya or Chanakya is very often invoked. While many of Kautilya’s political policies are popular, few authors have studied Kautilya’s economic policies. Indeed, what were some of his key economic ideas? Was t
EP34 - Inclusive and Sustainable Finance, Leadership, Ethics and Culture with Professor Atul K Shah - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Global financial institutions have again been making the news in recent times. And given the interconnected complex structures of global financial and trade networks, the effects of disturbance to any part of these networks is felt by the common man in almost every part of the world. Whether through government spending tax collections on bailouts or by battling the aftermath. The common people fee
EP33 - Reading, ’Riting, & ’Rithmetic: Is culture the missing piece in a sustainable education system? - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Register Now for this live event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reading-riting-and-rithmetic-registration-558272527157In early January 2023, the UK Government announced plans to make post-16 mathematics education compulsory to equip everyone with the skills needed in a world increasingly shaped by data and statistics. But does this add up in practice?Given the struggle to recruit maths teachers,
EP32 - The Accidental Author, The Epics Unravelled with Ami Ganatra - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Entire generations of Hindus have grown up with the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. These stories have seeped into our lives and our psyche through popular narrations and TV. And many incidents, characters and stories taken from the epics are blamed for current societal issues. In fact, ‘weaponisation of narratives’ is being used for political ends. But are these incidents really in the epics?
EP31 - MULTICULTURALISM - The Hindu Perspective - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
The demographic diversity of the United Kingdom has grown significantly over the last 70 years. The 2021 Census points to a twenty-year decline in residents of England and Wales identifying with an ‘English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish or British’ identity. Immigrant communities from across the world, especially from the former Commonwealth have found their homes here and become a vital part o
EP30 - BUSINESS LEADERSHIP DECODED, the secrets to success with Anil Puri - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Growing and sustaining a business, especially in the manufacturing industry, is a challenge. To do so in a place away from your native land, facing a variety of different variables, is inspiring. What vision does it take to achieve this? What role do ethics play in this long journey, and where do they lead? Can a Dharmic outlook offer some lessons and guidance in the world of manufacturing and com
EP29 - VEGANISM, a trend, a virtue, or a fad? with Dina Aherne - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
“Veganism isn’t about the mock meat, about replacing life for life, veganism is about whole food and plant-based. So when we talk about vegan foods assisting your health, and giving you a multitude of health benefits, we are talking about pulses, lentils, rice, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. We are not talking about having fake chicken or fake meat every day…I know a lot of unhealthy vegans
EP28 - YOGA BUSINESS with Anand Parekh - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Little & OftenYoga has become popular in the last decade, especially in the west, glamourised some would say, it's hip, cool, and sexy, it has benefited millions of people both physically and mentally, and claims not to be a new science, but a tried and tested method passed out from the depths of India. How do we take this ancient, multi-dimensional practice, which originated in a different la
EP27 - VMSN - Introducing Civics - The End of Family- For Better or Worse? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Panel Discussion at VMSN22 &g
EP26 - VMSN - Introducing Political Theory - Nationalism vs Internationalism - Is There a Middle Way? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Panel Discussion at VMSN22 &g
EP25 - VMSN - Introducing Political Economy - How Do We Democratise Capital? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Panel Discussion at VMSN22 &g
EP24 - VMSN - Introducing Governance - How Do We Sustainably Govern Emerging Tech? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Panel Discussion at VMSN22 &g
EP23 - VMSN - Introducing Culture & Literature Panel Discussion: Is Indian History Truly ‘Indian’? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Panel Discussion at VMSN22 &g
EP22 - VMSN - Introducing Culture & Literature Fireside Conversation: Seeing the Literature From the Scripture - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Fireside Conversation at VMSN
EP21 - VMSN - Introducing Religion Panel Discussion: Does Religion Subjugate Women? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.orgPanel Discussion at VMSN22 >> Does Religion Subjugate Women?Throughout history, rel
EP20 - VMSN - Introducing Political Economy Fireside Conversation: Carbon Tax - Crafting the Silver Bullet - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.orgFireside Conversation at VMSN22 >> Carbon Tax - Crafting the Silver BulletMarkets a
EP19 - VMSN Introducing Wealth Fireside Conversation: Markets - Panacea or Wilful Ignorance? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.orgFireside Conversation at VMSN22 >> Markets - Panacea or Wilful Ignorance?Milton Fri
EP18 - VMSN Introducing Civics Fireside Conversation: Can We Reimagine Education and Its Purpose? - Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Fireside Conversation at VMSN
EP17 - VMSN - Vichaar Manthan Presents Sustainable Narratives Conference 2022
Vichaar Manthan Sustainable Narratives (VMSN) is a biennial conference that brings together leading academic lights, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore and address the biggest challenges facing humanity today.Please register on our website and for more information > https://www.vichaarmanthan.org------------------------------------------------------------Discussing the current vertic
EP16 - FUNDING CHANGE with Yajur Haria - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
“A lot of these clients will have different ambitions, but what I can do as a consultant is I can help them reach their ambitions around ESG that they care about and that we care about that do help move the world forward. If they want to get at net zero, you can either not help them to get to net zero or you can. But the question is, are you helping move the dial for a positive change in the world
EP15 - DHARMA & ADVOCACY, A View from America with Suhag Shukla - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
“Academic freedom comes with academic integrity”
Hinduism is characterised by an open, seeking and enquiry-based learning of life. Indeed, Hinduism has the potential to be an integrative platform, bringing in the values of acceptance, individual freedom and societal upliftment, to an increasingly polarised and fragmented society today. However, we have seen more and more individuals and institutio
EP14 - UPANISHADS - THE HINDU LIBRARY with SIddharth Krishna - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
“(The Upanishads speak of)...the sutra-atman, the threading breath, the breath that threads all of us together. Like in a rosary, all the different beads have been thread together by a thread, similarly, this breath threads all of us together. It is that connecting entity which connects all of us …”
In this episode of The Vichaar Manthan Podcast, we discuss, as a part of the Hindu Library series,
EP13 - TODAYS YOUTH TODAYS LEADERS with Bhavya Shah - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
University years form a core of our life experience: this is a time we step out of our homes into the world, absorb the multitude of ideas around us, which shapes our identity and our contributions to the society. Indeed, having access to a safe space for exploring one’s identity becomes a critical need. This is the key vision of the National Hindu Students Forum (UK).
In this episode of the Vicha
EP12 - LIBERTY & FREEDOM; ARE YOU FREE? with Dr Sachin Nandha - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
We go about our lives, making our way through a ton of choices everyday, and rarely give a second thought to the ideas of liberty and freedom, as the society we live in celebrates these as guarantees to its citizens. But do we live with ‘absolute liberties’?
Can we always say what we want? - There are certain rules, often unstated, that are observed. Not following these rules will often get you is
EP11 - BUILDING OUR GREEN FUTURE with Judy Ling Wong - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Our everyday life contains consumables drawn out from nature and earth. While shopping is a favourite pastime, we are now facing the consequences of our consumerist lifestyle in the form of global warming. While we might think environmental protection is an issue for governments to solve, it affects every bit of our lives: from weather patterns, the food we eat, to our cultural, social and economi
EP10 - BHAGWAD GITA - THE HINDU LIBRARY with Siddharth Krishna - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Despite the Bhagavad Gita being 5000 years old, it remains the first text we think of when we look at Hindu literature. Why would that be? What makes it relevant today and how does it take us beyond the dichotomy of good and bad? We look at these questions in this episode, where we explore the vast ocean of Hindu literature as applicable to the modern context.
Siddhartha ji Krishna was raised in a
EP09 - DHARMA THROUGH CINEMA with Aditya Patwardhan - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
In the exuberating world we live in today, where a lot of choices are cultivated through pop culture and cinema, how can we see dharma through the same 90mm lens? What responsibility do we have to ensure the transition from ‘real and reel’ has a seamless amalgamation, rather than a paradoxical one?
We have with us Aditya Patwardhan, a critically acclaimed, LA-based filmmaker who is known for a wid
EP08 - FROM BANKING TO BENARES with Divya Prabha - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Born in the UK, Divya Prabha did her first B.A. and M.A. from Oxford University and worked for top American Investment Banks until 1999.
Having booked a ticket to India, intending to stay for a year, she remains there 21 years later, finishing her PhD in Ancient Grammar. Divya Prabha delivers lectures all around the world on yoga and Sanskrit whilst running the gurukul she founded, the Internation
EP07 - SUSTAINABLE CONTRIBUTIONS with Dr Bansri Lakhani - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
How do we define a flourishing society?
How can society help those who are most in need?
Is a flourishing society one that helps those who are most in need?
How do we reflect the Hindu value of Sewa (selfless service) in our actions?
And how do we translate our personal success into giving back to society in the years to come?
In this episode, we explore all these questions, what it means to contr
EP06 - THE HINDU LIBRARY with Siddharth Krishna - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Hindu civilization and its rich vedic culture have produced many books, scriptures and prayers from an ancient oral tradition through to vast texts such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Gita with which we are familiar today.
What are these texts?, and is there a main ‘Hindu book’?
How do the Vedas fit together?
What is smriti?
There are how many Gitas?
How do we navigate this vast body of lit
EP05 - HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFE USING DHARMIC PRINCIPLES with Dharmesh Chheda - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Life is inherently uncertain. If nothing else, the COVID pandemic has highlighted our inability to navigate a world full of uncertainty and novel experiences. How do we enhance our relationship with others, and with the world around us? How can the principles of dharma help us navigate through life in the 21st century?
In this episode, we are joined by Mr Dharmesh Chheda to take a stab at so
EP04 - THE APPLICATION OF DHARMA IN RELATIONSHIPS with Dr Sachin Nandha - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Whether you are a parent, a child or a friend, no man is an island.
As we traverse life we navigate a web of complex and sometimes challenging relationships, but how should we approach them? From alcoholic fathers to financially irresponsible spouses, we explore the practical lessons that Dharma can teach us when it comes to creating wholesome relationships.
What does it mean to be compassionate?
EP03 - WOMANHOOD with Drishti Mae - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
Today is International Womens Day 2021 and so today we release EP03 on WOMANHOOD.
In the world of identity politics, gender neutrality and female empowerment, what does it really mean to be a woman?
What are the narratives that surround the emancipation of woman?
Are women now emancipated?
Do women no longer need men?
In this episode, we dig deeper into some of these questions, with Drishti Mae an
The VM Podcast Official Launch
The official launch of The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
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The VM Podcast, a Vichaar Manthan project looking to explore modern day issues through a Dharmic lens. Through in-depth interviews with some of the best thinkers of our time, the podcast explore how we can better understand dharma, our lives, and recapture the ancient and classical ideal
EP02 - DHARMIC WEALTH with Ravi Lakhani - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
In the era of Intrapreneurs and Bitcoin millionaires, how can the principles of Dharma help us cut through the noise?
In this episode, we are exploring and understanding the fundamentals of wealth through a Dharmic lens with Ravi Lakhani.
Ravi Ji is a senior Private Equity Analyst, currently studying at London Business School and the co-ordinator for Vichaar Manthan Book Clubs.
Recommended
EP01 - EXPLORING DHARMA with Dr Sachin Nandha - The Vichaar Manthan Podcast
In our very first episode, we are exploring and understanding Dharma with Dr Sachin Nandha.
Sachin Ji has a PhD in political philosophy, is an public philosopher and is the international coordinator of Vichaar Manthan.
We take a deep dive into the meaning of Dharma, its origins and its application today.
We tidy up some of our linguistic hygiene and learn Heet, Meet, Preet.
Recommended Books:
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