Samir Saran is the President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India’s leading think tank based in New Delhi. He is a well-known voice in the field of diplomacy and is also the curator of the Raisina Dialogue. Samir has written several books and focuses his research on global governance, climate policy, and India’s foreign relations.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he explains how India should deal with US President Donald Trump. He also talks about Operation Sindoor and why it doesn't matter if no country openly supported India.

Samir shares why Pakistan continues to maintain strong ties with both the US and China. He also discusses what New Delhi needs to do to become a 10 trillion-dollar economy, including building strong trade ties with China, while staying firm and strategic at the border.

He also reflects on how India’s foreign policy has changed over the last decade, and what the road ahead looks like.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

00:46 – Global Support for India During Op Sindoor

14:22 – Op Sindoor Outreach With All-Party Delegations

17:54 – Trump’s Transactional Approach

19:56 – India and the Trump Administration

21:51 – EU–India Trade Deal

24:32 – Weaponisation of Trade

32:36 – India’s Global South Outreach

38:14 – When China Overtook India

44:26 – China–Pakistan Relations

50:26 – Russia–India–China Grouping

54:59 – AI’s Economic Impact

59:36 – Trump–Asim Munir Meet

1:14:32 – Pressure on India Over Russian Oil

1:17:02 – On His Book ‘GeoTechnoGraphy’

Ami Ganatra is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). Her books 'Mahabharata Unravelled' and 'Ramayana Unravelled' present the epics as they were originally written, without modern retellings or fictional twists. She explains their lessons and meanings in a clear, accessible manner, allowing readers of all backgrounds to understand and appreciate these ancient texts.

In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ami Ganatra discusses the war lessons India can draw from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and how they resonate with modern military operations like Operation Sindoor. She explains how wars were fought in the epics, the importance of alliances, and also busts several myths surrounding the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Shri Ram.

Timestamps

00:00 – Coming Up

01:36 – Introduction

03:03 – Do Today’s Generation Know About the Ramayana?

05:40 – Ramayana on TV vs Valmiki’s Ramayana

09:44 – Is Ranbir Kapoor Fit to Play Lord Ram?

14:10 – Why Do Actors Playing Lord Ram Face Backlash?

15:49 – War Lessons from the Ramayana and Mahabharata

26:55 – Ramcharitmanas Quote at Operation Sindoor Briefing

32:52 – Why Alliances Mattered in Hindu Epics

40:07 – Lessons from the Epics About Family Conflicts

45:30 – Can There Be Peace After a War?

47:13 – Aftermath of the Ramayana and Mahabharata

01:03:54 – 'Agni Pariksha' for the Indian Armed Forces

01:16:03 – Radhika Yadav Murder Case

01:20:03 – When Maa Sita Gave Lord Ram His Own Agni Pariksha

01:29:04 – How Can Future Wars Be Prevented?

01:38:05 – The End of Fighting Doesn’t Mean the End of War

01:40:10 – History vs Mythology

Pappu Yadav is an independent MP from Bihar’s Purnia. He has been elected to the Lok Sabha six times and has been active in politics since the 1990s. He spent 12 years in jail in the Ajit Sarkar murder case, but was later acquitted. In 2015, he launched his party, the Jan Adhikar Party, which was merged into the Congress in 2024. He is known for his ‘Robinhood’ image, often seen helping the underprivileged and giving financial aid to those in need.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Pappu Yadav discusses his deep affection for the Congress party and explains why the party refuses to acknowledge his long-standing support. He defends the 'bahubali' tag often attached to him, claiming that many of the cases against him were politically motivated.

He also shares his views on Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the issue of infiltration in Bihar, and his opinion on Jan Suraj founder Prashant Kishor.

00:00 – Introduction

01:04 – Pappu Yadav joining Jan Suraaj?

03:28 – Manmohan Singh's Tenure in UPA 2

07:31 – Family Background

15:44 – Manmohan Singh and Indo-US Nuclear Deal

19:26 – Congress and Jagjivan Ram

24:40 – Cases Against Pappu Yadav

30:47 – Doctors vs Pappu Yadav

32:44 – Higher Education in Bihar

36:22 – Remarks on Jinnah

39:55 – 'Robinhood of Bihar'

43:38 – Muslim-Yadav Equation in Bihar

48:18 – 'Jungle Raj' Debate

55:56 – Impact of Op Sindoor on 2025 Bihar Polls

1:03:48 – Rising Crime Rate in Bihar

1:12:38 – Congress Leadership in Bihar

1:26:17 – AIMIM & Mahagathbandhan Talk

1:28:17 – Denied Entry to Rahul's Van Row

1:33:07 – Purulia Arms Drop Case

1:35:41 – Snap Reaction Segment