What India Gave To The World & The Incandescent Talent Of Renu Saluja Haal-Chaal Theek Thaak Hai

When we speak about India and its relationship with the world, we often focus on what we have received from the world. But what about what we have given to it? This doesn’t get covered as much. Even when it does, we go to the extremes. Either we were a vishwaguru or our only contribution is ‘zero’.
Is there a more nuanced view? That’s what we explore in this episode. What have we given to the world? From the stories of our mythology that have parallels in Persian and Greek myths, the versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata in Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia, the spread of Buddhism from India to the world, and the trade between West Asia and Africa and west coast Indian states. Then with the coming of Mughals – our blending of music and dance forms, with British – our export of fine arts, weaving, craft and food and with independence  - our export of Bollywood, food, music, English writing, yoga, spiritualism and software.
In Spotlight, we feature Renu Saluja - a trailblazer who in a short but illustrious career edited the finest Hindi films of the 80s and 90s. She gave life to films that have since gained cult status. We discuss her craft, her films and friends and her impact on the many women editors who followed on her footsteps.
Plus, our usual recommendations on films, books and music.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 to 17:00 –Introduction and spread of Buddhism from India  17:00 to 40:00 – India's trade with South Asian littoral states, Odisha and Chola maritime empires, influence of Ramayana on South Asia and the many Ramayanas 40:00 to 50:00 – West coast of India and its relationship with Persia, Egypt and East Africa, our influence on English 55:00 to 85:00 – Modern India and its message to the world - Tagore, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Ramanujam. Early pop culture of imports from India: Sabu Dastagir, KA Abbas, Raj Kapoor and their films, Ernst Rubener and Sujatha 85:00 to 130:00 – Pt. Ravishankar, Shakti, Helen Abadzi and the mania for Hindi films songs in Greece in 1950s, Mithun's popularity in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, Rushdie and chutneyfication of English, Rahman, Aamir Khan and China and the lost promise of Shekhar Kapoor 130:00 to 186:00 – The life and times of Renu Saluja 187:00 to end – Recommendations. Trial of Chicago &, Scam 1992, Halaahal, Viral Acharya on Indian Banking system, Avni Doshi's Burnt Sugar, Invisible: The Art of Renu Saluja *****
जब जीरो दिया मेरे भारत ने

बचपन से हमने प्राचीन काल के भारत के वैभव, कला, संस्कृति और दर्शन की विश्व भर में प्रसिद्धि के कई किस्से और कहानियां सुने हैं। दुनिया को पुराने भारत ने क्या दिया,  उस पर हम सदा गर्व करते आए हैं ‌।

मगर एक बड़ा सवाल उठता है कि नए भारत ने, आधुनिक भारत ने, दुनिया को संस्कृति कला और दर्शन के नाम पर क्या दिया है।

90 के दशक में ग्लोबलाइजेशन के दौर में साहित्य सिनेमा और संगीत के साथ-साथ हमारे खाने और पहनावे में भी कल्चरल इंपोर्ट की छाप नजर आने लगी। जिन फिल्मी गीतों को बड़े चाव से सुनते थे, संचार की दुनिया के खुलते ही पता लगने लगा कि उनकी धुनें चोरी की हैं। सिनेमा और साहित्य में भी इस त