Seasonal Magazine's Podcast Seasonal Magazine

In this episode of Seasonal Magazine's podcast, we talk with Dr Radhicka Kapoor, Research Fellow at ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations) and researcher at International Growth Centre. Prior to this, she worked at the Planning Commission of India and International Labour Organisation. Her broad areas of research interests include poverty and inequality, labour economics and industrial performance. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics, a Masters degree from Cambridge University and a Bachelors degree from St. Stephens College, University of Delhi.



Podcast host and researcher: Angira Shukla, B.A Economics, Ramjas College

Dr Jayati Ghosh is one of the world's leading economists. She is professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the Executive Secretary of International Development Economics Associates (Ideas). She is a regular columnist for several Indian journals and newspapers, was a member of the National Knowledge Commission advising the Prime Minister of India, and is closely involved with a range of progressive organisations and social movements. She is co-recipient of the International Labour Organisation's 2010 Decent Work Research prize



Podcast host & researcher: Teres Sajeev, BA Programme (Economics and Political Science), St. Stephen's College

Widely acclaimed as one of the most influential policy advisors and economists in the country, Dr Ajay Shah is often regarded as the leading authority on the framework and functioning of India's financial markets. Based in New Delhi, Dr Shah is a professor at the National Institute for Public Finance and Policy and has previously served as a consultant to the Ministry of Finance. A prolific author and well-known speaker, his areas of focus are macroeconomics, finance, health, technology policy and the justice system. He has also co-authored a couple of books, the recent one being In Service of the Republic: The Art and Science of Economic Policy. Dr Shah has been a recipient of several accolades and has been featured as one of the top 10 Economists by The Indian Express in 2010. Having held several positions throughout his career, Dr. Shah has advised the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on various issues including repo rate and the Securities Clearing Corporation, and has been the president of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. He has also served on various committees in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). A well known scholar with several publications, Dr. Shah completed his education from premier institutes like the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and IIT Bombay.



Podcast Host & Researcher: Kuber Bathla, B.A Programme, St. Stephen's College

An avid orator, diplomat, author and politician, Mani Shankar Aiyar is perhaps best-known for his candid statements and targeted criticism of the ruling party. Having studied economics at premium institutes like St. Stephen’s College and Cambridge University, Aiyar joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1963 and served at various diplomatic postings, including important zones like Iraq and Belgium. He also occupied the long-unused office of the deputy high commission at Karachi in 1978. With an authority in South-Asian Politics, Aiyar has been an influential figure in the region, known as a protagonist for peace between India and Pakistan. After retiring from the IFS in 1989, Aiyar joined the Indian National Congress and contested in the Lok Sabha elections from Tamil Nadu. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2010 by the President on the strength of his expertise in the field of social services and his literary accomplishments. Mani Shankar Aiyar has been a noteworthy figure in Indian Politics, as he managed several ministries between 2004 and 2009, and was honoured as outstanding parliamentarian by the president of India in 2016. Aiyar has also written several books, including Remembering Rajiv and Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist.



Podcast host & researcher: Kuber Bathla, B.A Programme, St. Stephen's College

Dipa Sinha is Assistant Professor (Economics) at Ambedkar University, New Delhi, India. She studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, UK. She is involved with issues related to public health, nutrition and right to food as a researcher and activist. She has worked in Andhra Pradesh on a project mobilising communities for better maternal and child health and nutrition, supported by a fellowship from the MacArthur Foundation (administered by Population Council). She was later affiliated with the Office of Commissioners to the Supreme Court (on the Right to Food) and has been part of a number of research and implementation projects with the Centre for Equity Studies (CES) and Public Health Resource Network (PHRN), New Delhi, India.

Episode researcher & host: Teres Sajeev, BA Programme (Economics and Political Science), St. Stephen's College

Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia is perhaps best known for his tenure as Deputy Chairman of India’s Planning Commission during 2004 to 2014, which included the country’s best growth years from 2004 to 2008. However, an even greater contribution by this Oxford trained economist has been his pivotal role in a small team of economists under Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who were in charge of drafting India’s far-reaching economic liberalisation program between 1991 to 1996. Starting his career as the youngest Division Chief at World Bank when he was just 28 years old, Dr. Montek Singh went on to become the architect of India’s 11th and 12th Five Year Plans, and could also witness the economy’s deep issues during the tumultuous years of 2009-14 when Global Economic Crisis derailed the Indian economy and caused the NPA crisis which continues to this day. A recipient of Padma Vibhushan, he is also the author of BACKSTAGE: The Story Behind India’s High Growth Years.