लिखे जो ख़त मुझे मयूर त्रिवेदी के साथ | Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe with

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Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe, a podcast series in Hindi from Radio Azim Premji University, highlights the unheard voices of everyday Indians. Hosted by Mayur Trivedi, an experienced development practitioner who teaches the Master of Public Health programme at Azim Premji University’s Bhopal campus, this show brings to life stories that reflect the complexities of poverty, marginalisation, and societal norms through imagined letters received from various people. Each episode presents a letter to the researcher from someone at the margins of society—a taxi driver questioning unsolicited health advice on his tobacco habit, a pastoralist navigating life in the wilderness while confronting societal pressures on contraception, or even the researcher’s mother who led a life under patriarchy questioning her son’s newly acquired gender sensibilities. Although fictional, these letters are inspired by real-world observations from fieldwork. They capture the complexities, frustrations, and emotions of individuals often reduced to case studies or statistics. Through heartfelt storytelling, Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe invites listeners to engage with these perspectives, cultivating empathy and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the millions of Indians living in the shadow cast by the juggernaut of progress and development. CREDITS Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

Episodes

  1. समुदाय की आवाज़ें | Voices from the Community

    MAR 4

    समुदाय की आवाज़ें | Voices from the Community

    आज का पत्र है पश्चिमी भारत के लिटल रण ऑफ कच्छ से। शहर और गाँव से मिलों दूर ये एक ऐसी जगह हैं जहा अगारिया समुदाय के लोग नमक की खेती करते हैं। हमारे देश का आधे से ज्यादा नमक यही से इनकी मेहनत से ही आता हैं। यह पत्र विमुक्त जनजाति के एक बुजुर्ग अगारिया का हैं जो मुजे पिछले दस सालों से जानते हैं। मैं एक स्टूडेंट के रूप मे उनको मिला था और बाद मे अपने स्टूडेंट्स को फील्ड के अनुभव के लिए उनके पास ले जाया करता था। इस खत के जरिए वो मेरी और उनकी जिंदगी मे इन सालों मे आए बदलाव की बात कर रहे हैं। हमारे संपर्क के एकतरफ़े रुख से अपनी नाराज़गी जताकर वो इस खत मे उन सभी लोगों से सवाल कर रहे हैं जो समय-समय पर उनके पास जाकर उनसे सवाल पूछते रहे, उनकी कहानिया सुनते रहे, और उनके जीवन के आंकड़ों को लिखते रहे, लेकिन जो कभी वापस नहीं आए – न ही उनकी खबर पूछने आए या ना ही बदलाव की कोई खबर लेकर आए । आइए, सुनते हैं डांट, दर्द, और चाहभरी उनकी दास्तान जिनकी मेहनत से बना नमक हमारे खाने मे स्वाद लाता हैं । - मयूर त्रिवेदी _ In this powerful episode, an Agariya elder from the Little Rann of Kutch shares his frustration with researchers and students who visit his community, collect stories, and then disappear—never returning with news of change. The Agariyas, who produce over half of India’s salt, continue to toil in harsh conditions, earning mere paise per kilo while facing new challenges: government restrictions on their ancestral lands and climate shifts affecting salt production. Through immersive storytelling, the elder’s letter demands accountability, questioning why those who study them never stand by them in times of crisis. “We don’t want to be mere statistics or stories anymore,” he writes. His plea challenges listeners to rethink their role—not just as observers, but as allies in the fight for justice. This episode asks a crucial question: How long will marginalised communities remain subjects of study rather than active participants in shaping their own futures? CREDITS Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

    9 min
  2. अनकही आवाज़ें | Unspoken Voices

    FEB 18

    अनकही आवाज़ें | Unspoken Voices

    प्रोफेसर होने के नाते अक्सर युवा, विशेष रूप से '20’s' के लोगों से मेरी गहरी बातचीत होती रहती है। ज्यादातर बच्चे पास में ही चले जाते हैं, कुछ लंबे अरस तक टच में रहते हैं और समय-समय पर जिंदगी के सबक भी शेयर करते हैं। इन एक्स बच्चों की बातें मुझे सबसे ज्यादा आकर्षित करती हैं क्योंकि इनमे मार्क्स, असाइनमेंट और पाठ्यक्रम से ऊपर जीवन की सच्चाई सबसे ज्यादा होती हैं। ऐसी ही एक खास 'लास्ट बेंचर' से आज मुझे एक कहानी मिलती है। दस साल पहले जब वो मेरी दुकान थी तब सब्जेक्ट्स में रुचि नहीं थी। हा, मगर हमारे बीच बातें बहुत होती रहती थीं। आज वो बता रहे हैं पढ़ाई के समय किताबी लीज वाले उन कॉन्सेप्ट्स ने कैसे अपनी खुद की जिंदगी में मायने पाए। 'अनकही आवाजें' में सुनिए शादी और परिवार को लेकर एक युवा, स्वतंत्र, जिम्मेदार महिला की ये कहानी, वही की प्यारी। - मयूर त्रिवेदी — In this deeply personal episode of Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe with Mayur Trivedi, titled Ankahi Awaazein (Unspoken Voices), a former student, Shreya, reconnects with her professor after a decade, sharing a heartfelt reflection on how the lessons from his demography and health economics classes have unexpectedly shaped her understanding of life. Through a recorded letter, she narrates her quiet struggle with infertility, the weight of societal expectations, and the unspoken emotional toll of reproductive choices. Once a self-proclaimed “last bencher,” Shreya remembers feeling detached from discussions about population, opportunity costs, and reproductive autonomy. At the time, those concepts seemed distant from her vibrant college life, filled with friendships, love, and a sense of limitless possibilities. Years later, after an eight-year relationship, four years of marriage, and an exhausting journey through IVF, Shreya sees those lessons in an entirely different light. Carefully made choices—waiting for family approval, planning responsibly—have led to an unforeseen reality: a long, painful wait for motherhood. CREDITS Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar To know Shreya’s full story, listen to the episode and read more on our website.

    11 min
  3. दिल की आवाज़ें | Sounds Of The Heart

    FEB 4

    दिल की आवाज़ें | Sounds Of The Heart

    बचपन में जिन माँ-बाप की बातें पत्थर की लकीर लगती थीं, बड़े होकर उन्हीं से असहमति होने लगती है। विचारों की यह खाई अकादमिक दुनिया से जुड़े लोगों के लिए और गहरी हो जाती है, जब उनके सिद्धांत घर की हकीकत से टकराते हैं। “दिल की आवाज़ें” एपिसोड में एक माँ अपने बेटे—जो जेंडर स्टडीज के प्रोफेसर हैं—से अपने जीवन के संघर्ष साझा करती हैं। वह बताती हैं कि समाज की पहचान केवल किताबों से नहीं, बल्कि जीवन के अनुभवों से भी बनती है। माँ की बातों में एक हल्का-सा उलाहना भी है—“तुम पढ़कर जेंडर सिखाते हो, हम जीकर सीखते हैं। शायद मेरी ज़िंदगी के नोट्स तुम्हारी क्लासरूम में काम आएं।” बड़ा होने के साथ-साथ हम अपने माता-पिता को सुनना कम कर देते हैं, जिससे वे धीरे-धीरे चुप हो जाते हैं। लेकिन इस एपिसोड में, एक माँ यह चुप्पी तोड़ती हैं—प्यार, फिक्र और समझ के साथ। सुनिए “दिल की आवाज़ें”, “लिखे जो खत मुझे” के एपिसोड 3 में, सिर्फ़ रेडियो अज़ीम प्रेमजी यूनिवर्सिटी पर। In Dil Ki Awaazein (Sounds of the Heart), a mother shares her struggles with her son, a gender studies professor, offering a personal perspective on societal identity. She highlights the gap between academic theories and lived realities, reminding him, “You study gender; we women live it.” As children grow, they often stop listening to their parents, silencing them unintentionally. In this poignant episode, the mother breaks that silence—chiding yet understanding. She urges her son to keep learning, just as she continues to evolve. Listen to Episode 3 of Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe on Radio Azim Premji University. CREDITS Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar Mother voiced by M. Joshi Himani

    12 min
  4. जंगलों की आवाज़ें | Sounds Of The Forest

    JAN 21

    जंगलों की आवाज़ें | Sounds Of The Forest

    नमस्कार। हमारे रिसर्च के काम मैं एक एथ्नोग्राफी नाम की पद्धति हैं जिस मे रिसर्चर किसी एक समुदाय के लोगों के जीवन को समझने के लिए उन लोगों के बीच जाकर उन्हीं की तरह जीता हैं, और उन निजी अनुभवों से अपने निष्कर्ष निकालता है। मेरा ऐसा एक काम मुजे गीर फॉरेस्ट ले गया जहां सदियों से इंसान और उनके मवेशी Asiatic Lions के साथ शहर-गाँव से दूर जंगल की बीचोंबीच रहेते हैं। उन मालधारी समुदाय के साथ रह के मैंने ये जाना की शहर से दूर प्रकृति के साथ जीने वाले वनवासी लोग अपने जीवन के निर्णय कैसी कैसी मान्यताओं, जरूरतों, अनुभवों या मूल्यों के आधार पर लेते हैं। ‘जंगल की आवाजे’ नाम के इस एपिसोड मे सुनिए गीर नेशनल पार्क के भीतर से भिखाभाई मालधारी का एक पत्र जिसमे वो मुजे पॉपुलेशन कंट्रोल, सन परेफ़रस, और बेटी बचाओ के बारे मे अपने खयालात बता रहे हैं। — मयूर त्रिवेदी ______ Campaigns run by the civil society and the government, which aim to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio, often meet with resistance from communities where tradition and livelihood are deeply intertwined. To truly understand their opposition to these programmes, one must be intimately sensitive to the everyday lives of these communities. In this episode of Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe, host Mayur Trivedi, a public health researcher who teaches at Azim Premji University, Bhopal, shares a heartfelt fictional letter from Bhikhabhai, a Maldhari shepherd who lives in the Gir Forest. Bhikhabhai recounts his interactions with the researcher, who had spent time with him and his community during an ethnographic field visit. Unlike other researchers, who kept their distance from the subjects of their fieldwork, this person had lived among the Maldhari people, sharing their meals and witnessing their daily struggles. This exchange left a lasting impression on Bhikhabhai, who pondered over the researcher’s advice to him about his preference for sons over daughters. In his letter to the researcher, Bhikhabhai reflects on this sensitive issue, which is rooted in the unique challenges of his jungle-based lifestyle. He explains how their survival depends on cattle, community ties, and traditional roles. In his pastoral community, having a son is not viewed as a rejection of daughters, but a necessity to ensure economic continuity, care in old age, and social acceptance. In Junglon Ki Awaazein, Mayur Trivedi invites listeners of Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe to reflect on their inherent cultural biases and blind spots, and reexamine how the life choices of remote communities are often determined by necessity rather than intent. CREDITS Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Maldhari pastoralist voiced by Gopal Hari For more information, visit our website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/likhe-jo-khat-mujhe-with-mayur-trivedi

    14 min
  5. सड़कों की आवाज़ें | Sounds Of The Road

    JAN 8

    सड़कों की आवाज़ें | Sounds Of The Road

    “I’m off now, wherever the road takes me…” As a young and spirited public health researcher, the presenter urged people to quit tobacco. And then he met Ramesh, a cab driver in his mid-thirties, who listened to him quietly as he drove the researcher around on his field visits. In answer to the social worker’s long sermons on the ill effects of tobacco, Ramesh said nothing. One day, unexpectedly, the researcher receives a notification on his phone. It is a long message, in Hindi, from Ramesh. The cab driver politely speaks his mind and opens his heart in a way that makes the researcher think, and consider the question deeply. “You might think I chew tobacco out of habit or for fun. But no, it’s not like that. It helps me work. I have to drive for hours, day and night. You guests rest in the back after your meals, but I have to stay alert to get you home safely. When one is alone and has to stay awake, one needs some company. It keeps us going…” Ramesh appears to be defending his tobacco habit, but in actuality he is uncovering the hard life of a daily wage earner who toils to make ends meet, and has to withstand numerous societal challenges every day. More so, it shines a light on the public healthcare system that makes little effort to prevent tobacco consumption but wakes up only when a user falls ill. “If society or the government really wanted us to quit, they’d make it harder to access tobacco, wouldn’t they?” Ramesh asks. “But no, it’s available everywhere. Every other shop sells it alongside biscuits, hair oil, and shampoo. It’s cheaper than tea.” What do you feel after listening to Ramesh’s letter? Drop us a note with your thoughts. CREDITS Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Taxi driver voiced by Sanjay Chauhan —— 'सड़कों की आवाज़ें' शुरुआती दिनों मे एक यंग एनेरजेटिक पब्लिक हेल्थ रिसर्चर के रूप में मैं लोगों को तंबाकू छोड़ने के लिए कहता रहता था। ‘भारत मे तंबाकू से संबंधित बीमारियों से हर दिन 2000-3000 लोग लोग मरते हैं। ‘पैकेट में मौत लिखी है वाली अक्षय कुमार की ऐड नहीं देखी?’ वगेरे वगेरे। फिर मैं 30-35 साल के कैब ड्राइवर रमेश को मिला। क्यूंकी ड्राइवर लोगों मे तंबाकू का उपयोग बहुत आम है, मैं तंबाकू के बारे मैं रमेश को बताता गया और वो दिन रात सड़कों पर अपनी टेकसी चलाते चलाते मुजे चुपचाप सुनता गया । रोजाना मिलों का सफर तय करने वाले रमेश ने एक दिन अपने भीतर की यात्रा की, और हिम्मत जुटा कर मुझे अपने मन की बात कह दी। ''सड़कों की आवाज़ें' नाम के इस एपिसोड में आइए रमेश के तंबाकू छोड़ने के दिलचस्प दृष्टिकोण को उसी की जबान मे सुनते हैं।

    11 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe, a podcast series in Hindi from Radio Azim Premji University, highlights the unheard voices of everyday Indians. Hosted by Mayur Trivedi, an experienced development practitioner who teaches the Master of Public Health programme at Azim Premji University’s Bhopal campus, this show brings to life stories that reflect the complexities of poverty, marginalisation, and societal norms through imagined letters received from various people. Each episode presents a letter to the researcher from someone at the margins of society—a taxi driver questioning unsolicited health advice on his tobacco habit, a pastoralist navigating life in the wilderness while confronting societal pressures on contraception, or even the researcher’s mother who led a life under patriarchy questioning her son’s newly acquired gender sensibilities. Although fictional, these letters are inspired by real-world observations from fieldwork. They capture the complexities, frustrations, and emotions of individuals often reduced to case studies or statistics. Through heartfelt storytelling, Likhe Jo Khat Mujhe invites listeners to engage with these perspectives, cultivating empathy and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the millions of Indians living in the shadow cast by the juggernaut of progress and development. CREDITS Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

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