J. Sai Deepak is a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India and a well-known author. His books include 'India, That Is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution' and 'India, Bharat and Pakistan: The Constitutional Journey of a Sandwiched Civilisation.'

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, J. Sai Deepak talks about the demographic changes taking place in India’s border areas and how these shifts could impact India’s democracy, governance and policy-making. He explains why India needs a special Immigration Task Force to deal with the issue of illegal immigration.

He also discusses the SIR controversy, the North-South divide and also describes demography as the last battle to protect Hindu civilisation and warns that India cannot afford to take this issue lightly.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:22 – SIR Exercise Across India

06:47 – Illegal Migrants in West Bengal

14:04 – Mamata’s Stance on Illegal Migrants

20:05 – Politics Around Illegal Migration

24:42 – How India’s Border Areas Have Changed

31:00 – How India Can Address Illegal Migration

32:55 – Pawan Kalyan’s Political Influence

34:18 – North–South Population Debate

40:33 – The North–South Divide

46:11 – Tax Devolution in India

52:09 – How Owaisi Won Seats in Bihar

59:07 – Left vs Right Wing

01:04:02 – Oxford Union Debate Controversy

01:12:43 – Demographics and Cultural Debates

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy and Security Studies at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), and Dinkar Srivastava, former diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation.

They discuss the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, the future of the Awami League, and the role of Sheikh Hasina. The conversation also revolves around at growing concerns about minorities, including Hindus in Bangladesh. Is there a rising wave of Islamisation? And how should India move forward in its ties with Dhaka?

Pakistan is also in focus. The guests talk about the rise of Asim Munir, the new boss of all things military and nuclear in Pakistan. Can the threat of another terror attack from Pakistan be ruled out?

The episode also explores how China and the United States are shaping choices in South Asia, and what India’s response should be in a changing regional scenario.

00:00 – Introduction

01:45 – Why Asim Munir Took CDF Role

05:54 – The Fall of Pervez Musharraf

07:43 – Can Pakistan Attack India Again?

15:03 – Will Bangladesh Hold Elections in February 2026?

25:37 – Imran Khan vs Asim Munir

32:39 – Rising Islamisation in Bangladesh

44:20 – Rohingya Crisis Explained

47:15 – Role of Pakistan Army in Politics

51:03 – When ISI Trained Guns on Dinkar Srivastava

01:11:40 – Anti-India Sentiment in Bangladesh

01:23:50 – India as the Standard in Pakistan

01:30:15 – India’s Neighbourhood Strategy

Gaur Gopal Das is a life coach, author, and motivational speaker. He studied at the College of Engineering, Pune, and briefly worked with Hewlett Packard. Soon after, he chose a very different path and became a monk and has been living in an ashram in Mumbai for the past 26 years.

Over the years, he has studied ancient Indian philosophy along with modern psychology. For more than two decades, he has travelled across the world, sharing his thoughts with students, professionals, charities, and institutions. He has also spoken at the United Nations.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Gaur Gopal Das talks about whether religion and spirituality can be separated, and whether marriage is becoming an outdated idea. He shares insights into the life of a monk and explains why he chose this path.

In this New Year special episode, he also speaks about the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and explains, in simple terms, what dharma truly means.

00:00 – Introduction

00:52 – Life of a Monk

07:56 – Understanding Spirituality

14:30 – Why Monks Wear Orange?

19:29 – Controlling Desires

23:03 – Dealing with Anger

30:49 – Spirituality vs Religion

34:38 – Power of Chanting Mantras

45:25 – Why Modi Gifted Gita to Putin?

57:39 – Who Should One Read Gita

01:03:33 – Spirituality and Politics

01:09:47 – Living with Differences

01:12:36 – Gen X vs Gen Z

01:17:43 – India and Its Adversaries

01:25:09 – Parenting in Digital Times

01:36:26 – Importance of Family Love

01:38:42 – Marriage an Outdated Concept?

01:46:33 – Gaur Gopal Das Married?

01:50:43 – How Relationships Grow

01:54:51 – Fixing Broken Relationships

02:00:04 – Couples Staying Together for Children

02:07:15 – Real vs Fake Gurus

02:09:44 – Handling Others’ Pain

02:14:36 – Does Fame Change Friends?

02:19:02 – Healthy Habits for Life