Rajesh Agrawal says immigrants have played a vital role in building modern Britain, contributing across public services, healthcare, education, policing, retail, and major companies. He adds that immigration has enriched British culture, describing culture as fluid and evolving, and argues that Britain’s future strength lies in confidently embracing its changing, diverse identity. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd0Aluc

Rajesh Agrawal says the UK and India are “natural partners” with a bright future, highlighting the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed under a Labour government. He also references Labour’s historical role in supporting Indian independence in 1947 and emphasizes that while the FTA is important, businesses must now actively understand and leverage it. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd0Aluc

In this conversation, Hindoll Sengupta and Dr. Gautam Sen explore the cultural and historical significance of the film Dhurandhar, discussing its role in shaping a new narrative for India. They delve into the challenges of constructing a cohesive national identity amidst a history of division and the impact of cinema on this process. The discussion also touches on the importance of historical figures and events in building a unified narrative, the influence of social media in democratizing discourse, and the need for institutional support in narrative building. Chapters 00:00 - 02:04 - Opening 02:00 - 12:15 - Dhurandhar and the story of a New India 12:16 - 20:07 - Examples from other countries 20:08 - 32:23 - The case of Russia 32:33 - 38:08 - The narrative impact of Dhurandhar 38:09 - 38:44 - Closing #Dhurandhar #NationalNarrative #India #IndianCinema #Geopolitics #History #CulturalNarrative #Podcast #IndianHistory #NarrativeBuilding #PoliticalDiscourse #CinemaAndPolitics #IndianIdentity

Rajesh Agrawal, Former Deputy Mayor of London for Business, says the UK has long been a global education hub, having educated many world leaders including major Indian figures like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Ambedkar. They add that this tradition continues today, with UK and other international universities now opening campuses in India due to its growing importance as a major education market. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd0Aluc

Rajesh Agrawal highlights that India has phenomenal AI and tech talent, calling it a global superpower in talent. He adds that technology acts as a great equalizer, enabling small groups of skilled people to compete with even Fortune 500 companies and empowering people across India. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd0Aluc

This conversation is part of a new series titled “Common Ground”, which focuses on India–UK ties and explores shared perspectives on politics, policy, and people-to-people connections between the two countries. The series aims to highlight dialogue that bridges geographies, ideas, and experiences, while fostering a deeper understanding of the evolving partnership between India and the UK. In this episode, host Lakshmi Kaul, Contributing Editor, is in conversation with Rajesh Agrawal, Former Deputy Mayor of London for Business, for a wide-ranging discussion on global politics, economics, technology, and the evolving relationship between India and the United Kingdom. From his journey from Indore to the highest levels of London’s business and policy ecosystem, Rajesh Agrawal shares insights shaped by years of experience in government, trade, and international engagement. The conversation explores how global cities like London are navigating shifting economic and political realities, while continuing to position themselves as hubs for innovation, investment, and talent. A major focus of the discussion is the future of UK–India trade relations, and how both countries can strengthen economic collaboration in an increasingly interconnected world. The conversation also examines jobs, skills, and economic development, highlighting the importance of workforce readiness and inclusive growth in a rapidly changing global economy. The episode further dives into the rise of AI development in India, and the opportunities and challenges it presents for digital inclusion, especially across diverse linguistic and socio-economic contexts. This leads into a deeper reflection on digital colonialism and AI governance, and the need for fair, responsible, and globally aligned frameworks for emerging technologies. Another key theme is UK immigration policy and its impact on the Indian diaspora, particularly in the context of changing global mobility trends and talent flows. The discussion also touches upon the current political climate and perceptions of safety in the UK, offering perspective on how these factors influence confidence, investment, and migration decisions. Through this conversation, Lakshmi Kaul and Rajesh Agrawal reflect on how nations can collaborate more effectively in a time of rapid transformation driven by technology, shifting geopolitics, and changing economic priorities. Chapters - 0:00-1:50 Opening 2:08-7:47 From Indore to the UK: The Journey of Rajesh Agrawal 8:38-13:11 Navigating Brexit and London’s Business Landscape 13:52-17:47 The Future of UK-India Trade Relations 18:23- 21:31 Jobs, Skills and Economic Development 22:16- 25:27 AI Development and Digital Inclusion in India 26:13- 29:16 Digital Colonialism and AI Governance 29:51-33:01 UK Immigration Policy and the Indian Diaspora 34:00-36:26 Political Climate and Safety in the UK 37:08- 42:20 Educational Partnership between India and the UK 43:07-45:34 What’s Next for Rajesh Agrawal? 45:44-46:40 Closing #indiauk #ukindia #globalpolitics #geopolitics #brexit #londonbusiness #ai #artificialintelligence #digitalindia #digitalinclusion #aigovernance #digitalcolonialism #immigration #indiandiaspora #ukimmigration #globaleconomy #tradrelations #ukindiarelations #leadership #policy #economics #futureofwork #education #globalskills

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/tlnLFnTW0cg #Iran #geopolitics #iranisraelwar #internationalrelations #westasiaconflict #westasiawar #westasiacrisis #conflict #india #china #russia #iranusatension #irannews #iranwar

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/tlnLFnTW0cg #Iran #geopolitics #iranisraelwar #internationalrelations #westasiaconflict #westasiawar #westasiacrisis #conflict #india #china #russia #iranusatension #irannews #iranwar