In this episode, M. J. Akbar, a renowned scholar of West Asia and former External Affairs Minister (State) of India, shares insights on the ongoing crisis in West Asia, the strategic implications of the Houthi conflict, and the shifting regional power dynamics. Discover how regional alliances, energy routes, and historical grievances shape the future of this volatile region. He spoke to Hindol Sengupta. Chapters - Introduction to the West Asia Crisis - Military Resilience and Houthis' Capabilities - Iran's Control of Sea Routes and Energy Passage - US Non-Intervention and the Mecca Pact - Pakistan's Credibility and the Future of Regional Pacts - Latent Tribal Divisions and the Roots of Yemen Conflict - Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the New Regional Ambitions - Houthis' Autonomy and Control of Yemen's Coast - Iran's Strategic Control and Military Capabilities - Regional Security and the Role of External Powers - The New Geopolitical Map of West Asia - Media Narratives and the Reality of the Yemen Conflict - The New Realities in West Asia and Security Paradigms - The Role of Belief and Motivation in Warfare - India's Defense Philosophy and Regional Security - Changing Geopolitical Realities in West Asia - Historical Cycles of Conflict and Reinvention - The Cost of War and the Path to Reconciliation - The Gaza Crisis and the Future of the Two-State Solution - Hope for a Better Future Amidst Crisis #westasiaconflict #houthi #houthis #houthiattack #iran #saudiarabia #energyroutes #brics #middleeast #middleeastcrisis #geopolitics

Walter Andersen is emeritus professor of international studies at Johns Hopkins University. He did some of the earliest research by scholar outside India on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of Hindu nationalism and of the ruling party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His book, with the independent researcher Shridhar Damle, The Brotherhood in Saffron (1987) was pioneering work. In this conversation, he speaks to Hindol Sengupta, professor of international relations at O. P. Jindal Global University, who, also, wrote a definitive volume on Hindu politics, Soul and Sword: The History of Political Hinduism (2023). Sengupta talks to Andersen about the global imprint of the RSS, and what it means for the movement that is celebrating its 100th year. As it marks a century, the RSS is embracing its global footprint in a manner that it has never done before. There have been RSS members and affiliates that have setup voluntary organisations in different parts of the world but they have mostly done so in the past with little apparent connection with the mothership. This is the way the RSS operates in India too. But both at home, and especially abroad, this has given a chance to its detractors to claim that its work and the work of its ideological progeny are purposefully hidden from plain sight. Therefore, the RSS is now keen to speak for itself, rather than allow interlocutors or analysts decide what its agenda is all about. This has meant well-publicised tours of the two top leaders of the RSS to the US, UK and other parts of the West giving interviews and lectures directly talking about its agenda and motivation. Belying criticism from various quarters, including the New York mayor, these outreach events have worked to present what the RSS sees as its authentic viewpoint and embrace the various organisations around the world which draw inspiration from it. But what does all this mean for the RSS and its future? #rss #modi #us #trump #nri #nris #nristories #hindunationalism #mohanbhagwat

What does it really take for an SME to cross borders and succeed? On this episode of Common Ground, Lakshmi Kaul speaks with Vijay Goel, Senior Partner at Singhania & Co., London, about the businesses quietly driving the India–UK corridor — and the legal, regulatory and commercial realities they face along the way. From taking Indian businesses into Britain to helping UK companies navigate India, we explore where the opportunities are, what can go wrong, and why SMEs could be central to the next chapter of India–UK growth. ▶️ Watch the full conversation on Global Order. #CommonGround #GlobalOrder #IndiaUK #UKIndia #SMEs #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #InternationalTrade #entrepreneurshipsuccess #london #businessgrowth #businessideas #businesstips #smallbusiness

Ashok Jhunjhunwala is an Indian academic, innovator, and institution-builder whose work has shaped telecom, rural technology, deep-tech incubation, and affordable innovation in India. He is Institute Professor at IIT Madras, President of the IIT Madras Research Park, and a key figure behind several technology-for-development initiatives. Ashok Jhunjhunwala’s mentorship has been channeled mainly through the IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC), the IIT Madras Research Park, and the Rural Technology Business Incubator (RTBI). Across these platforms, he has helped incubate 300–370+ startups, with a combined valuation now reported around ₹60,000 crore. He has served on the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisory Committee (2004–14), acted as Principal Advisor to Union ministers (Power, MNRE, Railways), and sat on the boards of several technology and telecom firms. Jhunjhunwala is often described as a “professor of change” who insists that social ventures must be financially sustainable and that Indian academia should focus on product development, industry collaboration, and mass adoption rather than only publications. His career exemplifies a model of deep-tech + development: building globally competitive technologies that are explicitly designed for Indian conditions and then scaling them through incubation, policy, and industry partnerships. His biography Roots and Wings (https://www.amazon.in/Roots-Wings-Building-Indias-System-ebook/dp/B0H1JZG1TF) by one of his mentee's Saloni Malhotra, the founder of DesiCrew. In this interview he spoke to Swareena Singh of Global Order. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Professor Jhunjhunwala's journey 01:57 India's entrepreneurial landscape and historical context 03:53 The importance of small and medium enterprises 05:49 Challenges faced by Indian entrepreneurs 08:09 The role of technology in transforming India 11:00 Building an ecosystem for innovation 13:55 Lessons from Nirma and affordable products 15:50 Creating affordable telecom solutions 18:47 The importance of scaling and impact 22:08 Institutional building versus entrepreneurship 25:05 The evolution of India’s infrastructure and society 27:56 The mindset for innovation and resilience 31:50 Lessons for the current generation in deep tech 36:00 The future of India’s technological development 39:54 Overcoming resource and policy constraints 43:47 Fostering leadership and handling failures 46:14 Reflections and closing thoughts #startup #startupindia #technology #tech #iit #business #businessgrowth

CETA may have opened a new chapter for India–UK relations. But an agreement can only create impact if businesses, investors and communities understand the opportunities it unlocks. In conversation with @kaullakshmi, Ms Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, highlights a critical post-CETA challenge: perception and awareness. How do we change outdated perceptions, build greater awareness on both sides and ensure that the opportunities created by CETA actually reach businesses beyond the usual networks? Because signing the agreement was one milestone. Turning awareness into action is the next. ▶️ Watch this excerpt from Global Order’s Common Ground: India–UK Series. #Shorts #CETA #IndiaUK #UKIndia #IndiaUKTrade #IndiaUK2Point0 #Manchester #GlobalOrder

From sport and entertainment to culture, media and the wider creative economy, new sectors are opening up exciting possibilities for collaboration between the two countries. In conversation with Lakshmi Kaul, Ms Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, explores the potential of the creative and sports economy — and why these fast-growing sectors could become an important part of the next chapter of India–UK relations. ▶️ Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/9oqdk4lx8_Q #Shorts #IndiaUK #CreativeEconomy #SportsEconomy #UKIndia #Manchester #IndiaUK2Point0 #GlobalOrder #yashrajfilms #orangeeconomy #creativeshorts

Trade agreements may open doors — but some of the strongest India–UK connections are built in classrooms, universities and through the movement of ideas and talent. In this conversation with Lakshmi Kaul, Ms Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, explores why education provides such a powerful foundation for collaboration between India and the UK — and how these connections can help shape a much wider partnership. Referring to the New Education Policy of Government of India and the benefits of CETA, Ms Yaduvanshi looks at what are the specific areas of growth in this sector and why. ▶️ Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/9oqdk4lx8_Q #Shorts #IndiaUK #educationforall #HigherEducation #UKIndia #IndiaUK2Point0 #Manchester #GlobalOrder #CommonGround #neweducationpolicy2020 #educationmatters

For many in the UK, engagement with India has traditionally been viewed through a London-centric lens. But is that perception changing? Ms Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, shares her perspective on how India is viewed in the North of England — and why building stronger regional connections matters for the future of India–UK relations. ▶️ Watch the full episode here: https://youtube.com/shorts/cEi-Yw2KilM?feature=share #shorts #IndiaUK #UKIndia #Manchester #NorthOfEngland #IndiaUK2Point0 #GlobalOrder #CommonGround