What's your ism?

Folgen

• From Umar Khalid to Sharjeel Imam: Being Muslim in Modi’s India 01.07.2026 2Std. 16Min.

  Jailed student activist Umar Khalid’s friends and mentor Banojyotsna Lahiri, Anirban Bhattacharya, and Shuddhabrata Sengupta join TNM Executive Editor Sudipto Mondal to discuss their book ‘Umar Khalid and His World’. The guests read excerpts from the book, and discuss their student days in JNU, the formation of BASO, the evolution of the anti-CAA protests, and what Shaheenbagh meant for the movement. The speakers also discuss the distance that liberal society keeps from Sharjeel Imam, another student activist who has been jailed for over six years. Sudipto also invites them to discuss the prioritisation of the individual over the ideology in recent political history, in the context of actor Vijay’s electoral victory in Tamil Nadu.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereCamera: Ajay RProducer: Maria Teresa RajuEditor: Dharini PrabaharanDesign: Krishna Kumar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Bengali Muslim and the Bangladeshi Dalit | Dr Navine Murshid and Sudipto Mondal | WYI 02.06.2026 2Std. 22Min.

  In the final episode of the special What’s Your Ism sub series titled “Epar Opar Hahakaar”, TNM Executive Editor Sudipto Mondal sits down with political scientist Dr Navine Murshid, who authored the book “India’s Bangladesh Problem”.In an in-depth conversation, they discuss the current political scenario of Bangladesh post the July 2024 uprising. They also speak about the origins of the Bengali Muslim community, one of the world’s youngest Muslim populations. The conversation also moves to the marginalisations faced by the Dalits and Muslims on either side of the border, and discusses historical efforts at Dalit-Muslim unity.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereCamera: Ajay R, Megha MukundanProducer: Maria Teresa Raju, Dharini PrabaharanEditor: Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Who Picks Bengaluru’s Garbage? R Khaleemulah on Migrant Workers & Hate Politics | WYI EP 50 24.05.2026 1Std. 34Min.

  Who picks Bengaluru’s garbage? And why are Bengali Muslim workers among the most vulnerable labourers in Indian cities today?In this episode of What's Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal speaks with trade unionist and human rights activist R Khaleemulah about migrant labour, communal politics, garbage contractors, police violence, and the hidden economy behind waste processing in Bengaluru.The discussion explores labour exploitation, trafficking, anti-Bangladeshi rhetoric, and the human cost of keeping cities clean.This conversation is in Dakhani, a south Indian language. English subtitles available on YouTubeBecome a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereCamera: Ajay R, Megha MukundanProducer& Editor: Dharini PrabaharanDesign: Krishna Kumar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Census, Hunter, Eaton: Essential reading on the Bengali Muslim | What's Your Ism EP 49 12.05.2026 1Std. 59Min.

  One of West Bengal’s most controversial poll seasons just concluded, with the Bharatiya Janata Party defeating the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government. This election season was different than usual because of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls that preceded it. Thousands of voters found themselves disenfranchised, and the narrative of the ‘infiltrator’ was amplified several times over. Bearing the brunt of it all is a marginalised minority, the Bengali Muslims.Now that polls are done, it's time for a quick history lesson. In this week’s What’s Your Ism, Sudipto Mondal & Dr Nadira Khatun offer insightful glimpses into Bengal history, especially that of its Muslim populace.For the discussion, they rely on some key texts, like the 1871 Hunter Commission Report, 1921 Census Report, Richard Eaton’s writings, & Navine Murshid’ ‘India’s Bangladesh Problem’.Watch the full episode as Sudipto and Nadira engage in an in-depth and insightful discussion. Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProducer: Dharini Prabaharan, Vignesh ManickamEdit: Vignesh ManickamPromo: Dharini Prabaharan, Krishna Kumar Design: Dharini PrabaharanCamera: Ajay R, Bhuvan Malik Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Land, Labour, and Liberation ft. Lawyer & CPIML Leader Clifton D’Rozario | What's Your Ism EP 48 20.08.2025 1Std. 33Min.

  What does justice really look like for India’s working class and oppressed communities? This week on What’s Your Ism?, Clifton D’Rozario, lawyer, CPIML leader, and long-time grassroots activist, joins host Sudipto Mondal to talk about fighting evictions, caste injustice, and class exploitation. From representing informal workers and slum residents to critiquing the limits of India’s judiciary and Constitution, Clifton lays out his Ambedkarite Marxist approach to revolution, rights, and redistribution.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProducer: Maria Teresa Raju, Bhuvan MalikEdit: Dharini Prabhaharan Promo: Nikhil Sekhar, Jaseem Ali Design: Krishna Kumar Camera: Ajay R Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Mamdani’s rise, Trump’s threat, and South Africa’s post-apartheid warning: Journalist Nic Dawes 09.07.2025 1Std. 36Min.

  From Mandela to Mamdani, and from Trump to Malema, this is a global story of resistance, betrayal, and unfinished revolutions.In Episode 47 of What’s Your Ism?, journalist Nic Dawes speaks with Sudipto Mondal about the promises of liberation, the politics of redistribution, and whether the Left can still imagine a future beyond fear.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProducer: Bhuvan Malik, Editor: Jaseem Ali, Production Assistance: Prajwal Bhatt, Shone Satheesh, Aarav Gupta Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Dalit Labour, Muslim Migrants, and the City: What’s Your Ism? Reflections 03.07.2025 9Min.

  Who are the real hands behind India’s clean cities? Sudipto reflects on the civic workers we rarely see, Dalit and migrant labourers who segregate waste, drive garbage trucks, and often live without rights or recognition. This episode follows the money, the power, and the politics behind urban sanitation. Anchored in his conversation with Du Saraswathi, and framed by Shailaja Paik’s work on caste and morality.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik and Edited by Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• “We Are the Broom People”: Caste, Labor and Love | What’s Your Ism? with Du Saraswathi 25.06.2025 1Std. 50Min.

   What happens when movements don’t speak to each other? In Episode 45 of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal is joined by Du Saraswathi — who has spent decades bridging Ambedkarism, Marxism, and feminism. A conversation about caste, cleaning, theatre, and what it takes to be seen in a world that looks away.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Guns, Peace, and Power: What’s Your Ism? Reflections | Maoists vs the Indian State 16.06.2025 19Min.

  In this Reflections episode, we return to Dandakaranya — a region where governments change, but the war stays the same. From banned militias reborn in uniform, to Maoist martyrdom that costs young Adivasi lives, this episode unpacks the contradictions inside the State, the rebels, and civil society. Featuring the voices of Prof. G Haragopal and Degree Prasad Chauhan, with reflections on who speaks for peace — and who keeps dying in its name.Like Sudipto’s Ism show? Support him: https://rzp.io/rzp/tnm-wyi Or become a subscriber: https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What’s Your Ism? 43 ft. Degree Prasad Chouhan | Adivasis in the Maoist War: Fighters or Fronts? 05.06.2025 1Std. 1Min.

  In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, human rights activist Degree Prasad Chauhan discusses how Adivasi identities have been appropriated by Maoist movements. He delves into the symbolic use of figures like Hidma, highlighting the lack of genuine representation and decision-making power for Adivasis within these movements. Chauhan also critiques civil society's role in sidelining Adivasi voices, emphasizing the need for authentic leadership and inclusion in dialogues about their own futures.Become a subscriber - Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What’s Your Ism? 42 ft. Professor Haragopal | The State, the Maoists, and the war for tribal land 27.05.2025 1Std. 10Min.

  “They say the Maoists are gone. But who will stop the mining?”In Episode 42 of What’s Your Ism?, Prof G. Haragopal—veteran human rights defender and peace negotiator—speaks to Sudipto Mondal about structural violence, broken promises, and why civil society must still try—even when peace seems impossible.Like Sudipto’s Ism show? Support him: https://rzp.io/rzp/tnm-wyi Or become a subscriber: https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Shit, Caste, and the Divine: What's Your Ism? Reflections | Raees Muhammad 20.05.2025 11Min.

  What’s Your Ism? Reflections – Episode 3 In this third episode, Sudipto Mondal reflects on his conversation with Dr. Raees Muhammad — formerly Ravichandran Bathran, scholar, activist, and founder of Dalit Camera. The discussion moves beyond religion and resistance, into a quieter but more powerful space — the toilet. From Raees’s reflections on ritual purity and his conversion to Islam, to Slavoj Žižek’s classification of toilets as ideological structures, and Milan Kundera’s theological riddle about God and shit, Sudipto asks: how does a civilisation that denies its own shit justify its obsession with purity? This is not about provocation — it’s about confronting what caste tries hardest to hide.Like Sudipto’s Ism show? Support him: https://rzp.io/rzp/tnm-wyi Or become a subscriber: https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What's Your Ism? EP 40 | From Ravichandran to Raees: Dalits, Islam & the anti-caste | Sudipto Mondal 12.05.2025 1Std. 14Min.

  In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal sits down with Dr. Raees Muhammad—formerly Ravichandran Bathran—the founder of Dalit Camera. A pioneer in grassroots video journalism, Raees speaks candidly about his departure from Hinduism, his conversion to Islam, and how casteism pushed him to reshape his identity and politics.From his early days as a student activist in EFLU to founding Dalit Camera as a counter-media platform, Raees reflects on the violence, erasure, and faith that shaped his journey. This is a story of dissent, survival, and resistance from the margins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Charvaka, Ambedkar & Ravana’s Regret: What’s Your Ism? Reflections | Anand Neelakantan 02.05.2025 15Min.

  In this episode of What’s Your Ism? Reflections, Sudipto Mondal re-opens his conversation with Anand Neelakantan by focusing on a striking excerpt from Asura—where Ravana, in victory, still yearns for caste validation. This leads to a deeper reflection on who the Shudras really are and what status they occupied in Indo-Aryan society. A philosophical and political unpacking of what Ambedkar understood that Ravana could not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What's Your Ism? Ep 38 ft. Anand Neelakantan | Ram vs. Ravan: Whose Side Is History On? 21.04.2025 1Std. 37Min.

  In this episode of What’s Your Ism?, Sudipto Mondal hosts Anand Neelakantan, bestselling author of Asura and Ajaya, to discuss how mythology is shaped by caste, politics, and power. Neelakantan dissects dominant narratives in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, questioning why some figures are remembered as heroes while others are cast as villains. From caste-coded storytelling to Hindutva’s mythmaking, he explores the ways in which history is rewritten to serve contemporary ideologies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Roma, Banjara, and Ambedkar | What’s Your Ism? Reflections 16.04.2025 11Min.

  Welcome to the first edition of What’s Your Ism? Reflections. Sudipto Mondal looks back at his conversation with János Orsós, founder of a Roma school in Hungary inspired by Ambedkar, and reflects on what was left unsaid—from statelessness to social segregation across continents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What’s Your Ism? EP 36 | Ambedkar in Europe: A Roma School’s Fight Against Segregation 03.04.2025 42Min.

  From Maharashtra to Miskolc: What’s Your Ism? travels to Hungary where a Roma activist found hope in Ambedkar. János Orsós, founder of the Dr. Ámbédkar School, speaks with Sudipto Mondal and Prajwal Bhat about Hungary’s racial segregation, state complicity, and how Ambedkar’s legacy of education and justice offers a way out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What's Your Ism ft. Dhanya Rajendran & Vignesh Vellore | How TNM Survived 11 Years in Journalism 10.03.2025 1Std. 21Min.

   What does it take to run an independent newsroom for 11 years?How did a digital-first newsroom survive without corporate backing or political influence? Dhanya Rajendran & Vignesh Vellore sit down with Sudipto Mondal to reveal the highs, the struggles, and the big fights that shaped TNM’s journey. From newsroom dilemmas to financial risks, this is an unfiltered look at what it really takes to keep journalism honest.TNM turns 11, and we’re celebrating with a Buy 1, Gift 1 Subscription!Subscribe to TNM-NL and gift a friend or family member a year of independent journalism. Join the movement: https://pages.razorpay.com/tnm-11thOr take a monthly subscription- https://www.thenewsminute.com/subscription  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• What’s Your Ism? Ammu Joseph on pioneering feminist journalism in India 15.01.2025 1Std. 38Min.

  Ammu Joseph, a pioneering feminist journalist and founding member of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), shares her inspiring journey on What's Your Ism? with Sudipto Mondal.The conversation explores her groundbreaking works in Indian journalism, early works in Eve’s Weekly magazine & the process that led to the formation of NWMI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Gauley Bhai: Music, Resistance, and Identity From Kalimpong to Bengaluru 08.01.2025 1Std. 33Min.

  Sudipto Mondal features Gauley Bhai in this What's Your Ism? special. Their journey from Kalimpong to Bengaluru isn’t just about music—it’s about survival, resistance, and reclaiming identity. Their sound is a weapon, their songs a protest, and their stage a place of hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.