Seasonal Magazine's Podcast

In this episode of Seasonal Magazine's podcast, we talk with Dr Radhicka Kapoor, Research Fellow at ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations) and researcher at International Growth Centre. Prior to this, she worked at the Planning Commission of India and International Labour Organisation. Her broad areas of research interests include poverty and inequality, labour economics and industrial performance. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics, a Masters degree from Cambridge University and a Bachelors degree from St. Stephens College, University of Delhi.

Podcast host and researcher: Angira Shukla, B.A Economics, Ramjas College

Dr Jayati Ghosh is one of the world's leading economists. She is professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the Executive Secretary of International Development Economics Associates (Ideas). She is a regular columnist for several Indian journals and newspapers, was a member of the National Knowledge Commission advising the Prime Minister of India, and is closely involved with a range of progressive organisations and social movements. She is co-recipient of the International Labour Organisation's 2010 Decent Work Research prize

Podcast host & researcher: Teres Sajeev, BA Programme (Economics and Political Science), St. Stephen's College

Widely acclaimed as one of the most influential policy advisors and economists in the country, Dr Ajay Shah is often regarded as the leading authority on the framework and functioning of India's financial markets. Based in New Delhi, Dr Shah is a professor at the National Institute for Public Finance and Policy and has previously served as a consultant to the Ministry of Finance. A prolific author and well-known speaker, his areas of focus are macroeconomics, finance, health, technology policy and the justice system. He has also co-authored a couple of books, the recent one being In Service of the Republic: The Art and Science of Economic Policy. Dr Shah has been a recipient of several accolades and has been featured as one of the top 10 Economists by The Indian Express in 2010. Having held several positions throughout his career, Dr. Shah has advised the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on various issues including repo rate and the Securities Clearing Corporation, and has been the president of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. He has also served on various committees in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). A well known scholar with several publications, Dr. Shah completed his education from premier institutes like the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and IIT Bombay.

Podcast Host & Researcher: Kuber Bathla, B.A Programme, St. Stephen's College

An avid orator, diplomat, author and politician, Mani Shankar Aiyar is perhaps best-known for his candid statements and targeted criticism of the ruling party. Having studied economics at premium institutes like St. Stephen’s College and Cambridge University, Aiyar joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1963 and served at various diplomatic postings, including important zones like Iraq and Belgium. He also occupied the long-unused office of the deputy high commission at Karachi in 1978. With an authority in South-Asian Politics, Aiyar has been an influential figure in the region, known as a protagonist for peace between India and Pakistan. After retiring from the IFS in 1989, Aiyar joined the Indian National Congress and contested in the Lok Sabha elections from Tamil Nadu. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2010 by the President on the strength of his expertise in the field of social services and his literary accomplishments. Mani Shankar Aiyar has been a noteworthy figure in Indian Politics, as he managed several ministries between 2004 and 2009, and was honoured as outstanding parliamentarian by the president of India in 2016. Aiyar has also written several books, including Remembering Rajiv and Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist.

Podcast host & researcher: Kuber Bathla, B.A Programme, St. Stephen's College

Dipa Sinha is Assistant Professor (Economics) at Ambedkar University, New Delhi, India. She studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, UK. She is involved with issues related to public health, nutrition and right to food as a researcher and activist. She has worked in Andhra Pradesh on a project mobilising communities for better maternal and child health and nutrition, supported by a fellowship from the MacArthur Foundation (administered by Population Council). She was later affiliated with the Office of Commissioners to the Supreme Court (on the Right to Food) and has been part of a number of research and implementation projects with the Centre for Equity Studies (CES) and Public Health Resource Network (PHRN), New Delhi, India.

Episode researcher & host: Teres Sajeev, BA Programme (Economics and Political Science), St. Stephen's College

Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia is perhaps best known for his tenure as Deputy Chairman of India’s Planning Commission during 2004 to 2014, which included the country’s best growth years from 2004 to 2008. However, an even greater contribution by this Oxford trained economist has been his pivotal role in a small team of economists under Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who were in charge of drafting India’s far-reaching economic liberalisation program between 1991 to 1996. Starting his career as the youngest Division Chief at World Bank when he was just 28 years old, Dr. Montek Singh went on to become the architect of India’s 11th and 12th Five Year Plans, and could also witness the economy’s deep issues during the tumultuous years of 2009-14 when Global Economic Crisis derailed the Indian economy and caused the NPA crisis which continues to this day. A recipient of Padma Vibhushan, he is also the author of BACKSTAGE: The Story Behind India’s High Growth Years.

Welcome to Seasonal Magazine's Podcast Series, Most Promising Organizations Post Lockdown. In today's episode we discuss the prospects of Manappuram Finance.

Will Manappuram Gold Loans Rebound Post Lockdown?

Non Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), together with banks, tend to do well during economic booms when credit growth is high. But NBFCs focusing on gold loans, like Manappuram Finance, have historically done even better during difficult periods for the economy. This is a peculiar strength of the gold loan business that is putting the focus back on players like Manappuram, even in this most difficult period for lenders, due to Covid-19, the extended lockdown and moratorium on loans. Moreover, led by its MD & CEO, VP VP Nandakumar, the firm had pioneered products like online gold loans, which came in handy during the lockdown period, while its conservative policies like lower LTV ensures safety as well as room for growth as and when demand rises.

Welcome to Seasonal Magazine's New Podcast Series, Most Promising Organizations Post Lockdown. In today's episode we discuss the prospects of IDFC First Bank.

Is IDFC First Bank Poised to Rebound Post Lockdown? 

Soon into the lockdown, when Mr. V Whaidya-Naathan rushed in to raise 2000 crore rupees as fresh equity from the market, there were people who either thought it was unnecessary or as a move that will result in dilution. But the way things have unfolded since then, proved that the IDFC MD & CEO was perfectly wise in his decision. In fact, the market trusts his acumen in reading the signals, and that is why the fresh equity raise had strong support from institutional investors as well as key stakeholders. The market knows this is a banking stock that can rebound as and when the lockdown eases and normalcy returns to the banking sector.

As much as Covid-19 is a once in a century crisis, it offers lasting lessons for all from individuals to countries, to make a better world. Seasonal Magazine brings you ten such lasting lessons:

Often times, global cooperation and consensus bring good results. However, in some cases, when the whole world thinks alike, it might be a recipe for disaster. This is exactly what has transpired in the case of the World Health Organisation-recommended lockdown that has witnessed economies of countries fall like a pack of cards. As countries succumbed, one by one, to the might of the coronavirus pandemic, the simple solution was to enforce lockdowns and shut down businesses. While it has certainly contributed to low casualties in countries like India, there are still questions left unaddressed in terms of the economic relief and job security of peoples. In a wide-ranging interview, Prof. M D Nalapat, Editorial Director of iTV Network and Vice-Chair at MARG, Manipal University provides his thoughts on a variety of themes including the conduct of WHO and China in the context of the pandemic, the lack of imagination to ease lockdowns, the emerging geopolitical realities and how India can emerge unscathed and issues of free speech and press freedom. Extolling the government to initate longer interest payment deferrals and revise colonial-era business regulations, he believes that the road to recovery is indeed paved with difficulties. In spite of the challenges facing India, Prof. Nalapat is confident that PM Modi can turn the tide and implement gargantuan reforms in the coming years. Seasonal Magazine’s Carl Jaison speaks to him.

Currently serving as the Chairman of a public policy think-tank called EGROW Foundation, Dr. Virmani was an adviser to the Indian Government at the highest levels for 25 years, including as Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance and Principle Adviser, Planning Commission. During this period, he advised on a host of economic policy reforms, as Chair of committees on Public Debt management and Customs duty reform, member of numerous committees and over a hundred policy papers and notes. He also served as Member, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Appellate Tribunal for SEBI Act, Chairman, Board of Trustees of SBI Mutual Fund, and Director on the Boards of several financial institutions [LIC, PNB, Allahabad Bank and UTI (Trustee)]. In between he directed the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) as its Chief Executive and was Affiliate Professor, George Mason University (and Distinguished Senior Fellow, School of Public Policy - CEMP, GMU).

Seasonal Magazine interviews Dr. Rajmohan Pillai, Chairman of US$ 3.1 billion Beta Group, headquartered in Europe, and with their food products sold in over 55 countries worldwide. A young yet veteran businessman Dr. Rajmohan answers wide-ranging questions on the Covid-19 challenges, on Beta Group’s unique experiences in surviving global  economic crises, on why the lockdown should be lifted now, on the radical fiscal & monetary measures needed, on Beta Group’s operations & strategies to tackle the crisis, on the rise and fall of his illustrious brother Rajan Pillai who was one of India’s greatest entrepreneurs, on the unique life of his father and mentor K Janardhanan Pillai’s rags-to-riches and back-to-rags and back to-riches story, on his family, and on his most profound thought that why life and business can be managed only philosophically.