More than metal, gold is woven into India’s culture, economy, and imagination.

In this episode of That’s The Thing, Jimmy, Kavya, and Atharva explore how gold became one of the country’s most powerful obsessions. From ancient civilisations and temple towers to alchemy, smuggling, medicine, and even mobile phones — they trace gold’s journey through history, mythology, pop culture, and everyday life.

Why do Indian households hold more gold than most nations? How did a Roman dream of turning metal into gold lead to modern chemistry? And what does it say about us that gold is found in our art, our prayers, and even our food?

With stories, trivia, and humour, the trio digs into everything from zari embroidery and gold-plated awards to the global gold rush, edible gold, and some very strange smuggling tactics.

Discover more shows in English, Hindi, and Kannada: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university

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Credit: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Seshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

Why Indian Trains Are a Cultural Icon — Not Just a Commute

More than 23 million people ride Indian trains daily — but these journeys are about more than just getting from Point A to B. In this episode, Jimmy, Kavya, and Atharva explore how trains became India’s emotional lifeline, cultural stage, and cinematic legend.

🎧 From Bollywood’s most iconic train scenes to chai-fueled conversations and antakshari battles in packed coaches — this episode has stories, trivia, and nostalgia that’ll take you places.

Hit play and hop aboard — your window seat is waiting.

Produced by Jimmy Xavier.

Radio Azim Premji University: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Sheshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

You wear them every day — but where did chappals come from? This episode takes a light-hearted but well-researched journey across time and continents to uncover the 15,000-year history of the slipper. From prehistoric Spain to dynastic China, from ancient Egypt’s leather soles to Japan’s zori and geta, the story of footwear is more global than you’d imagine.

The hosts travel through history, unearthing stories of embroidered sandals in China, toe-post designs in Egypt, and how Japanese slippers helped rebuild the nation’s economy after World War II. The rubber used in Hawai chappals, we learn, was originally sourced from Hawaiian islands, giving the slipper its now-familiar name. And did you know that the word chappal comes from the Hindi chap—the imprint left behind?!

With cultural trivia, school anecdotes, and an ode to toe comfort, this episode proves that even the most ordinary objects carry extraordinary stories. Slippers might seem simple — but this episode shows they’ve walked a long, fascinating path through history. Slip in and enjoy the ride.

CREDITS

Produced by Jimmy Xavier

Radio Azim Premji University: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Sheshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

What do you get when you mix poetry, heartbreak, and dosa? A delicious deep dive into the world of the ghazal!

Often mistaken for sad Urdu songs, ghazals are actually centuries-old poetic forms with roots in Arabic and Persian traditions. This episode explores how ghazals evolved from expressions of flirtation and divine longing into intricate verse structures that travelled across languages and continents.

The hosts break down the anatomy of a ghazal — from the matla (opening couplet) to the makta (closing couplet) and the poet’s takhallus (pen name). A playful group composition about dosa and sambar becomes the perfect entry point into understanding the radif and qafiya that give ghazals their lyrical rhythm.

Listeners are also treated to the story of how Sufi mystics like Rumi and Hafiz used ghazals as spiritual messages, and how Amir Khusro brought this form into Indian languages like braj bhasha. Whether it’s sung in Urdu, Malayalam, or Bangla, the ghazal transcends borders — blending personal longing with poetic beauty.

Charming, accessible, and funny, this episode makes the ghazal feel like both a literary puzzle and a love letter. And yes, it’ll leave you craving not just poetry — but dosa too.

CREDITS

Produced by Jimmy Xavier

Radio Azim Premji University:

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Sheshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

Podcast Unconventional Ghalib by Fahad Hussain with Rekhta Studio

Yun Hota to Kya Hota, The World of Ghalib with Amit Basole

Articles and blogs

Rekta| Hamse Puchho Ki Ghazal Kya Hai…

The Scroll| How the ghazal traveled from 6th-century Arabia to Persia, India and the English-speaking world [Book Excerpt] by Anisur Rahman

Frontline| Story of ghazal A comprehensive tribute to Urdu ghazals and the cross-cultural roots of the enthralling poetic form. by AJ Thomas.

Poetry Foundation| The Pen, the Throat, the Ear: On Ghazals by Sarah Ghazal Ali

Documentary

Kaagaz Ki Kashti by Brahmanand Siingh

You’ve rolled the dice, dodged snakes, and climbed ladders — but did you know Snakes and Ladders began as a lesson in morality? This episode traces the game’s roots to 13th-century Maharashtra, where Sant Dhyaneshwar designed Moksha Patam to teach virtues and warn against vices. Each square held a symbolic meaning — generosity, faith, and humility led you upward, while pride and drunkenness pulled you down. The ultimate goal? Reaching Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu.

The hosts dive into family memories, Ekadashi traditions, and the cultural evolution of the game — from Jnaneshwar’s Hindu board with 72 squares to Jain versions with 84.

Special guest, Chandrakant from Jejuri, offers deep insight into the Varkari tradition, Dhyaneshwar’s poetic genius, and his radical efforts to democratise spiritual knowledge by translating the Gita into Marathi.

With laughter, song, and sharp reflections, the episode transforms a humble board game into a powerful metaphor for life’s journey — where even one misstep near the end (like the snake of pride at square 95) can send you tumbling. Thoughtful and funny, this episode is a reminder that even childhood games can hold timeless wisdom.

CREDITS:

Produced by Jimmy Xavier

Radio Azim Premji University: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar

It’s scalding hot, sweet, kadak — and proudly Indian. But can India really lay claim to chai?

Hosts Jimmy, Kavya, and Atharva trace the journey of tea from the jungles near the Indo-China border to the boiling kettles of Indian railway stations. From its ancient medicinal uses in China to the British ‘discovery’ of wild tea bushes in Assam, this episode brews up a storm of fun facts, folk songs, and forgotten histories.

We learn about Camellia sinensis, the dark legacy of British tea plantations and indentured labour, and the surprising role of Buddhist monks and Taoist philosophers in tea’s rise. The hosts also spill juicy trivia: why all teas come from the same plant, how iced tea rose to fame during Prohibition, and what Cha Bagan Time actually is.

From masala chai to teefee and suleimani, this episode celebrates India’s deep love for chai while reminding us of its complex and global roots.

Sip, listen, reflect.

Is the auto rickshaw really Indian? Or did it tuk-tuk its way into our hearts from faraway lands?

In the debut episode of That’s The Thing, hosts Jimmy Xavier, Kavya Srinivasan, and Atharva Karandikar go on a rollicking ride through the action-packed history of India’s most iconic three-wheeler. From 19th-century Japan’s human-pulled jinrikshas, to Italy’s buzzing Piaggio Ape, to Bajaj Auto’s desi makeover, they unearth the quirky global roots of the autorickshaw.

Discover how freedom fighters introduced the auto to India post-Independence, how e-rickshaws are reshaping public transport, and why we might finally have the ride-hailing revolution we need.

Along the way, there’s trivia, movie shout-outs (hello Octopussy and Autoraja), and a peek at how autos are doubling up as mobile homes and healthcare vans.

Fast, funny, and packed with trivia, this is a history/culture lesson you’ll want to be stuck in traffic for. Hold tight—this ride has no seat belts!

CREDITS

Produced by Jimmy Xavier for Radio Azim Premji University

That’s The Thing is a breezy, curiosity-powered podcast from Radio Azim Premji University that takes a closer look at everyday things we proudly call desi. But are they really? Hosts Jimmy Xavier, Kavya Srinivasan, and Atharva Karandikar dive into surprising backstories, spicy trivia, and oddball records behind familiar Indian objects and ideas.

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