Books and Authors Podcast By Hindustan Times - HT Smartcast cover art

Books and Authors

Books and Authors

By: Hindustan Times - HT Smartcast
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In this podcast, National Books Editor Manjula Narayan tells you about books, authors and their journeys. This is a Hindustan Times production, brought to you by HT Smartcast Art Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Road to Zanskar

    The Road to Zanskar
    Mar 26 2026
    "Even in winter, twice a month, the first postmen in Zanskar in the 1980s climbed rock faces and crossed frozen rivers -- if you fell in, you could die -- in a journey that took three days, to deliver the post. Then, there's the first allopathic nurse in the region, who once walked without stopping through deep snow for three nights to save a woman in labour. What extreme tourists do today for fun, these people did as part of their regular lives. I had to put down their stories before they were forgotten"- April Fonti, author, The Story Keepers; Voices from a Changing Zanskar, talks to Manjula Narayan about the many strong personalities in the region and their almost superhuman talents, faith and conflict, how modernity has both improved lives and changed the quality of intergenerational relationships, and how local people are adapting to climate change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • Slow and steady wins the race

    Slow and steady wins the race
    Mar 20 2026
    "The fossil fuel age gave us speed. This, on the one hand, allows us to think, 'I'm going faster', but it never defines 'faster to where, and to what?' You become a victim of speed -- always trying to catch up with yourself. The climate crisis is a result of chasing speed mindlessly, endlessly. Slow living is mindful; it's caring of the earth and of community. Healing our relationship with the Earth is the most urgent matter of our times. We need to learn from the Earth how to be an intelligent species." - Vandana Shiva, environmental activist and food sovereignty advocate, talks to Manjula Narayan about her latest book, Slow Living; What You Can Do About Climate Change Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • The quiet pull of the Pune police procedural

    The quiet pull of the Pune police procedural
    Mar 12 2026
    "The way I look at it, whydunnit is actually more important than whodunnit. There are only so many permutations and combinations you can think of in terms of whodunnit. It's finite whereas whydunnit is extremely important because what drives the person? I read a lot of news and I really wonder about the depths to which people can fall"- Salil Desai, author, 26 Bones; An Inspector Saralkar Mystery talks to Manjula Narayan about writing successful murder mysteries set in Pune, the biting wit of his main character, using parallel tracks in storytelling and the exacting nature of crime fiction fans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 mins
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