India’s Fans – From Punkha to Ceiling

Ambassador : King of the Road, Ghost of the State

In this episode of That’s the Thing, Jimmy, Kavya, and Atharva slide into the wide, unyielding backseat of an Ambassador—the car that defined Indian power, politics, and pothole strategy for over five decades. It was a diesel beast. A monocoque marvel. And a boot space that no hatchback today can touch. Modelled after the British Morris Oxford, the Ambassador became the official ride for every babu, neta, and dignitary that mattered. By the 1960s, it wasn’t just on the road—it was the road. Jawaharlal Nehru may have swapped it out for a Cadillac when foreign guests arrived, but Lal Bahadur Shastri made his preferences clear: “I want them to know that the Indian Prime Minister is traveling in a car made in India.” It had fans beyond the government. R.K. Laxman, creator of The Common Man, only drove a black Ambassador. His cartoons? Usually featured one too. But by the '90s, everything changed. Liberalisation flooded Indian roads with Marutis, Daewoos, and Hyundais. Suddenly, spotting a non-Ambassador was a game 90s kids played from the backseat. And soon enough, that backseat was in a Santro. In 2002, Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the first PM to ditch the Ambassador for a BMW—security, they said. By 2014, production of the Ambassador ended. Quietly. Then came another blow. On May 1, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially ended India’s Laal Batti (red beacon) culture. Overnight, the red-domed Ambassadors vanished—no longer a moving symbol of VIP authority. And just like that, the car that once announced power fell silent. Still, it lingers. In some parking lots. In the collective memory of a nation that once measured status by how high the flagpole rose from the hood. It may be called the white elephant. But try denting it—you’ll see who wins. Discover more shows in English, Hindi, and Kannada: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university [https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university] Follow us on Instagram: @radioazimpremjiuniv Credits Produced by Jimmy Xavier. Radio Azim Premji University: 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, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

The Flip Flopped Story of Hawai Chappal

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

Rooh Afza, With Love (and Ice cubes)

In this episode of That’s the Thing, Jimmy, Kavya, and Atharva trace the story of a drink that’s as familiar as the fridge door you were scolded for leaving open. Rooh Afza—part Unani medicine, part summer memory—has travelled from 1906 Delhi to iftar tables, school holidays, and millions of kitchen shelves across South Asia.. You know the scene. The fan is on full. The kids are back from the sun, dusty and loud. Someone’s yelling about a sixer. Someone’s sprawled under the fan. The fridge opens—too long. Inside is a jug of Rooh Afza. Cold. Pink. Just sweet enough. In 1906, in the blistering heat of Delhi, Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed crafted a syrup to cool the body against the loo —the dry, hot gusts of North Indian summers. A Unani antidote. Herbal. Fragrant. Fortifying. His wife, Rabia Begum, helped name it—drawing from the Persian Masnawi Gulzarein Naseeb, where Rooh Afza was a celestial figure. Daughter of heaven. It was more than marketing. It was storytelling in a bottle. The Hamdard empire grew. But history split the subcontinent—and the Hamdard family. One brother stayed in India. Another went to Pakistan. One pillar. Two homes. Two versions of Rooh Afza. Same name, same flavour, same purpose. Both branches were turned into charitable trusts, preserving the name Hamdard as a mission, not just a brand. By 2023, over 4 crore bottles of Rooh Afza were sold annually. Still made with 30 ingredients, from herbs and roots to fruits and flowers. Still pink. Still poured into milk, lemon water, or just cold water. More than just a drink, it has become part of the everyday rhythm of summer, ritual, and memory. Discover more shows in English, Hindi, and Kannada: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university [https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university] Follow us on Instagram: @radioazimpremjiuniv Credits Produced by Jimmy Xavier. Radio Azim Premji University: 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, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

India’s Fans – From Punkha to Ceiling

Cricket chants, ceiling fans, colonial courts. In this episode, Jimmy, Kavya, and Atharva trace the wild journey of the Indian fan — from movie mania to punkhawalas, peacock whisks, and regulator dials. From hand-pulled breezes to hero worship — it’s all in the air. Listen now. Credits: Produced by Jimmy Xavier. Radio Azim Premji University: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Sheshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

India's Obsession with Gold

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 [https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university] Follow us on Instagram: @radioazimpremjiuniv 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, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.