Beyond Borders Podcast

HOW FAIR IS TODAY'S MEDIA | WOMEN IN POWER | EQUALITY and MORE Ft. Debarati Guha

In this episode of Beyond Borders Podcast, our host Aakriti Dhawan is joined by Debarati Guha, Director of Programs for Asia at DW (Deutsche Welle). Together, they discuss issues that deeply affect women in everyday life, often ignored, as well as the fairness of the media in 2026. From being gifted a sewing machine instead of a bicycle as a young girl to constantly having to fight to make a place for herself in professional spaces, Guha reflects on the subtle ways patriarchy continues to shape women’s lives even today. The conversation also touches on workplace inequality, women not being taken seriously in media spaces, how empowerment is often spoken about without real shifts in power truly being accepted, and the unsafe realities many women still face, from rape threats and domestic violence to female foeticide and the lack of basic dignity and safety that still exists for women in many parts of society. This is a conversation about feminism, patriarchy, and womanhood. 0:00 - 1:27 Introduction 1:28 - 5:00 Growing up in an orthodox family 5:01 - 9:49 Being a "headstrong" woman at work 9:50 - 13:11 How to raise boys to respect women 13:12 - 19:21 Surviving orthodox DW language services 19:22 - 29:07 Periods, pain, and career survival 29:08 - 35:38 The pay gap & the "child vs. career" trap 35:39 - 39:14 Is women's empowerment just fake branding? 39:15 - 41:57 How the West misinterprets South Asia 41:58 - 44:13 The privilege debate: Caste & class in media 44:14 - 48:27 Does newsroom orthodoxy still exist? 48:28 - 53:44 Indian media & the death of democracy 53:45 - 56:52 How WW2 history shapes German media 56:53 - 59:35 What global news is missing 59:36 - 1:01:31 Correcting the Western narrative 1:01:32 - 1:03:00 The DW project representing South Asia 1:03:01 - 1:04:22 Final advice to go Beyond Borders Listen on Spotify & all audio platforms Follow Beyond Borders for weekly conversations that challenge comfort zones . #Podcast #Feminism #WomenInMedia Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Our host, Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #DebaratiGuha #DeutscheWelle #BeyondBordersPodcast #WorkplaceInequality #WomenEmpowerment #Patriarchy #GenderEquality #WomenLeaders Subscribe for more Listen on Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdImNjwzf4NsLeVWDDAMy?si=lEWL0aogR-q_0Br7r9-a1w [https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdImNjwzf4NsLeVWDDAMy?si=lEWL0aogR-q_0Br7r9-a1w]] Follow us on Instagram: @beyond_borderspod [https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/]

PART 1: The Untold Story About Bose, Partition & West Bengal Ft. Surya Kumar Bose

In this episode of the Beyond Borders Podcast, our host Aakriti Dhawan is in conversation with Surya Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Together, they dive into themes of politics, pre-independence India, the chapters of Indian history that most of us were simply never told and the present Indo-German connection that ties it all together “Can you ever truly belong to two worlds, or are you forever caught in the friction between them?" From the streets of Berlin to the heart of the Indian freedom struggle, Surya Kumar Bose navigates a dual identity that challenges everything we know about the meaning of "home. "He reflects on the claim that pre-independence, Mohammad Ali Jinnah stated that If Subhash Chandra Bose returns to India, he would drop the idea of partition and pakistan, discusses the relationship of Hitler and Netaji and reveals the truth about the declassification of Netaji secret files in 2015 and it's real political connection with Mamata Banerjee and touches on Indian history, the erasure of the Mughal period from textbooks, and what it means to carry a legendary name in a foreign land. Surya Kumar Bose speaks about the chapters of history that textbooks choose to skip, and hearing them from someone who grew up in the shadow of this legacy gives you clarity and a new lens for looking at history that you didn't know you needed. STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 This is a conversation about history, identity, and the courage to look at the past without filters. Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:15 Introduction 01:15 - 04:30 Why Surya Kumar Bose Speaks About Netaji's Legacy 04:30 - 08:00 Netaji's Vision for India: Planning, Casteism & What Could Have Been 08:00 - 11:30 Indo-German Relations & Netaji's International Alliances 11:30 - 15:00 Netaji's Core Values: Religion, Secularism & Leading by Example 15:00 - 18:30 The Temple Story, The Tika & One Kitchen for All 18:30 - 21:30 Language, Hindustani & The Roman Script Netaji Wanted 21:30 - 25:30 Partition, Jinnah & The Mistake That Divided India 25:30 - 29:00 Mamata Banerjee, The Declassification & The RTI 29:00 - 33:00 The Shanawaz Commission & Nehru's Role in Suppressing the Truth 33:00 - 36:30 Surya Kumar's Father Carrying Secret Letters & The Risk of Execution 36:30 - 39:00 Netaji, Hitler & The Nazi Gas Chambers 39:00 - 40:00 India, The Holocaust & What We Refuse to Learn from History 40:00 - 41:00 Social Media, Gaza & WhatsApp University 🎧 Listen on Spotify & all audio platforms 📲 Follow Beyond Borders for weekly conversations that challenge comfort zones. #NetajiSubhasChandraBose #SuryaKumarBose #Jinnah #Partition #BoseFiles #IndianHistory #SubhasChandraBose #BeyondBorders #Independence #Hitler #MamataBanerjee #TMC #BJP #India #Podcast #elections #westbengal #modi #pakistan Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Our host, Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #BeyondBordersPodcast #PodcastForChange #InspiringStories #IndoGerman #GlobalPerspectives #Conversation #IndiansInGermany #HistoryUncut #MeaningfulConversations 🔔 Subscribe for more 🎧 Listen on Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YR7 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YR7]..] 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @beyond_borderspod

She Came Out at 50. Here’s What No One Talks About | Raga D’Silva

Women's Day Special: Raga D'silva shares her journey of coming out in her late 40s, navigating stigma, resilience, and ultimately embracing her truth. From surviving trauma and discrimination to building platforms like Speaking Minds and Older Queer Voices, Raga's story is one of courage, feminism, and advocacy. LETS CELEBRATE TOGETHER This episode discusses themes including abuse, identity, violence, and personal transformation. Some listeners may find parts of this conversation emotionally sensitive. 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Coming out at 49: the first public declaration 04:30 – Labels: lesbian, bisexual, or simply authentic 07:20 – Early struggles, family trauma, and stigma in New Zealand 12:45 – Balancing career achievements with identity 16:30 – Founding Speaking Minds and the power of storytelling 21:00 – Feminism explained: etiquette vs. equality 26:15 – Resilience against hate and online abuse 30:40 – Creating Older Queer Voices podcast 35:00 – Reflections on living two lives and embracing truth 38:20 – Advice for anyone going beyond borders #LGBTQPodcast #womensday #feminism #strong #abuse #cominghout #marriage #women #indianwomen #freedom #lgbtq #community

Award- Winning Filmmaker on Trans Lives in India, Belonging, Gender Identity & the British Lens | Meera Darji

Beyond Borders Podcast X Birmingham City University, Aakriti Dhawan sits down with an award-winning filmmaker and Senior Lecturer at BCU, Meera Darji for a powerful conversation on the lived realities of India’s trans community — the search for belonging, the gaps in public understanding of gender, and the impact of viewing Indian trans identities through a Western/UK lens. The discussion explores how conversations around gender in India are often shaped either by silence or by imported frameworks that don’t always reflect local histories and cultural contexts. From identity and visibility to policy, media narratives, and everyday belonging, this episode examines what gets misunderstood — both within India and abroad. This is a nuanced, honest conversation about community, dignity, and the need to build gender awareness beyond binaries and beyond borders. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1iCK3rTLGlE?si=VjMg2_ArWwpmqfQD [https://youtu.be/1iCK3rTLGlE?si=VjMg2_ArWwpmqfQD] Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/] Apply Podcast: #TransCommunity #LGBTQIndia #GenderIdentity #TransRights #Belonging #QueerVoices #India #BeyondBorders

“Our People Are Buried Under the Debris” | Palestinian Ambassador on Reconstruction & India’s Role

In this episode of Beyond Borders Podcast X The Wire, Aakriti Dhawan speaks with the Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, on the humanitarian devastation in Gaza, the politics of “ceasefire,” and the role of international actors. The Ambassador challenges the language used around the conflict, shares personal accounts from his family in Gaza, and outlines the scale of destruction — with reconstruction estimated at $57 billion. The conversation also examines India’s position on the two-state solution, its diplomatic leverage with Israel, divisions within Palestinian politics, and whether meaningful peace is still possible. Referencing international law, UN Resolution 181, and global anti-colonial struggles, this interview brings a direct Palestinian perspective to Indian audiences in an urgent and deeply political moment Youtube: https://youtu.be/ISlqktwPyqI?si=RTafpN6SMY146cIy [https://youtu.be/ISlqktwPyqI?si=RTafpN6SMY146cIy] . #beyondborderspodcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/beyondborderspodcast] #Gaza [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/gaza] #GazaWar [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/gazawar] #Palestine [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/palestine] #IsraelPalestine [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/israelpalestine] #HumanitarianCrisis [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/humanitariancrisis] #Ceasefire [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/ceasefire] #TwoStateSolution [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/twostatesolution] #MiddleEast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/middleeast] #IndiaForeignPolicy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/indiaforeignpolicy] #GlobalPolitics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/globalpolitics] #WarInGaza [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/waringaza] / @thewirenews [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWtJey46brNr7qHQpN6KLQ/join]