- 1 week ago
The two-day event features sessions on geopolitics, artificial intelligence in warfare, robotics, health and wellness, and cricket. Participants include India's T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav and player of the tournament Sanju Samson.
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00:23Good evening and warm welcome to yet another edition of the Democratic Newsroom.
00:27This time it's a tad bit special because you could call it the curtain raiser to one of the most
00:34sought-after events and the marquee event where India Today is concerned.
00:40Our 23rd India Today conclave starts tomorrow for the course of the next two days.
00:45We will have people from all walks of life, the biggest movers, shakers, the biggest names come on one platform.
00:52And we're all very excited. We have Prane, my colleague, who's going to be tracking and interviewing all the biggest
01:00geopolitical faces.
01:01And we are living in times where there is a war which is ensuing in West Asia.
01:06Sonal is also with us.
01:09Gaurav, this in terms of conclave, what number of conclave is this for you?
01:12You think about that?
01:14Rajdeep Sardisai, a consulting editor, and Cyrus.
01:17I'm coming right back to you, Gaurav.
01:18But Rajdeep, what are you looking out for?
01:21What are the sessions that you're moderating that you're excited about?
01:25I won't go ahead. I'm excited about doing a session with the editors of India Today through the last 50
01:30years.
01:31Because between them, the editors who are there on that panel have about 360 years combined of experience and more.
01:37So just to look at the India Today covers from 1975 to 2025, 50 years is a long time.
01:44So it's quite remarkable to see the shifts.
01:46So that's something I'm looking forward to.
01:48But what I'm looking forward to is that this is a session, as you said, or a conclave that takes
01:52place in the midst of a war.
01:55A war that is likely to change the world in ways that are unimagined.
02:01And we're already seeing that happening in front of our eyes.
02:04So the truth of the matter is to watch the world, this new world order, this chaotic Trumpian world disorder
02:11play out.
02:13And then have people talk about that.
02:15And how will India deal with this new multi-aligned world, as it's being called, I think it's going to
02:22be fascinating.
02:23Well, you know, the theme for the 23rd India Today conclave this time is breakthroughs and breakdowns.
02:29And I think Rajdeep gave you a bit of an insight on what is there to offer.
02:34But Cyrus, you have a fun session with a robot, I hear.
02:40Right, right. Again, to confirm, this is a Chinese robot.
02:45We don't want any controversies.
02:47But the thing is, a lot of people are kind of trying to understand the difference between what, how different
02:53robotics is working.
02:54So this one robot is believed to have certain choreography skills, certain dance skills that we'll be showcasing.
03:00And also I'll be interacting, I cannot reveal what I'll be talking to it about.
03:04But there will be certain light moments I'll have with this robot.
03:08But the interesting bit is, I'm sure that this robot will showcase some of the world first.
03:14Because it will do choreography that we have never seen before.
03:17And it will do it live for people or audiences.
03:20So that is something that I'm looking forward to.
03:21And in terms of robotics, I think we'll get to interact and try to understand where Indian robotics are.
03:26Would you be dancing with the robot?
03:27I will try to pull off the moves. I'm not as good. But if the choreography, if the steps is
03:33something easier, maybe I'll try to dance with it.
03:35Yeah, yeah.
03:36You know, Gaurav, that's not something that you're going to do, which is dancing with the robot.
03:39I would love to see that. I have two left feet. As part of my contract, company policy, I can
03:45never dance.
03:46And not on stage. But you know what I'm really looking forward to?
03:49What number conclave is this to you?
03:51So, I've been in this company 18 years. It's my 18th conclave.
03:5417 for me.
03:55Brilliant. And it's very fascinating. Each time, it's as exciting as it was the first time.
04:01Very exciting. Now, you know, Rajdeep mentioned, people are now talking about multi-aligned world.
04:05India always talked about a multi-aligned world. So, you know, the world is coming around and seeing how India
04:11is navigating and navigating very effectively this minefield that the world is literally and figuratively in the state of Hormuz.
04:19India always talked about multi-aligned world, whatever happened to the years of non-alignment.
04:23It almost seems as if you believe that the world only started in the last few years.
04:27No, the world is changing and those who refuse to change…
04:30Say that. Say India is changing with a changing world.
04:33Don't say India has always been part of a multi-aligned world.
04:36So, you know, who would have thought that people are going to be discussing the conclave and they're going to
04:40raise that to it that they're going to get into an argument.
04:42You can't allow your rhetoric to get the better of facts.
04:44So, it's not rhetoric. You know, the thing is because India does so well, not everyone is so happy that
04:49India is doing so well.
04:49No, you're talking rubbish now, Gaurav.
04:51Now, anyway, you should at least be reasonably factual.
04:56So, the fact that it's a multi-aligned world and India is doing well, even when you were non-aligned,
05:01you weren't in any camp.
05:02When you're multi-aligned, you're in many camps and doing very well, getting best of all the words or at
05:07least trying to.
05:08But anyway, let it not hurt.
05:09Let it not hurt. The fact remains, very fascinating to know how America is dealing with situation, how India's engagement
05:18with countries like Iran, right in the middle of the war, Israel, Lebanon…
05:23All these countries, you know, they're represented here. And we'll be listening to them. We'll be… and I have reported
05:30firsthand from all these countries.
05:32So, what are you most excited about? Which session?
05:34I'm very excited about all these sessions. I'm also very excited about a session on, you know, Trump's view or
05:41America's view on radical Islamic terror and how to deal with that.
05:45That is something I'm very excited about. Science, technology, artificial intelligence. There's a session on artificial intelligence and warfare.
05:53And amazing, this war that's being fought right now, the role of artificial intelligence that hasn't been talked about very
05:59effectively…
06:00People are seeing that. That's the problem.
06:03They're not seeing it. And AI is guiding this war. It's so fascinating.
06:06Okay, so that's what, you know, that's what gets a rise out of Gaurav, literally. So, where, you know, this
06:13argument was concerned.
06:14But, okay, I want to just… let's talk about the World Cup. We're just coming back from a T20 win.
06:20Nikhil, what are you most excited about? I believe you have, what, the player of the tournament?
06:25Yes, that's correct. I mean, when I got to know the Democratic newsroom is there on the conclave, I asked
06:32Preeti, my first question was, what is the debate? How are we going to be debating?
06:35Clearly, we found ourselves in debate. Yeah, that's what I'm most happy about, that there still exists a debate, even
06:40though we're talking about the conclave.
06:41Yeah, we have the player of the tournament. I think I recently… Sanju Samson, just so that…
06:47I think, you know, I called him a destiny's child because of where he was, was part of the last
06:53World Cup, which I covered, didn't get a single game.
06:55This time, he was primed to be playing for the Indian team. He was your first choice wicket-keeper-batter.
07:00Just before the World Cup, India plays a series, he has the worst series possible, is once again left out.
07:06And I thought, okay, it's a repeat of the last World Cup, doesn't get to play a single game.
07:10It was one tactical error that India made, which allowed Sanju Samson to come back, and the rest, as they
07:16say, is history.
07:17So, yeah, really looking forward to that. So, are we only looking at Sanju Samson, or do you have some
07:20more players?
07:21We might also have the Indian captain, which is Sura Kumar Yadav.
07:26Okay, so you have the winning captain along with the player of the tournament. Very interesting.
07:32The real player of the tournament for Rajdeep, Jaspreet Bumrah.
07:36But we'll balance that out, because he'll be on the cover of your magazine.
07:40So, there you go.
07:41Okay, so everyone's happy there.
07:43We have a health session. Pranay, I'm going to come right back to you, because we had a heavy dose
07:47of geopolitics right in the beginning of what to watch out for.
07:50But we also have, Sonal, I believe lots of health sessions as well.
07:53So, what are you discussing? Longevity? What are we looking at?
07:56So, this is my first India Today conclave, and I must say, I love the mix of things that have
08:00come together.
08:02From Rajdeep's point of view, to Gaurav's, to cricket, to robotics, to geopolitics, and then health comes right in the
08:09middle of that, right?
08:10So, we've got it from different perspective. Since everybody's plugging their segments, let me just give a shout out to
08:16that.
08:16We've got two very different people who look at wellness very differently. We've got Sunil Shetty, who has biohacked his
08:24age in some way.
08:25We also have Meera Rajput, who talks about new age, right? She talks about what aura cleansing is, what red
08:32light therapy is really all about.
08:34And then we have a doctor in the middle of that. So, we have a fun game sorted out for
08:39them to understand what works, what does not work.
08:41So, it's going to be a doctor versus internet kind of a session that I'm really excited about.
08:45If I may, whether it's Anil Kapoor or Sunil Shetty, it's amazing what they've done.
08:51I've met them both and Anil Kapoor. Did you ask for tips? Did you ask for tips from them?
08:56Yeah. We want to know that. I mean both.
08:58What's the session for more guys? Absolutely.
09:00What's the session for more guys? Rajdeep, Rajdeep, you forgot a third. There's also Akshay Kumar.
09:07And he's equally fit. And Akshay Kumar.
09:10And Rajdeep and Nikhil were having a parallel conversation. But Rajdeep, two of the…
09:14He's not going to switch sessions. He wants to do my cricket session.
09:17Much easier.
09:17Anil Kapoor session.
09:18Much easier. Much easier.
09:18He wants to do Anil Kapoor.
09:20He wants to do Anil Kapoor.
09:38I fear Anil Kapoor is older. But they're fascinating. Because think about these. These are guys who've been around for
09:4350 years. 40 years. I mean, sorry, not 50. 40 years. Anil Kapoor, 80s. I think Akshay, late 80s, early
09:5090s. We're now in 2026. That's a long time. I mean, to sustain your sort of brand in some form
09:56or the other.
09:57And like you, Rajdeep, on top of the game. On top of the game.
10:01Oh, that's a compliment coming from Gaurav. That's nice. Prane, I want to get in Prane. Because Prane hasn't got
10:07a word.
10:07That's the spirit of the conclave coming in.
10:09Yeah, yeah. The conclave spirit is kicking in. I have never seen this happen.
10:13But here, everyone is moderator here. You have to moderate.
10:15No, no. But come on. To have Gaurav compliment Rajdeep on the democratic newsroom.
10:21No, no. But that is the conclave spirit. It's the truth.
10:22It's the truth.
10:23That's the conclave spirit.
10:24Aha. Okay. So, Prane.
10:26What a better timing to have diplomats. Absolutely.
10:31And you know, I just want to, you know, Prane, before you come in, the sheer fact.
10:34Because half the skies are shut.
10:37Yes.
10:37We have been able to pull in the biggest names coming in from the Middle East, from America, from Europe.
10:43Forget about skies. Even sea lanes of communication.
10:44Yeah, exactly.
10:45The state of Hormuz.
10:46Exactly.
10:47And we've been, you know, I'm sorry.
10:49There's a little bit of a pat on our back that we deserve.
10:51That we've been able to pull in all these names at a time like this.
10:54Absolutely.
10:54But over to you, Prane.
10:55Prane, what an exciting and intense and interesting time to have all these diplomats.
11:00And if, if the diplomats from Iran to Israel to United States can come on say one single platform, that
11:07is going to be India Today conclave.
11:09You will be going to hear them out.
11:12What is their perspective?
11:13How are they?
11:13So we have every voice.
11:14We have every voice.
11:15We are the most democratic platform.
11:17And that is also the beauty of India's democracy as well.
11:20And India's position as well.
11:22Our strategic position as well.
11:23We are playing neutral.
11:24But we are also becoming a neutral ground.
11:26Giving them ground.
11:27So that, so the people of India can also hear them out.
11:30That what exactly is the viewpoint.
11:32How they are, you know, trying to explain their position.
11:35Why are they fighting for?
11:36And a very interesting session about the, the Arabic representative.
11:40The, the, from the Arabic peninsula.
11:42The representatives.
11:43From the widening Gulf.
11:45Like, you know, how the, the gulf is widening.
11:48Be the, the, the gulf of trust.
11:50Be the gulf of energy.
11:52And what the geopolitics is all about.
11:54Like, the way it is taking turn.
11:56Many people are saying that this is the Berlin Wall moment for the history.
12:00So how it is going to change the, the further course.
12:02The course of history.
12:02How these top minds are thinking about it.
12:04And especially those who are steering their diplomacy with India.
12:07What do they think, how, think, how are they navigating.
12:10And also, very interesting voices from the diplomatic core.
12:14And also, you know, I don't want to steal thunder.
12:17But very interesting voices from President Trump's camp as well.
12:21Oh, you know, when he talks about President's camp.
12:23It's very interesting.
12:24Because for, for those of you who've been loyal watchers of the democratic newsroom.
12:28You do know, it's very rare that Gaurav and I are on the same side of the divide.
12:32We have a bit of a democratic newsroom at the India Today conclave this time.
12:36Where it's Gaurav and I who would be interviewing Gaurav.
12:39Conspiracy theorist.
12:40Trump loyalist.
12:41Extreme right influencer.
12:43You want to give the name out?
12:44So, I want them to watch it.
12:46Okay.
12:46I want them to watch that.
12:47If you haven't figured it out right now.
12:49I think you'd want to, you know, wait in and watch that.
12:51But let's get final words.
12:53So, Rajdeep, 23 years.
12:55You know, there is, India Today has been doing this now.
12:58We're in our 23rd year.
12:59Every year we come up with a different theme.
13:01But to do it in times of, you know, a war which is raging.
13:06Where we even discussed where, you know, half the skies are shut.
13:09To be able to pull in the biggest names in this time is a feat.
13:13One of the challenges and I think that's why the India Today conclave is special is we live in extremely
13:18hyper polarized times.
13:19In these hyper polarized times to have any kind of engagement with both sides of the divide is becoming more
13:24and more difficult.
13:25Yes.
13:25And therefore, to have a platform where you can listen to, it's not an echo chamber, which is, I think,
13:30important.
13:31You need to hear as many multiple voices as possible.
13:35And the more voices you hear, the more it is possible to perhaps, maybe I'm a dreamer about this, to
13:42eventually have some kind of solution.
13:44I doubt that you can find solutions in the times in which we live.
13:48But at least that people get to listen to voices other than their own echo chamber.
13:52So, I think, in that sense, the India Today conclave provides that kind of platform to listen to voices from
13:58left, right and center.
13:59I mean, if there is a center that exists today.
14:01Any more, right.
14:02Okay.
14:03You wanted to come in, Nikhil.
14:04Now, you've spoken about your session.
14:06Have you been able to swap sessions?
14:07I don't think that's happening.
14:08No, but I've pitched my question maybe last time.
14:12No, I've had a very…
14:13I've covered as I…
14:14That was…
14:15I covered the cricketers of a…
14:16If I may say so…
14:17Of course.
14:18Who are…
14:18Who are less…
14:21Flamboyant.
14:21No.
14:22Who are…
14:23No.
14:23Who are…
14:23Who are far more willing to express themselves as individuals without necessarily being part of a system.
14:30But that's not…
14:30I think Nikhil and I know what…
14:31What we are talking about.
14:32But Rajdeep, that's not just cricketers.
14:34And you know…
14:34Yeah, for sure.
14:34Those were times…
14:36You know, you didn't have to go through an agent to get Dev Anand to speak to you.
14:40Okay.
14:40Now, you've got to go to players…
14:42Samju Samson, it will take a lot to get reaction out of him because he didn't speak a lot.
14:46But it's a terrific story.
14:47But it's a terrific story.
14:47Cyrus knows he's his cousin from…
14:49The Mahjali…
14:49Cousin from…
14:50You can use him.
14:52Every Mahjali today is claiming to have some kind of link with Sanju Samson.
14:56No.
14:56That's not fair.
14:57I've been tracking him for a while now.
14:59It's just that I kind of felt bad that he was out of the limelight for a long time.
15:03And this opportunity that he got, he took it with both hands.
15:06I'm really happy for him that he was able to do it.
15:08Okay.
15:08But it's not just about Sanju Samson.
15:10So, I'm going to ask all of you to name a session which is completely not in your domain of
15:14expertise that you're looking forward to.
15:16And Pranay, let's begin with you.
15:18I think the session regarding AI and robotics.
15:21This is another aspect I'm looking forward for.
15:23That's an interesting area.
15:25And even the geopolitics is now being linked to the AI politics, the new generation, how the technology world is
15:31changing the geopolitics.
15:32And even the energy policy, energy diplomacy is linked with the future AI policies.
15:37So, that I would want to listen to.
15:39You'd want to look at that.
15:40Sonal.
15:41Completely out of my domain.
15:42But I'm extremely interested in understanding where gold is going next.
15:46At a time when there's an LPG crisis.
15:48God knows what's going to happen.
15:49Who's going to cook the next meal.
15:50I want to know where to put the investments.
15:52And of course, I'm interested in knowing when the war will get over.
15:55If it will get over.
15:56Gaurav.
15:57I'm interested in virtually every session.
15:59Because the best thing about India Today Conclave is,
16:01you learn so much.
16:02And when it's not your session, you can enjoy, imbibe, listen, interact.
16:07So, that's something I'm looking forward to.
16:09I'm looking forward to this session about the North East.
16:12You know, now their mainstream.
16:14How their mainstreaming is happening.
16:15Listen to some beautiful music.
16:17All of that is something I'm really keen on.
16:20You know what I'm really hoping to watch and listen into is Piku Ayer.
16:25He's one of my favorite authors.
16:26And I really am looking forward to that conversation.
16:28Cyrus, you?
16:29Well, I started my career with sports.
16:31So, I'm definitely looking forward to the session.
16:33No wonder so much talk of Sanju Samson.
16:36So, definitely I'm looking forward to that session.
16:39Nikhil.
16:40You've stolen my thunder.
16:41I was going to pick Piku Ayer.
16:43One of my favorite.
16:44But I'll go with Anil Kapoor.
16:46Because I want to know, you know, he was fit and trim even before Munjaro came along.
16:51So, what is his secret?
16:52So, I want to speak to him about that.
16:53Rajdeep, are you going to make him do the…
16:55What is that Ram Lakhan dance?
16:58You'll have to do it with him.
16:59Yeah, he does it very well.
17:00You'll have to do it with him.
17:00You'll have to do it with him.
17:01Come on.
17:02No?
17:03There was…
17:04You see, you must leave Anil Kapoor to do what Anil Kapoor does.
17:07You know, you must allow people to have their…
17:09What are the ones that you're looking forward to?
17:11Which is nothing to do with what you do.
17:14But you do everything nowadays.
17:15For once, I agree with Gaurav.
17:17I think…
17:18I do everything but politics.
17:20Which is what I should be doing.
17:21But that's another story.
17:22But you know, the fact is that…
17:24I think I'm looking forward to the variety.
17:27As I mentioned, I think it's important to have a diversity
17:30and plurality of opinion of a kind we don't even get in a TV studio.
17:34Actually, a conclave provides you a far greater diversity of opinion
17:37than what we see in a TV studio where most of the voices,
17:41you know even before they come on screen what they're going to say.
17:44So, I think to get that variety from Elon Musk's mother
17:47to, you know, her fashion model herself,
17:50to listening to Sanju Samson,
17:52to listening to right-wing influencers,
17:54to listening to Apiku Iyer,
17:56to Anil Kapoor and Akshay Kumar.
17:58I mean…
17:59Maybe you can also challenge him and use Ankur for one day.
18:01And the AI expert.
18:02So, I think the world is changing so rapidly that you need to listen to more diverse voices.
18:07And I think that's the strength of the conclave.
18:10What's a conclave secret, Gaurav, for somebody who's done it the maximum number of times on this table?
18:15So, just enjoy every moment of that conclave.
18:19When you go there with an open mind to imbibe something, you really enjoy it.
18:23Because you're rubbing shoulders with the who's who of the world.
18:27And they open up.
18:29They talk to you.
18:30And you just listen.
18:31So, I'm very fascinated.
18:33Every conclave, every agenda,
18:35you know, every panchayat,
18:37every Indian country,
18:39I love it.
18:40I just love being there and listening to people.
18:42And in the midst of all those conclaves, we have this one marquee event,
18:46which takes place every year in the national capital, the India Today Conclave.
18:50We're in our 23rd session this year.
18:52This time, it's different.
18:54It's happening in very trying times.
18:57For somebody, like I asked Gaurav, what's a conclave secret?
19:01It's the way, how seamless it is over the course of the two days.
19:04You wouldn't know the kind of effort that, you know, goes behind it,
19:08the kind of people who worked on it for over a year.
19:11Invitations start going out over a year.
19:13We had to change a few things around,
19:14keeping in mind the current dynamics and the war in West Asia.
19:19But we've been able to get a good mix.
19:21You'll get a voice coming in from everywhere
19:23and a few surprises there as well.
19:24So, do stay tuned over the course of the next two days
19:27to the India Today Conclave.
19:28And you watch it on India Today.
19:41.
19:43.
19:45.
19:46.
19:48.
19:49You
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