Curry Summer: An IIM Alumni’s View of Bengal Politics, Kashi & the Real India | Pranav Prattap Singh

Author and political analyst Pranav Pratap Singh, through his book “Curry Summer,” reveals that understanding India requires more than maps — it demands engaging with its civilizational memory, social fabric, and political realities. The book captures a 4-month journey after graduating from IIM Kashipur — traveling with his mother to Amritsar, visiting Kashi with friends, and experiencing elections firsthand in Kolkata. He shares grounded insights on Bangladeshi infiltration, the political dynamics of regime change in Bengal, the factors for responsible for Jharkhand losing out on development, the roots of the caste system, and the misrepresentation of history in Gangs of Wasseypur. Through this book he urges people to get out of the civilizational amnesia, see India without the colonial lens and with an open mind. Key Highlights: • Ground realities of Bangladeshi infiltration — experiences from Kolkata and Jharkhand • Political dynamics of Mamata Banerjee and BJP • Untold history of attacks on Kashi Vishwanath and the story of Nandi Maharaj • Origins, rigidity, and political role of the caste system in India About the Speakers: Pranav Prattap Singh is the founder of Matraa Consultants Pvt. Ltd., a political marketing agency that has worked with major parties like INC, BJP, LJP, and AJSU, and leaders such as Chirag Paswan and Sudesh Mahto. An alumnus of NIT Patna and IIM Kashipur, he combines analytical expertise with creative strategy, shaped by prior roles at ITC Infotech, ZS Associates, Future Group, and Jarvis Consulting. Originally from Dhanbad and now based in Ranchi, he remains closely connected to the political landscape of Jharkhand and has worked across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. His debut book Curry Summer blends travel, spirituality, politics, and personal reflection to explore contemporary India. Ananmika is an Associate with Garuda Publications. Topics Covered: 00:00:00 Introduction – The Indian Mindset 00:01:08 Meeting Pranav Prattap Singh – Author of Curry Summer 00:02:16 Curry Summer - Beyond a travelogue 00:06:48 Family Crisis, Grief and Travels with Mother 00:13:18 Amritsar: Jallianwala Bagh, Attari, and civilizational trauma 00:18:04 Kolkata: First real political exposure during elections 00:23:06 Bangladeshi settlement near the Ganga — a shocking experience 00:29:06 Real impact of SIR in Bengal 00:34:04 Signals of change in Mamata Banerjee’s speeches — regime change? 00:38:07 Tata Nano, Mamata’s rise, and Modi’s branding connection 00:47:18 Kashi trip: Story of Nandi Maharaj & Civilizational Amnesia 01:01:40 Jharkhand – From Riches to Present 01:07:47 Caste Politics and the Historical Reasons for it 01:19:00 Gangs of Wasseypur: Historical Misattribution or Propaganda 01:27:14 Understanding India – From Monuments to Humans #CurrySummer #TravelIndia #BengalPolitics #KashiVishwanath #CasteSystem #IndianHistory Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nhAUpe7aBm1rFCBgoWWcA/join Join our YouTube channel to get updated on new video releases: SangamTalks : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalks SangamTalks Hindi : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksHindi SangamTalks Business : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamBusiness SangamTalks Punjabi : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksPunjabi SangamTalks Tamil : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksTamiz SangamTalks Malayalam : https://www.youtube.com/@sangamtalksmalayalam SangamTalks Bangla : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksBangla SangamTalks Marathi : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksMarathi SangamTalks Kannada : https://www.youtube.com/@sangamTalkskannada SangamTalks Bhojpuri : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksBhojpuri SangamTalks Religion : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksReligion SangamTalks History : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksHistory SangamTalks IKS : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksIKS SangamTalks Media : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksClips SangamTalks Shorts : https://www.youtube.com/@SangamTalksShorts For updates, you may follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sangamtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sangamtalks/ Telegram: https://t.me/sangamtalks Twitter /X : https://twitter.com/sangamtalks WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va95hH77z4kb3h4JaD1s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sangamtalks Website: https://www.sangamtalks.org Donate: https://www.sangamtalks.org/donate