Vijay
Hi Abhinandan,
I’m a long-time listener and frequent letter-writter (I have one this week for your consideration). I really do think you should keep reading letters and that you should do as many as possible (ideally all) on the show.
But I must confess I’ve always thought that your method of handling letters is quite odd. What makes it worse is that you make excellent resolutions (that you’ll only read out 150 words, or that you’ll have a special issue for letters only) and then you promptly reverse your decision a few weeks down the line.
Here are my thoughts on this:
1) Classify your letters: There are a number of types of letters I’m seeing. There are those that want to disagree with the views of some panelist in a previous episode which demand a response. There are others that ask you to comment on a specific issue that’s less current, but might be more about your model or the state of the media, etc. Both of these categories probably need to be read out – the first group needs to be read out asap (because they are current issues), the second can probably wait a few weeks.
Then there are words of appreciation for the show or panelists. I think your ego, and that of the writers, would require that you read these out verbatim. Thankfully they’re usually short.
There’s a fluctuating number of technical support messages (app not working, RSS not updating). These DON’T need to be read, and shouldn’t even be counted.
2) Do a survey of your listeners. Many of us don’t want the letter to be read out but we do want to know you’ve read them and might think about them. Sometimes we do it to provoke a discussion between you which means that, yes, it does have to be read out live on the show. But there’s really no point in reading out a letter just to say “I hear you” and “hmm” or whatever. If you know that none of you as panelists want to respond on air, I don’t think I would want my letter to be read out.
3) I still think much of this would be better served by discussion. I used to love the NL Chatbox because it was text-based (and I could stay anonymous as I prefer) and it was possible to carry on a long back and forth interaction with you guys. In the Zoom video on the other hand, it’s all Q&A where we ask, you answer, and then move on. There’s less space for either of us to develop a disagreement. If you would have something like that (Discord did this exactly but you don’t seem to like it) more regularly, I think you would have less pressure on the Hafta letters. It seems particularly strange that your younger reporters aren’t willing to be on Discord to talk about their stories. I would have expected them to be excited and to want to talk. Nidhi, Ayush and Meghnad were the last crop of NL who engaged with Discord. Shardool still does, but he seems to pop in and out.
4) I prefer the extra to a hurried letter reading. But maybe you should think about AI to summarise to 150 words, rather than insisting on a 150 word limit? Alternatively, I really do think that censoring at 150 words was a good idea. I also like the periodic letter reading episodes, but would prefer you do it in a week when everyone is there. Or maybe you can get recorded soundbyte responses from people who aren’t there as well? if they’re willing, at least as an experience
Kaushik Jayaram
Dear Abhinandan,
I wrote a letter last week in response to a discussion in NL Hafta, but it was not read out. While I agree that it is difficult to read long letters, and mine was about 250 words, some exceptions are possible, or at least you could read out the gist. I wrote to repudiate Amit Verma's annoying and oft-repeated assertion that the 1991 reforms lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. This is a rather widely held but incorrect view, which needs to be contested, as otherwise, many of your young listeners might well believe it. Unfortunately, this can't be done in a brief letter; it requires a more detailed explanation. You may be doing a disservice to your readers by not reading out such letters.
Coincidentally, after I wrote my letter to NL Hafta, I found a letter in The Economist (March 15, 2025) which argues my point much more effectively than I could.
Warm regards,
Kaushik
Sonali
Listening to the Hafta after a long time (needed a break from the mad, mad world). It does add a little something to the news and opinions one gets from a good local newspaper (in my case, that’s Deccan Herald).
Abhinandan’s rant on the patriotism definition debate was quite “anti-national”; needless to say, I too subscribe to the view.
Also, I recommend the Real Science of Sport podcast to all media people who wish to express themselves – and not sound like the neighbourhood uncle/aunty – on the matter of transgender athletes in women sports.
Shoor
A religious zealot would rather shout “blasphemy” to silence the sceptics than engage and change their mind. It's the same when progressives run away from uncomfortable questions, citing imaginary dangers. It's because they are scared of realizing that they don't fully agree with the dogma. Should a transman go to a man's prison? Should a 6'3" man be allowed to wrestle with a 5'6" woman? Should we respect ze/zir, fey/fir and other neo-pronouns? The realisation of this self-doubt is too hard, it's a lot easier to evade questions by thrusting “JK Rowling” and “Imane Khelif” into the conversation.
I wish that my fellow progressives would realise that we are in a minority when it comes to a lot of our views. And every time we shut down a conversation, we are handing the loudspeaker to people like Trump. They take up the space to change the mind of fence-sitters using insane claims and stories.
Tushar
Panel, your thoughts on how to reduce brain rot content consumption and increase intellectual consumption? So easy to get stuck on IG reels and memes. After tiredness from my day job, it's even harder. Deep realisation about my own content consumption habits hit me hard during the recent IGL controversy and I'm trying to make active changes.
NL Hafta is helping.
On too many mails problem – one idea is polling on Reddit and reading the top most upvoted weekly emails/questions. CGPGrey, the YouTuber, does this if you want to see his implementation.
Meet
Abhinandan’s comments on the US having strong institutions has aged very well. Also cancel culture is only a thing when it goes against the dominant narrative and trans people have never had power anyways.
Sreekanth
Hello,
Long time subscriber of NL. Wanted to write this letter to yell at my fellow subscribers as you folks are too courteous to do so.
I don’t understand this need for writing detailed manuscripts as letters and the entitlement to demand explanation when they are not read out. Folks seem to think their letters being read out on Hafta is the only thing standing between us and dystopia. You all have made it clear that you read in full. That should be enough for feedback.
I would strongly recommend putting the letters through an LLM and reading out a 150-word summary. I heard Jayashree say “Let’s not feed the AI” but that horse has left the stable long back. Everything we put out on the internet in any form is used to train LLMs. For something like public articles and letters, using LLMs is fair game IMO.
Loving South Central. Kudos.
Dr Sneha
Oppression is invisible to the unoppressed. Abhinandan, you are often complaining about too much wokeness. On the contrary, there isn't enough. You are an upper class, upper caste (?), straight male, and have never been marginalised. Your views on LGBTQ+ were unsurprisingly, not shared by the other three female panelists. In a feminist uprising, LGBTQ+ would be natural allies, not men, and not even orthodox women!
Please don't trivialise another person's lived experience of oppression.
Your views are often insidiously misogynistic, as on a recent AnA episode where you discussed Mrs. You speak for a majority of Indian men (sadly) when you declare that you'd rather go to bed hungry than enter the kitchen.
With respect to LGBTQ+ – to say that you all are unaffected parties is un-selfaware. As Fannie Lou Hamer said, “Nobody's free until everybody's free.”
Do better.
Nithila
Extremely amused by Abhinandan adding a disclaimer that his views are because of his maleness and privilege, and then proceeding to be the loudest voice in the room claiming that there is no nuanced conversation on the topic, drowning out all the nuance around him.
Gautam
Dear NL and team,
I’ve been a subscriber for 3 years and counting, and I’m writing regarding the Toadies episode featuring AS, MP and MN. There’s a moment where AS does “Aaj Friday Hey” and it cracks me up every time I watch it. I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to share any behind-the-scenes details about that moment, and if AS would consider re-enacting it.
Keep up the fantastic work!
Anonymous
Hello.
Regarding last week’s discussion on LGBT issues and “wokeism”, I was disappointed in everyone’s arguments as a glaringly silly point about “endangering future generations” was ignored from a subscriber’s mail. Do people at NL believe that India will go into population decline by allowing rights to the LGBT community? Even a hetero couple might choose to avoid having children or adopt or go in for IVF, same applies to people on the queer spectrum.
About me – as a 30-year-old man who came out to his family recently, I am being forced into a rigorous conversion therapy, having heard suggestions ranging from “homoeopathy” to “alcoholism” to “having sex with cousins”. Abhinandan, the wokeism you talk about, with all its faults, imparts courage to me and countless children and adults fighting to live in this society.
Lastly, to the letter writer – I don’t want your respect, just to have rights and privileges, same as you. Kindly keep this ANONYMOUS.
Sanaee
Hi all,
After listening to the discussion on LGBTQ rights, I wanted to ask about the LTA episode we were promised after the Imane Khelif case. I think even with three women bringing nuanced points to the table, Abhinandan was still quite dismissive. This is possibly the reason why he is somewhat disliked as the host. Seema was absolutely fantastic. Abhinandan, please listen more when you know you are the “uncle”. Overall, a wonderful episode this week, appreciated the nationalism/patriotism debate.
Keep up the good work, and please invite people like Seema and Shahrukh Alam more often.
N747
Why is there no mechanism for renewing a subscription before it expires? I want to block some money when I have it (like when I got a bonus) for Newslaundry. I thought I would rather renew it before my current one expires, but it looks like I have to start an RD till my current subscription ends and then withdraw from RD and pay for subscription. I would absolutely do this for all other entertainment options and happily keep the Interest, for Newslaundry, I would rather renew it early and make you in charge of the money. When it comes to entertainment, I might decide to go without a subscription for 3-4 months and spend the money elsewhere.
Mittu Tittu
Hi team. Have been a long time subscriber (ever since I got a job) but have followed NL since inception (Madhu’s show was the hook) and have written to the team under several assumed names. Apropos a new show for Anand, I have wanted to watch a print media critique show for a long time where the host goes through the front pages of the papers and magazines and analyse their coverage of big issues – a la Newsance for print/written media. Considering NL’s USP, this could be right in your wheelhouse. Keep up the great work! Love you all!
Rakshit
First mail: I'm writing to second that the breadth and depth of Anand's knowledge sometimes disturbs me.
Second mail: Amit and Anand are my favorite voices in Indian podcasting, so hearing them together in one episode was a privilege. Their conversations dive deep – engaging, insightful, and often surprising.
With growing anticipation for Anand’s new show, I’d love to hear him do ‘The Seen and the Unseen’ grilling Amit on his skepticism toward India’s election system and constitution, from its framing to its current structure. While I respect Amit’s views, I disagree. I want Anand to challenge him with counterarguments, examples, and nuances Amit’s privileged background may not have led him to consider.
I name Anand my champion to battle Amit’s distrust of India’s constitution and electoral system.
Cyril
In Episode 524, Anand, while describing the contributions of Nalanda University, mentioned about zero '0' being the foundation of Information science. I want to point out that the 0 used in information science/digital domain is different from the number 0. While in information science, 0 refers to a state (mostly LOW state), in the number system theory 0 is a number. Aryabhatta's zero is a number and not a state. Unfortunately, many don't understand the difference.
Taranjot
Hi team,
Hope you’re doing well! I am 22 and with my small salary, I have subscribed annually.My main motive was to support the effort as I have been seeing you guys on YouTube and improving my english also. But as I read the articles and podcasts, specially Hafta, the one with Malini (love that show because of her, tell her if you can) on it and also the Books section. Thanks for the effort you guys put in. I am 2000s born, when I started following the news it was the Godi era, it feels fresh to read and listen to you guys.
Thanks again and let me know if you guys reply to this on any podcast, I would love to hear your reply!
Adish
While hearing the Ranveer Allahbadia case, the Supreme Court made some oral observations, and I quote, "Humour is something the entire family can enjoy, nobody feels embarrassed. Using all filthy language is not talent.” It seems the Supreme Court is trying to define humour, and limit its scope based on morality. Is there some legal or constitutional basis for this? How is the experience of other jurisdictions which have tried to impose restrictions on humour? To what extent does it "save" young people from corrupting influences? It would be good to have some legal experts discuss this.
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