Watch Previous Events

Chair: Vishnu Nair Speaker: Subhash Jogia In October 2021, Facebook announced it was hiring 10,000 people to develop and run the metaverse, changing their name to Meta in the process. Technologists are predicting in 10-15 years we will all be interacting or living in the metaverse, and companies are clearly investing heavily in it. But what is it and will it really revolutionise our lives? Would life in the metaverse hold the same value as our real life, and if adopted by society, what impact will that have on communities and nations for future generations? Or is it just another gimmick - an extension of social media with the aim of consuming our time? Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3twAApl3UpBJOYBzryabZv Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-vm-podcast/id1548216705 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Chair: Rajashekar Asireddy Speaker: Professor Elizabeth David-Barrett How do we ensure that politicians use their power for the right purposes? Since the ‘cash for questions’ scandal in the UK in the 1990s, a system to maintain standards in public life was established. Yet, this has been recently put under particular strain, with several politicians having seemed to breach these standards, bringing their integrity into question. Is the existing standards system fit for purpose? Is there a cultural problem in British national politics? And what is the sustainable alternative? Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Chair: Gaurang Bhatt Speaker: Adam Wagner Safety and Liberty are both key principles of a prosperous and liberal democracy, these ideas are often at odds with each other. Governments are perpetually having to strike a balance between the two. What institutions are in place to maintain this balance in the UK and how do they do so? To what extent should we allow either value to encroach on the other? How much Liberty can we give up for the safety of ourselves and others around us? Conversely, should Liberty be upheld no matter what the implications are for our safety? Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

The rise of Decentralised Finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrency is making large strides towards integration within the financial ecosystem. Can DeFi challenge the traditional banking industry and surpass it in the future or is it the latest fad based on a fantasy currency? As modern methods of payment and virtual currencies proliferate, and issuers of digital currencies get more established, do they need to be regulated and if not, what impact could it have on society? Can a decentralised system even be regulated? How does DeFi, in its current format, align to the classical ideas of Dharma - does it benefit the greatest number, minimise harm, or create a society that meets human needs? Join us for our first Fireside of the year, to better understand the nuances of DeFi.   ---- Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our bookclubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK Twitter: https://twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Could the West ever embrace Dharma? Or are Western values too distinct, too deep rooted for Dharma to show us a way out of the fly bottle? Hear Amish Tripathi and Rajiv Malhotra discuss how political philosophy could learn from the narratives of long standing civilisations. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/could-the-west-ever-embrace-dharma-tickets-136093157297 Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our bookclubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK Twitter: https://twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Every individual needs shelter in order to flourish. Yet in the UK, an estimated 250,000 homeless people were living in temporary accommodation in England at the end of June 2020, the highest figures for 14 years (Shelter). Self-contained accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic was found for over 33,000 rough sleepers or those at risk of rough sleeping by the end of November 2020 (National Audit Office). There is no easy solution to homelessness, which requires policy responses from charities and the state and the contribution of individuals. Homeless charities have adopted as their goal the eradication of homelessness. But what causes homelessness? Is the work that charities do in the UK a sustainable solution to homelessness? Do they make our society more socially responsible for tackling it? And how successfully do they help the homeless to flourish, maintain good wellbeing and become responsible members of society? Join us in conversation with Jon Sparkes to explore the role of charities in sustainably solving the problem of homelessness in British society. Chair: Pravar Petkar, PhD Law at The University of Edinburgh Speaker: Jon Sparkes, CE Crisis Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our bookclubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK Twitter: https://twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

The recent farmer’s protests in India have garnered widespread media, and social media attention. A seemingly run of the mill reform bill in the Agricultural sector in the world’s largest democracy has ignited passions on both sides of the debate. Cutting through the smoke screens and cloaks of political power plays, Vichaar Manthan is asking the key questions. What are these farming reforms about? Who do they effect, how do they affect them, and where? Will these reforms usher in an era of modernisation and mechanisation of India’s farming industry at the cost of the small farmer? Are there external, vested interest groups at the heart of the agitation who are utilising small farmers to their own ends, or is this really a valid uprising against unjust laws? Join us as we explore the intricacies of these farm laws and get to the heart of the matter. Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

How will we feed the world in 30 years’ time? The amount of agricultural land per capita across the globe has reduced by 56% since 1961 (Our World in Data), making it increasingly difficult to sustain a growing global population. With a lack of new agricultural land available and the effects of climate change, both food security and the nutritional content of the food we produce are threatened. To ensure that we can feed the global population in 2050, we must turn to other solutions, such as lab-grown food. But can lab-grown food be produced quickly and in the quantities required? Are production processes environmentally friendly? Does cultured meat psychologically impact us and produce wholesome states of mind? And is it healthy, nutritious and economically viable? Join us in conversation with Dr Marianne Ellis to unpack all of these questions and explore the sustainability of producing lab-grown food. Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Chair: Dinaay Sharma Speaker 1: Dr. David Erritzøe Speaker 2: Henri Sant-Cassia The term 'psychedelic' was first coined by Humphry Osmond in the 1960’s to mean "mind-revealing". Since then, we have begun to witness a more systematic exploration of psychedelic compounds. Studies from institutions including John Hopkins and Imperial College London have shown potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic therapy in treating mental illnesses such as depression, addiction and anxiety. Historically, psychedelics have been used by ancient cultures around the world, from the mysterious "soma" mentioned in the Rig Veda to “kykeon” used in Ancient Greece and South American “Ayahuasca”. However, In Britain they remain "Class A drugs". What role could policy-makers play in the creation of a sustainable psychedelic space? If so, how might society integrate psychedelic use sustainably? Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Chair: Daksha Raval Speaker 1: Divya Prabha Ji Speaker 2: Sidharthji Krishna Speaker 3: Dr Ramesh Pattni Death, a fact of life, is one we cannot escape. The knowledge of our own or a loved one’s mortality can significantly dictate our thoughts and actions. From funerals and mourning traditions to wills and inheritance, can exploring our attitudes towards death give us insights into fundamental questions about life? What is a good death? Should we talk about death more? And are we friends with death? What can Dharma teach us about this inevitability? Join us as we explore these questions and find out if ultimately the answers can lead us to a more fulfilled life. Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Chair: Rajashekar Asireddy Speaker: Dr Sachin Nandha What is Sustainability? According to the UN, sustainability is defined as ‘a paradigm for thinking about the future in which environmental, societal and economic considerations are balanced in the pursuit of an improved quality of life’. This wholistic view of sustainability sounds like an obvious approach to living but seems to fall short in this melange of modernity. In reality, we live in an ever-changing complex social and political environment where market led economies dominate. Driven by limitless consumption and consumer demand, the pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle seems futile. To what extent should we rely on governments, shareholder-led enterprises or NGOs to bring about this balance? Who is responsible to ensure that we live in a world that is sustainable, one that not only secures human life, but all life on this planet? Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/

Chair: Arun Tailor Speaker: Adam Ritchie Do you understand new medical discoveries and how they impact you? Steven Pinker, in his book “Enlightenment Now”, has outlined that billions of lives have been saved by the many scientists and that life span in Europe has gone from less than 40 years in 1860 to over 80 years by 2020. History shows that vaccines are one of the scientific advances which have played a crucial role in eradicating disease and saving millions of people. With this in mind, why does there seem to be conflicting information about vaccines? How can we ensure information from scientists is effectively transmitted into society? Within the current system who is responsible for communicating this information? What processes would ensure greater accuracy? Join us in conversation with Adam Ritchie to unpack these questions and explore the topic further. Invest in ideas that matter: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/supportvm Join our book clubs: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/bookclub Listen to the podcast: https://www.vichaarmanthan.org/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VichaarManthanUK Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vichaar_manthan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vichaarmanthan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vichaar-manthan/ Medium: https://vichaarmanthan.medium.com/