Longing for an Elsewhere: the cultural impulses of our Development Model | In Focus Weekend

In this episode of In Focus Weekend Podcast, we speak to Chandan Gowda, a noted sociologist. He is currently the Dean of School of Liberal Arts, Vidyashilp University, Bengaluru. He has formerly worked with National Law School of India University Bengaluru, Azim Premji University and Institute of Social and Economic Change.His recent book “Longing for an Elsewhere: Mysore and the making of India’s Developmental State”, traces the trajectory of the model of development free india adopted to one of its origins in the Mysore state during colonial times. It argues development is not just an economic argument, but deeply cultural. The book is also interesting in how it traces the rise of technocrats and experts in the administration and records contemporary dissent. The book while dealing with history surprisingly speaks to contemporary concerns.Host: Aditya BharadwajProducer: Shiksha JuralVideo: Ravichandran NListen to more In Focus podcasts: Published - September 19, 2026 05:48 pm IST