How News, Power & Propaganda Shape Nations | Juggi Bhasin

Описание: In this episode of the Akhil Kothari Podcast, we sit down with Juggi Bhasin — journalist, geopolitical observer, and bestselling author of The Terrorist, The Avenger, Bollywood Deception, and other works exploring power, espionage, and global conflict.

This conversation spans decades of journalism, media transformation, geopolitics, nuclear history, and the future of news. From being part of the early Doordarshan era to interviewing global leaders like Kim Il-sung and Mikhail Gorbachev, Juggi Bhasin shares rare, first-hand experiences from the frontline of history.

We also explore how journalism shifted from public service to business, how technology reshaped narratives, why podcasts are rising, and whether freedom of speech truly exists in today’s media landscape.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 Intro
1:22 – Who is Juggi Bhasin?
1:47 – How he became Doordarshan’s first international news journalist
4:08 – First journalist to cover the Babri Masjid incident
4:43 – Interviewing the former North Korean leader
5:32 – How technology transformed the news ecosystem
7:42 – Does the government really control the news narrative?
9:24 – How Indian news gradually turned into a business
10:47 – Why audiences are shifting toward podcasts
14:44 – How major issues shifted from offline to online
18:17 – Opportunity to interview Kim Il-sung
24:57 – Interviewing Mikhail Gorbachev
27:57 – Transition into entrepreneurship and return to journalism
28:52 – The Agent Rana controversy
31:30 – Why art must provoke thought (Dhurandhar reference)
32:32 – His book Lies, Spies and the Nuclear Rise — 1974 & India’s nuclear decision
37:12 – Global geopolitics explained
46:22 – Is freedom of speech truly present in India?
53:57 – What exactly is liberalism?

👤 About the Guest

Juggi Bhasin is a veteran journalist and bestselling author whose work spans media, espionage, geopolitics, and global affairs. His books — including The Terrorist, The Avenger, and Bollywood Deception — examine the intersection of power, intelligence, and political strategy.

He was among the early journalists in India’s television era and has conducted high-profile interviews with global leaders, offering rare insights into diplomacy, propaganda, and international power structures.

🔍 What This Episode Explores

Evolution of Indian journalism from Doordarshan to digital media

Whether governments shape media narratives

News as business vs news as public service

Rise of podcasts and decline of traditional media trust

First-hand stories from global political interviews

India’s nuclear moment in 1974 and its geopolitical implications

Liberalism, free speech, and ideological conflict

How technology changed how truth spreads

This is not just a media discussion — it’s a conversation about power, narrative, and information.

🎯 Why You Should Watch

If you’re interested in:
journalism and media transformation
geopolitics and global history
nuclear policy and India’s strategic past
freedom of speech and liberalism debates

This episode offers rare perspective from someone who witnessed it first-hand.

👍 Like the video if you value long-form conversations
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🔁 Share with someone interested in media & geopolitics
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