Loveleen Mukesh

The Hindi word 'Aatmanirbharta' was recently added to the Oxford English dictionary with its meaning in English. But the word has huge political and emotional baggage as well. Former IAS officers, the wife-and-husband duo, Loveleen Kacker and Mukesh Kacker discuss the nuances of aatmanirbharata in the 9th episode of Cineink podcast series 'Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi'.

"Aatmanirbharata is a powerful concept which resonates with citizens and stirs feelings of national pride. But what does it mean in real terms?" ask Loveleen and Mukesh.

The present covid crisis has exposed India's healthcare to its worst crisis, say Loveleen & Mukesh, former IAS officers, the wife-and-husband duo, in the 8th episode of the Cineink podcast series 'Loveleen - Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi'.

They discuss the failure of successive governments to elevate health as a priority, leading to the collapse of the healthcare infrastructure in 2021.

For almost 60 years, India's total investment in health remained below or close to just 1% of the GDP which now bites the country as it faces shortages all over - hospitals, beds, ICUs, ventilators, doctors, nurses et al. And even this low investment was heavily lopsided as public investment, accessible to the poor, was barely 15% of the total investment, argue Loveleen and Mukesh.

Why India has been saying No to foreign aid during disasters in the past, is the question addressed in this 7th episode of Cineink podcast series, ‘Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi’.

Loveleen & Mukesh, former IAS officers, the wife-and-husband duo, share their administrative experience in handling emergency aid as Covid -19 cases continue to reach record levels across the country. They suggest steps to streamline efforts as media reports indicate inefficiency and serious delays in supplying the aid to those most in need.

India's vaccination effort faces a huge challenge which has been made worse by political and bureaucratic callousness, inefficiency and lack of planning, say Loveleen & Mukesh, former IAS officers, the wife-and-husband duo.

The UK also made mistakes initially but its vaccination planning has been meticulous. India's, on the other hand, has been chaotic and rudderless, they say in this 6th episode of Cineink podcast series, ‘Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi’.

Mukesh sings 'Vo Subah Kabhi Tau Aayegi' to end the programme.

India vs Bharat debate in the socio-political context is the theme of conversation in this 5th episode of Cineink Podcast series, ‘Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi’.

Former IAS officers, Loveleen and Mukesh, the wife-and-husband duo, discuss whether unequal development mars progress in India or there has always been a lack of focus on rural development. The sudden movement of poor migrants seen during the spread of Covid 19 caused great hardship and trauma as well as loss of life. Yet, the number of migrants, moving from rural to urban centres, is expanding exponentially. So, what's it that we could have done better, they explore.

Former IAS officers, Loveleen and Mukesh, the wife-and-husband duo, share their love for pets as they discover how dogs can be one's real friends as stress busters in the times of Covid 19.

Presenting the 4th episode of Cineink Podcast, ‘Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi’, Loveleen Kacker and Mukesh Kacker narrate some very poignant anecdotes where dogs played a crucial role in their well being.

Loveleen and Mukesh, former IAS Officers, go back to the years when Rajiv Gandhi was the PM at the outset of the major reforms in India in this 3rd episode of Cineink Podcast, ‘Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi’.

They critically examine the Indian reforms while looking at the experiences of Singapore and Malaysia in a post-colonial era. Reform needs political consensus and education, they say while summarising the key learnings.

Former IAS officers, Loveleen and Mukesh, the wife-and-husband duo, discuss whether the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) inherited from the colonial masters has succeeded in addressing the issues of development in the 21st Century. What good the IAS has done and how it could raise the bar, they both argue in this 2nd episode of Cineink Podcast series, ‘Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi’.

Produced by Cine Ink, the 1st Ep of Hindi podcast series ‘Loveleen-Mukesh: Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi’ introduces the wife-husband duo, as they take us down the journey of their life starting from Allahabad University where they met and studied together. "Qualify for the IAS, first, before you both want to get married," Loveleen's parents had told them. They both qualified the IAS in one attempt!

Loveleen and Mukesh paint a picture of the life at the Mussoorie Academy, civil service training institute on public policy and public administration in India. Mukesh sings two romantic songs from his courtship days.

Music Credit: Tim Moor/Pixabay.

Loveleen Mukesh- Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi

Loveleen Kacker and Mukesh Kacker, wife-and-husband duo, both former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, explore a wide range of topics, ranging from their romance to governance problems to everyday subjects that are relevant to billions in the present day world in ‘Loveleen Mukesh- Baat Niklegi Tau Phir Door Talak Jaayegi' - a Hindi podcast series, produced by the London-based Cine Ink.

Recorded in a conversational style, and switching effortlessly between the three languages, Hindi-English-Urdu, the podcast series 'Loveleen Mukesh' is analytical, reflective and funny at the same time.

The icing on the cake is a song in each episode, sung by Mukesh, who trained in Hindustani Classical Music and has an ear for Urdu poetry as well.

Loveleen and Mukesh now live in London.

Loveleen, besides serving in field postings such as Collector/District Magistrate, has worked extensively in the social sector – in the areas of Education and Women & Child Development. After taking voluntary retirement from the I.A.S in 2012, Loveleen headed the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of a major Indian MNC for seven years and gave a major boost to skill development efforts in the country.

Mukesh’s major areas of experience include core economy, infrastructure and public sector corporations. After taking voluntary retirement from the I.A.S in 2007, Mukesh has worked in the private sector in a wide range of non-executive roles: Chairman, Director and Advisor.