{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"390. Confessions of a Lobbyist","description":"Insider accounts from political aides, bureaucrats, and diplomats have long illuminated the workings of power\u2014but even more enigmatic were the lobbyists. Operating in the shadows, often invisible to public scrutiny, they were intimately privy to clandestine negotiations, back-channel discussions, and subtle bureaucratic skirmishes. In his new roman-\u00e0-clef For No Reason At All, Ramjee Chandran shines a light on this hidden world. Chandran\u2014well\u2011known in Bangalore as a journalist, publisher, and podcaster\u2014has, until now, remained silent about his time as a lobbyist in 1980s New Delhi, a pivotal era just before major economic reforms took hold. Drawing from real events, the novel charts the journey of a young lobbyist caught in a high-stakes conflict over silicon metal\u2014a material deemed strategically vital. Central to the drama is Metkem Silicon, which, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, devoted 17 years to developing indigenous silicon metal technology. Yet their efforts collided with a rival scheme spearheaded by the Department of Electronics, which wanted to bypass local innovation and import U.S. technology. What ensued was a four\u2011year bureaucratic war: media leaks, secret memorandums, and the covert involvement of the Soviets and other intelligence agencies\u2014culminating in a final decision placed in the hands of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Set against the backdrop of Cold War Delhi on the cusp of liberalisation, the novel paints a vivid portrait of a nation\u2014and capital\u2014torn between ideologies and ambitions. The Soviet Union may have vanished, lobbyists have receded from public corridors, and few can claim first\u2011hand knowledge of that era. In Confessions of a Lobbyist, Siddharth Raja\u2014a lawyer, historian, and bibliophile\u2014sits down with Ramjee Chandran to peel back the layers of this story, offering an insider\u2019s glimpse into a world that feels at once distant and disarmingly relevant. In this episode of BIC Talks, Ramjee Chandran will be in conversation with Siddharth Raja. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in Aug 2025. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible, and Amazon Music. ","author_name":"BIC TALKS","author_url":"https:\/\/bangaloreinternationalcentre.org","html":"