In this episode, Arpita Das, publisher and founder of Yoda Press, is in discussion with Lisa Björkman, Assistant Professor of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Louisville, Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle, and the author and editor of the book Bombay Brokers. Among other things, they discuss how the idea for the book originated, the gendered aspect of the 'brokers', and the paradox of brokers being indispensable and celebrated as well as being moralized by society. Lisa also reads her favorite extracts from the book.

Bombay Brokers collects profiles of thirty-six 'brokers' whose behind-the-scenes expertise and labor are often invisible and yet have an intrinsic role in the city's functioning and can be indispensable for navigating everyday life in Bombay. Written by anthropologists, artists, city planners, and activists, these character sketches bring into relief the paradox that these brokers’ knowledge and labor are simultaneously invisible yet essential for Bombay’s functioning.

Links to buy the book:
https://pagdandi.org/product/bombay-brokers-edited-by-lisa-bjorkman/
https://champaca.in/products/bombay-brokers?_pos=1&_sid=5ae994a1a&_ss=r&variant=39652064133155

Arpita Das’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/arpitayodapress

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yodapress/

The opening song is 'Typewriter' by Marc Taboel via Epidemic Sound.

This episode has been produced and edited by Chitraksh Ashray.