This American is the Tiffin Talk of the town

A year ago, when American Arthor Danchest first came to Mumbai, his sole mode of transport was the cabs that dutifully ply the streets of the city (on most days). But pretty soon, for reasons as practical as those for the average Mumbaikar, Arthor decided to forgo this luxury and hop into a bus or local train to get around. But even as he was busy immersing himself in the city, there is one indulgence he couldn’t shake off.

A dedicated fan of National Public Radio (NPR), a publicly funded media organisation in the United States which broadcasts quality news and cultural programming, Arthor continued listening to his favourite shows online. “The one show I’m absolutely in love with is Here and Now. They briefly cover current events, but then dive into other things, like art or theatre, cultural, political, business and lifestyle,” he offers eagerly.

When he found no such local substitute in Mumbai or anywhere in India, and also discovered that government regulation bans the private radio coverage of current events, Arthor decided to put his own brief radio experience in high school to use, and come out with an online show.

Tiffin Talk alludes to the legendary accuracy and reliability of the city’s dabbawallas, and the show’s pat name might be reason enough for some to dismiss Arthor as just another eccentric expat acting on a whim. However, the podcasts of his show available online make it clear that this guy means serious business.

A Brown University graduate with an Honours in economics from St. Stephen’s, Delhi Arthor now works for a major agricultural company in the city, and borrows heavily from his professional and Ivy League network to source his guests. These have included big names like writer William Dalrymple, Anand Mahindra, managing director of Mahindra Group and Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet. The recording setup might be primitive (Arthor turns up at a venue suitable for his guest with his laptop), yet the research that goes behind each show is quite clear in his interviews.

But although Arthor’s network might be enviable, it is decidedly, to his own admission, still limited. While many of his American guests offer a refreshing perspective on topics as varied as the Shiv Sena to the Indian IT industry, Arthor hopes to bring a more Indian flavour as his show attracts more listeners over time.

“Mumbai is its own beast and a lot of people are trying to understand it. And sometimes, to understand the city it’s useful to put it in an international context, other times it’s not,” he says, adding, “I really strive to get Indian sources. It makes more sense to talk to people with on the ground experiences.”

While eager to emphasise that his show isn’t meant specifically for an expat audience, Arthor observes that his outsider status does sometimes influence his Indian guests. “It’s a cultural problem that my guests come to the show with a perception that
I’m a correspondent for an American news radio show. So, they’ll spell out acronyms like BJP which can get frustrating,” he quips.

Arthor would like to dedicate all his energies to his radio show in the future, but for now, it’s a distant dream. “I’ve made like four dollars out of ad revenue,” he laughs, flashing a smile which would be far more effective on TV than on radio. But Arthor’s love for his chosen medium is evident. “Radio is conversation, it’s evolving, flowing. I can also interact with my listeners when they send me feedback.”

Even though language and accessibility pose as substantial barriers yet to be overcome, Arthor hopes he’ll some day be able to put out a show on a daily basis, becoming the first to make a mark on the city’s online radio scene, a scene which sadly lies unexplored for the time being.

To listen to Tiffin Talk, visit www.tiffintalk.org