An elderly woman, Shanti Devi, resides alone in a village within the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh state, part of the larger Bastar Division. Following the tragic loss of her two sons, Nagesh and Suresh, in a 2012 shootout—claimed by security forces as an anti-Maoist operation—an official investigation later revealed that her sons, among others killed, were not Maoist rebels, also known as “Naxals.” In this 9^th episode of “The Dinner Table,” host Harshita Rathore prepares a meal with Shanti Devi and sits down to share it with her and her surviving son, engaging in heart-to-heart conversations.

Manish, a resident of Bengaluru, Karnataka, has been raising his daughter alone since she was eight months old. To nurture her effectively, he has taken on the roles of both father and mother, overcoming numerous challenges—deciding where to leave his daughter when he goes to the office, choosing which washroom—men's or women's—to use when they are in a market area, determining the right amount of food to give her, what to say to her about periods, among other things. What truly demonstrates his resilience is his consistent willingness and cheerful attitude in doing everything necessary for his daughter’s upbringing.

It's been over 16 months since ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state of Manipur, involving the majority Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo tribes. The resulting divide is so severe that an unofficial border has effectively separated the two communities within the state. As the violence carries on, efforts by the state and central governments to resolve the crisis appear minimal, and the future remains uncertain. To gain insight into what lies ahead, host Harshita Rathore sat down for dinner with a Kuki-Zo leader, Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing, who heads the Kuki People’s Alliance. Affectionately known as Dr. Lal, he proposes a solution he believes could potentially lead to lasting peace.