Two researchers investigate science-fiction in Hindi popular culture.

talk, delhi talk, Milind Somand, Captian Vyom, robot, spacewalker, Nakshatro ka Yudh, Professor Diwakar,Simrat Dugal, Charu Maithani, Khoj, Afro Futurism, Indian Express

Simrat Dugal (right) and Charu Maithani, the researchers.

For thousands of years, the body of an astronaut floats among the stars. One day, no one knows how, it reaches the shores of an unknown galaxy where it receives the gift of life. How “this spacewalker from India” averts a war among the galaxies and gives up his second life in the process makes up the “gripping and hair-raising” novel titled Nakshatro ka Yudh. The book, by a writer called Professor Diwakar, has a cult following with readers interested in futuristic and pulp science-fiction novels. Two Delhi-based researchers are now studying a dog-eared copy of Nakshatro ka Yudh as they explore what makes up science-fiction in Hindi popular culture.

Simrat Dugal and Charu Maithani were programme managers at Khoj, an arts organisation in Delhi, when they began to talk about the explosion of sci-fi in Western media. Their conversations turned to Afro Futurism, a movement that, broadly speaking, attempts to reclaim what the future can mean through representations that are absent in the mainstream. “People of colour and accents are rarely present in Western art and culture dealing with the future. Soon, we were talking about what was happening in India in terms of re-imagining the future,” says Dugal.

Two years ago, armed with a grant from India Foundation for the Arts, they entered into a space that included not only pulp fiction such as Nakshatro ka Yudh but also television series such as Space City Sigma (a human drama by Ketan Mehta that unfolds in a spacecraft), radio plays such as Michael Jasoos, about an agent who has a micro-chip inserted into his body, and “sci-fi-ku” or sci-fi haiku (little poems by a Lucknow-based pediatrician, Dr Arvind Dubey, among others). “Initially, we set out to find adaptations of Hindi science-fiction in radio and television. Along the way, we found other examples in visual culture such as book covers, radio plays, nukkad natak and toys,” says Maithani. An exhibition of their finds is being planned for later this year.

One of the highlights of the exhibition will be organisations such as All India Association of Science Fiction, which promote sci-fi among earthlings. Another is the Vigyan Prasar — a group of scientists, many of who write science-fiction — which creates content that are broadcast in collaboration with the All India Radio. Professor Diwakar of Nakshatro ka Yudh is just as well-read by another pseudonym, Dr Raman. These two names of writer Izhar Asar fill up a shelf with more than 50 titles and inspire modern writers such as Zeeshan Zaidi, whose titles include “comic sci-fi” such as Pagal Biwi ka Mehboob in which one hero is a robot. “Pagal Biwi ka Mehboob was made into a play and got a great response,” says Dugal.

The robot in the play was made of tin and thermocol, an improvisation that indicates that local compulsions, such as small budgets, don’t curtain creativity or impede suspension of disbelief among creators and consumers of sci-fi, respectively. To generations that have been reared on sleek titles of Star Trek and Star Wars, the homegrown avatars may appear comical. But, Dugal and Maithani found that TV series such as Captain Vyom, in which Milind Soman dons a tight suit, and Space City Sigma grabbed eyeballs in families across India. “We find that while a lot of science-fiction in television is derivative from their Western counterparts, writers come into their own when they deal with fantasy, as in Chandrakanta,” says Maithani.

Among the researchers’ collection are also images of toys with a subversive story of their own. “In our conversations with the owner of Ram Chander & Sons, a toy shop in Delhi, we found out how, in the ’60s, a lot of Japanese space-age toys were coming into India and Indian toymakers were copying these in aluminium and metal mix. So, now the Japanese and Indian rockets, discs, UFOs and spacecrafts have become huge collectors’ items, like old comic books. Artist Navin Thomas, based out of Bangalore, is a huge fan of these. He repairs and collects them from people and kabadkhanas,” says Maithani.

What will the future be like, according to Hindi sci-fi? If Buddha Future by Zaidi is an indication, one can turn a car into a time machine in a lab and hit the accelerator, leaving lightning zig-zags in the space-time continuum.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

📣 For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram