In the eighteenth episode of Random Walks, I had a fantastic time conversing with Raghu Mahajan, who's currently a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. Raghu won a Gold Medal at the International Physics Olympiad and went on to start an Undergraduate degree in Computer Science at IIT Delhi before transferring to MIT where he double majored in Mathematics and Physics. Prior to starting his PhD in Theoretical Physics at Stanford University advised by Sean Hartnoll, he completed Part III of the Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge University where he was a Gates-Cambridge Scholar. 

Raghu’s research focuses on techniques used for strongly interacting field theories, with a view toward dynamics, holography, and quantum gravity. We indulge in a fascinating conversation about his three inspirational mentors: his father, Prof. Arvind Chauhan and Prof. Vijay Singh; getting taught by legendary professors and scientists at MIT; researching on string theory, black hole information paradox, and his time with the formidable group at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton; majoritarianism; the importance of funding fundamental research and fostering scientific temper in society; the ridiculous notion of science being an apolitical enterprise; and many more things!!