How far can people from one culture ever fully understand another? Do outsiders see more clearly, or are we all condemned to simplification and stereotype? Italian writer Roberto Calasso won international acclaim for his evocation of the mental landscape of Greek classical culture, The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony. In his new book, Ka, he has turned to India, exploring the notion of Indianness through its stories and customs. Paul Allen and guests discuss Ka and other Western attempts to define a sense of difference in the East. Producer Anthony Denselow