Frontline Conversations

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, ecological economist Nilanjan Ghosh, Head of the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), examines the recent floods in north Bengal and questions whether they were a natural calamity or the outcome of flawed water governance.

Originally published on October 27, 2025

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Political Editor Anand Mishra visits Kalyan Bigha, the ancestral village of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, to explore the making of a leader who has dominated the State’s politics for two decades. Speaking with Sitaramji, Nitish Kumar’s childhood companion and long-time associate, the conversation traces his journey from a thoughtful boy who mediated playground fights to a political figure seen as both a reformer and a relic of the old order.

Originally published on November 1, 2025

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, music director Sushin Shyam talks about what led to his return to independent music with "Ray" after years of composing for Malayalam films.

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Professor Abdul Qadir decodes the mood in Bihar ahead of the 2025 Assembly election. Speaking from Gaya, Qadir traces how caste, class, and community alliances are shifting—from the historical legacy of "backward-caste solidarity" to new anxieties among Muslim voters and the rise (and decline) of parties like All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. He dissects the implications of political violence in Mokama, the controversies over voter roll deletions during the Special Intensive Revision, and the Election Commission of India's credibility crisis. With insights into Tejashwi Yadav’s campaign, the Mahagathbandhan’s prospects, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation’s growing influence, Qadir offers a ground-level view of how democracy and disenfranchisement are colliding in Bihar’s heartland.

Originally published on Nov 3, 2025

Nepal is witnessing a surge in pro-monarchy protests, driven by widespread discontent over corruption, misgovernance, and political instability. While these demonstrations reflect frustration with the current system, they also underscore the country’s delicate position between two regional giants—India and China. Both nations have a vested interest in Nepal’s political trajectory, raising questions about whether external influences are shaping this growing unrest. Is the return of the monarchy a genuine possibility, or is this turmoil merely a symptom of deeper governance failures?

Since August 2024, India-Bangladesh relations have undergone a seismic shift. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was seen as a reliable and trusted friend of India, but strong opposition to her within Bangladesh, along with her close ties to New Delhi, appear to have worked against both her and India. Now believed to be living in exile in Delhi, Sheikh Hasina has left behind strained India-Bangladesh relations, which have plunged to their lowest point in three decades.

The topic of delimitation has turned into a South vs North debate, with most of the States in south India expected to lose seats in a demography-based delimitation exercise. The southern States strongly oppose any redrawing of Lok Sabha constituency boundaries solely on the basis of current population figures as it would not only reduce their political representation at the national level but also amount to penalising them for adhering to the national policy of population control.

Nilakantan R.S., data scientist and author of the bestselling book South vs North: India’s Great Divide, suggests that extreme decentralisation could be a way out. In an exclusive interview with Frontline, Nilakantan says the answer lies in making the prize, which is the government in Delhi, less attractive. He says that altering the structure of governance in the country so that the States get more powers could be a way out.

In an exclusive interview for Frontline Conversations, noted Israeli journalist and author Gideon Levy talks to Frontline's Bashir Ali Abbas about the Gaza conflict and potential solutions to the crisis. Levy further discusses Israel’s ceasefire violations, the US’ influence, Gaza’s future, Hamas’ role, and the fading two-state solution.

In this interview, legendary filmmaker Goutam Ghose talks to Frontline’s Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay about “Raahgir”, a visually stunning yet logistically challenging film. He discusses the challenges of shooting in remote terrains and explores the film’s deeper themes of humanity, compassion, and endurance.

Mohan Kumar, a former Indian Ambassador to France, is currently Dean, Strategic and International Initiatives, and a professor of diplomatic practice at O.P. Jindal Global University. As India’s lead negotiator first at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and then at the WTO in crucial areas such as intellectual property rights, services, dispute settlement, and the environment, he has enormous expertise in the area of international trade and multilateral negotiations. He has served on multiple GATT and WTO dispute settlement panels.

In this exclusive interview with senior journalist Nirupama Subramanian, conducted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Mohan Kumar spoke about Indo-US relations, defence sales, and international trade and tariff concerns.