Frontline Conversations

As Bihar prepares for the 2025 Assembly election, a new voter list revision has sparked controversy, with fears that it could leave out Muslims, women, and marginalised castes. In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Ashish Ranjan, founder of the Data Action Lab for Emerging Societies, talks about what the data actually says and what it means for democracy in India.

After spending two months on the ground in Bihar, Ashish questions claims of Aadhaar-related fraud, explains the role of caste in local politics, and talks about why Hindutva hasn’t fully taken hold in the State. He also discusses Nitish Kumar’s decline, Prashant Kishor’s entry, and what the 2025 election means for both the BJP and the RJD.

Context:

The Election Commission’s voter list update in Bihar has raised concerns about its timing, the Aadhaar requirement, and the risk of leaving out vulnerable voters. With Nitish Kumar losing ground and new parties stepping in, Bihar’s future is uncertain and could impact politics across the country.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro and Bihar election concerns

01:04 – Aadhaar vs population mismatch

01:32 – Voter list revision timing

02:36 – Census delay and data gaps

03:56 – Data sources and discrepancies

08:35 – EC actions and possible agenda

10:55 – Role of ECI and voter inclusion

14:38 – Nitish Kumar and Bihar’s unique politics

20:47 – Nitish’s decline and EBC vote

24:19 – Bihar’s unresolved struggles

Highlights:

-Why Aadhaar-linked voter roll revision may be targeting the wrong communities

-The real numbers behind Bihar’s alleged “Aadhaar fraud” districts

-How exclusion is replacing inclusion in India’s electoral process

-Nitish Kumar’s shrinking base and the future of his EBC-women coalition

-The BJP’s Bihar dilemma and its struggle to lead without allies

-Prashant Kishor’s outsider strategy and the limits of electoral engineering

-What Bihar’s caste dynamics reveal about power, representation, and resistance

-Why Hindutva still doesn’t dominate Bihar and what that means for 2025

Perfect for:

-Anyone following Indian elections, especially in the Hindi belt

-Political journalists and researchers

-Viewers interested in caste, democracy, and voter rights

Credits:

Host: Saba Naqvi

Produced by Vitasta Kaul and Vedaant Lakhera

Editor: Razal Pareed

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In this interview, Frontline speaks to Professor Jagdeep S. Chhokar, founding member of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), about the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The ongoing revision has triggered alarm over mass voter deletions, particularly of migrant and marginalised communities, with critics calling it a covert citizenship verification drive ahead of the Assembly election.

Chhokar explains why the EC’s decision to shift the burden of proving citizenship onto voters violates established legal norms and undermines voter rights. Despite the Supreme Court acknowledging that checking citizenship is not the EC’s job, the process continues, risking disenfranchisement on a massive scale. The interview explores how flawed documentation rules, timing, and inadequate outreach could keep lakhs of Bihari migrant workers off the final electoral roll, especially those working in cities or on farms across India.

Context:

As Bihar enters the Assembly election, the EC’s voter revision drive is under legal and civil society scrutiny. Chhokar details how the move affects internal migrants, why adding Aadhaar and ration cards may still fall short, and how bureaucratic opacity is eroding the EC’s public trust.

Chapters:

0:00 – Bihar's SIR: Key concerns

0:52 – Supreme Court on SIR

1:07 – Analysing SC's observations

1:34 – Three documents suggested by Court

3:47 – What SIR means for democracy

8:15 – Why SIR shouldn’t link to elections

14:09 – EC’s role in citizenship checks

18:48 – Missing documents in voter list

20:29 – Migrant workers and voter access

24:07 – Is SIR practical for migrants?

27:33 – EC’s claims vs. ground reality

33:46 – EC’s image and the need for transparency

Highlights:

-Why the SIR may disenfranchise migrant workers and the rural poor

-What the Supreme Court said about the EC's role in verifying citizenship

-Why Aadhaar, ration, and EPIC cards were initially excluded

-The mismatch between statistics and on-ground realities

-What voter exclusions could mean for election day tensions

-The erosion of EC’s credibility and transparency

Perfect For:

-Citizens concerned about voting rights and electoral integrity

-Journalists covering elections, civil liberties, and migration

-Students of political science, public policy, and law

-Activists working on disenfranchisement and migrant labour rights

-Anyone following the Bihar Assembly elections

Credits:

Interview by Soni Mishra

Produced by Kavya Pradeep M.

Edited by Razal Pareed

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Environmental activist Nimal Raghavan speaks to Frontline about his wide-ranging efforts to revive water bodies across India and in Kenya. Known for his data-driven, community-focused approach, Raghavan explains how he works with local administrations and government agencies to implement sustainable models of conservation. His work on over 250 projects emphasises the vital role of grassroots participation and policy-level collaboration.

In this interview, Raghavan delves into the complex task of securing financial support from private enterprises. He reflects on the organisational skills, transparency, and resilience required to align public interest with private funding. He talks about what it will take for India to achieve complete sustainability, while drawing parallels between different States.

Chapters:

0:00 – Meet Nimal Raghavan

01:51 – Cyclone Gaja’s impact

06:40 – Challenges in water projects

14:42 – India vs Kenya: water restoration

29:07 – Mega Foundations' work

Perfect for:

-Environmentalists and conservationists

-Students of environmental sciences

-Ecologists

-Urban and rural planners

-Journalists covering climate, environment, or rural development stories.

Credits:

Interview by Saatvika Radhakrishna

Camera by Mridula V and Kavya Pradeep M.

Produced by Kavya Pradeep M. and Saatvika Radhakrishna

Edited by Razal Pareed

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In this episode of Frontline Conversations, senior journalist Saba Naqvi speaks with Syed Akif Zaidi, an Indian political analyst and research scholar at Al-Mustafa International University in Iran, who has lived in Iran for over 15 years. Speaking from Qom, near one of the sites (Fordo) bombed by the United States, Zaidi provides a detailed account of Iran's evolving response to an unprecedented escalation.

As the US and Israel bomb Iranian nuclear sites, marking the first time nuclear powers have attacked a non-nuclear NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) signatory, Zaidi discusses what this moment means for West Asia, global balance, and the long-standing ideological conflict in the region. He contends that this attack represents a direct military confrontation between the imperial axis led by the US and Israel, and the resistance axis led by Iran, and details how the Iranian public has reacted with calm, clarity, and collective defiance. Drawing on historical insight and present-day observations, Zaidi outlines why Iran, despite facing two nuclear-armed adversaries, believes it is strategically and psychologically prepared for prolonged conflict—and why he believes American hegemony in the region is ending.

Context:

Zaidi examines how this conflict, which many call an act of war, rooted in a 45-year ideological standoff, has entered a dangerous new phase, with the risk of escalation, regional spillover, and potential nuclear consequences. From Tehran's internal mobilisations to Washington's strategic gamble, he analyses an unfolding global crisis.

Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction

0:38 – Situation in Iran

1:53 – Iran-US conflict possible?

5:23 – Will Iran fight back?

12:50 – Use of nukes against civilians

15:15 – Iran's strategy

18:57 – What are the concerns?

29:21 – Internal challenges

34:28 – Why isn't Iran using nukes?

40:40 – India's role

49:46 – India-Iran relations

52:52 – Strait of Hormuz

56:31 – Iran's deterrence

57:19 – Iran's position

Highlights:

-Why the US-Israel attack marks a shift in global warfare

-How Iran is managing public sentiment, resilience, and preparedness

-The ideological conflict between the Resistance Axis and the Imperial Axis

Iran's missile deterrence strategy and underground preparedness

-Whether the US would consider using nuclear weapons again

-The role of Russia, China, Turkey, and Pakistan—diplomacy versus action

-What Iran's gradual retaliatory strategy could look like

-Why Zaidi believes Iran does not need external military assistance

Perfect for:

-Viewers following the Iran–US–Israel conflict

-Students of international relations, military strategy, and West Asian politics

-Journalists covering geopolitics, nuclear policy, and global power shifts

-Analysts examining the future of American influence in West Asia

-Citizens seeking to understand the stakes of regional conflict

-Anyone interested in civil resistance, deterrence, and ideological warfare

Host: Saba Naqvi

Produced by: Abhinav Chakraborty and Kavya Pradeep M.

Editing: Razal Pareed

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In this episode of Frontline Conversations, filmmaker Varrun Sukhraj speaks with producer, director, and film historian Nasreen Munni Kabir on the life, legacy, and layered cinema of Raj Kapoor, marking his centenary year. From “Awara” to “Shree 420”, Kabir explores Kapoor’s artistic partnership with Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, his cinematic treatment of morality and class, and how his vision was shaped by political conviction, musical poetry, and emotionally complex characters.

Kabir draws from decades of research and rare personal encounters, including her subtitling of Kapoor classics and time spent with Raj Kapoor himself. It is a richly personal and historically grounded conversation on the evolution of popular Hindi cinema—and the political and emotional truths it once dared to tell.

Context

This episode examines not only Raj Kapoor's films but the radical spirit that animated them. Nargis, for instance, wasn't just a romantic lead—she played a lawyer, a teacher, an ethical compass. These weren’t incidental choices. They were statements about a modern, secular India. Kapoor’s male protagonists, too, defied macho conventions—vulnerable, self-questioning, emotionally open. In his hands, songs weren’t interruptions—they were ideology in motion, crafted in lyrical partnership with Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, and Mukesh.

From political storytelling to gender representation, from cinematic authorship to the moral burden of success, Kabir shows why Raj Kapoor remains a foundational voice in Indian cinema—and what we’ve lost by drifting from that legacy.

Highlights

-How Raj Kapoor and Khwaja Ahmad Abbas shaped socially conscious mainstream cinema

-Why Nargis’ roles in “Awara” and “Shree 420” were feminist statements ahead of their time

-Raj Kapoor’s redefinition of heroism

-Why Kapoor treated songs as scenes, not accessories

-The power of lyricists like Shailendra in building ideological cinema

-”From Mera Naam Joker” to “Bobby”: transition from idealism to spectacle

Perfect for:

-Admirers of classic Hindi cinema and film music

-Students of film history, aesthetics, and political storytelling

-Cultural critics, journalists, and researchers of post-independence India

-Filmmakers exploring ethical storytelling in popular formats

-Audiences curious about how femininity and masculinity were once written differently

-Anyone interested in how Indian cinema once balanced entertainment with conscience

Credits:

Host: Varrun Sukhraj

Produced by: Kavya Pradeep M.

Production Assistant: Ilavenil I T

Edited by: Razal Pareed

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Citing his new book “Alone in the Ring: Decision Making in Critical Times”, General Vij discuss the key moments in India’s military history, the changing nature of warfare, and the strategic dilemmas of dealing with a nuclear-armed adversary. He shares behind-the-scenes insights from critical episodes including the Kargil conflict, the Balakot air strikes, and India’s decision to withhold troops from the Iraq War. From the role of restraint in diplomacy to the rise of narrative warfare, this conversation offers a rare window into military decision-making at the highest levels.

Context

As India’s military posture evolves in the face of persistent cross-border terrorism, General Vij provides a comprehensive view of how strategic thinking has changed—from 1999 to 2025. He explains the challenges of operating under nuclear thresholds, the dilemmas of revealing losses during wartime, and why future conflicts will be shaped by both battlefield capability and media narratives.

Whether it’s India’s abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty, pressures from the U.S. over Iraq, or the technological transformation of modern warfare, Vij emphasises the importance of professional candor between the armed forces and civilian leadership.

Highlights

-Why India showed “more restraint than necessary” during Kargil

-What changed between Operation Vijay and Operation Sindoor

-How military strategy adapts under the shadow of nuclear threats

-The rise of UAVs, drones, and standoff warfare

-The untold story behind India’s refusal to send troops to Iraq

-Why controlling the narrative is as crucial as battlefield success

-The challenges of trust and timing in decisions like Siachen and Indus Waters

Perfect for:

-Viewers interested in India’s military strategy and leadership

-Students of defence policy, security studies, and modern warfare

-Analysts tracking South Asia’s nuclear and conventional dynamics

-Readers of military memoirs and firsthand leadership accounts

-Journalists covering India-Pakistan relations and war reporting

-Citizens seeking deeper understanding of military-civilian decision-making

-Anyone curious about the future of Indian military doctrine

Credits:

Host: Amit Baruah

Produced by: Abhinav Chakraborty and Kavya Pradeep M.

Production Assistant: Zara Zafia

Edited by: Razal Pareed

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The four-day conflict from May 7 to 10, known as Operation Sindoor, has triggered fierce debate across South Asia and beyond. In this exclusive interview, veteran journalist and defence analyst Ajai Shukla joins Frontline’s Amit Baruah to discuss the air war, shifting nuclear postures, and the political narratives emerging from India and Pakistan.

Context

With Indian authorities remaining silent in the immediate aftermath of the operation, Pakistan seized the narrative advantage—until Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan broke ranks and admitted to Indian aerial losses in an international press interaction. This interview addresses the strategic fallout, media missteps, and the operational reality behind those headlines.

Highlights

-Why General Chauhan’s remarks in Singapore are a turning point

-The impact of delayed Indian communication on global perception

-India’s calculated ambiguity vs. Pakistan’s deterrent signaling

-India’s evolving drone strategy and lessons from Ukraine

-Ground vs. aerial effectiveness: Who came out ahead?

Perfect For

-Defence watchers

-Strategic affairs students

-Journalists

-Policymakers

-Anyone seeking clarity on how military realities shape India-Pakistan dynamics beyond the headlines.

Credits:

Host: Amit Baruah

Produced by: Abhinav Chakraborty and Kavya Pradeep M.

Production Assistant: Zara Zafia

Edited by: Razal Pareed

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Published on May 29, 2025.

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Amit Baruah speaks to the former head of R&AW's Pakistan desk Ramanathan Kumar about the fragile India-Pakistan ceasefire following Operation Sindoor. With conflicting narratives, rampant propaganda, and deep-rooted mistrust on both sides, Kumar offers an assessment of the military hostilities, the risks of renewed conflict, and the larger geopolitical implications of Chinese support to Pakistan. He also warns that while the ceasefire holds for now, another terrorist strike could trigger a dangerous escalation—especially under ideologically driven leadership on both sides.

Context:

The ceasefire that followed the military clashes between India and Pakistan from May 7–10 has temporarily halted a volatile confrontation—but for how long? Amid claims of victories, air strikes, and retaliations, this episode cuts through the disinformation to examine what really happened.

Former R&AW officer Ramanathan Kumar draws on years of intelligence experience to explain the strategic and psychological dimensions of the conflict—from satellite imagery of damaged airbases to the dangerous implications of Pakistan’s evolving military doctrine under Field Marshal Asim Munir. Kumar delves into key issues like the limits of deterrence, the potential unraveling of the Indus Waters Treaty, and how propaganda—amplified by both governments and media—can distort public understanding and box leaders into dangerous corners.

Highlights:

-What really happened during Operation Sindoor

-Why the current India-Pakistan situation is "Not War, Not Peace"

-The strategic role of disinformation and propaganda in conflict

-How commercial satellite imagery challenges official narratives

-The growing China-Pakistan military axis and its implications for India

-Indus Waters Treaty: Legal, environmental, and existential stakes

-Lessons from past conflicts like Balakot and Operation Parakram

Perfect for:

-Viewers interested in India-Pakistan relations

-Students of geopolitics and strategic affairs

-Those seeking clarity amid conflicting war narratives

-People interested in military and intelligence perspectives

-Followers of India’s national security and foreign policy

-Journalists and analysts tracking South Asian conflict dynamics

-Anyone curious about the future of the Indo-Pak ceasefire

Credits:

Host: Amit Baruah

Editing: Razal Pareed

Production Assistant: Zara Zafia

Producers: Abhinav Chakraborty and Kavya Pradeep M.

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Published on May 23, 2025.

In a wide-ranging interview with Frontline Conversations, veteran journalist and Satya Hindi co-founder Ashutosh offers a stark analysis of India's political trajectory since 2014, characterising Narendra Modi's rise as a "right-wing revolution" that has fundamentally disrupted the nation's constitutional consensus. Speaking with host Abhinav Chakraborty about his new book "Reclaiming Bharat: What Changed in 2024 and What Lies Ahead", the former TV news anchor examines how the 2024 Lok Sabha election results signal potential cracks in the BJP's Hindutva project while warning that the RSS remains committed to dismantling Gandhian and Nehruvian ideals in its quest for a Hindu Rashtra.

Context:

"Reclaiming Bharat" offers a sharp, insightful analysis of India’s 2024 general election—one of the most consequential in the country’s history. Amid fears that a sweeping BJP victory could lead to fundamental constitutional changes, the party fell short of its ambitious “400 paar” target, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-pitched campaign and the symbolic consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Surprisingly, even Ayodhya did not deliver a win for the BJP.

Journalist Ashutosh dissects the gap between the BJP’s narrative and electoral outcomes, exploring why the party’s communal pitch failed to yield the expected results. Through a nuanced examination of political, social, and economic undercurrents, the book reveals how voters responded to the complex realities beneath the rhetoric. It is both a chronicle of a historic election and a lens into India’s uncertain political future.

Highlights:

Why Ashutosh decided to write Reclaiming Bharat

Why Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister in 2014 is a "right wing revolution"

Significance of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results

What BJP's political hegemony for Gandhi-Nehru's idea of a pluralistic India

Validity of concerns of ECI's functioning and doubts over EVMs

State of Muslims in India under Narendra Modi

How BJP's defeat in Ayodhya shows fragility of Hindutva narrative

Electoral impact of caste census in upcoming Bihar Assembly election

Whom will RSS choose as Modi's successor in BJP

People who wish to understand Indian politics

Those interested in books about Indian politics

People interested in Hindutva ideology

People interested in the significance of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results

Those who are interested in how BJP can be challenged by the Opposition

Those interested in the RSS-BJP driven by Hindutva

Those who like listening to interviews about Indian politics

Perfect for:

Read the interview here: https://frontline.thehindu.com/books/...

Subscribe and support Frontline Conversations for such insightful and informative interviews.

Credits:

Host: Abhinav Chakraborty

Editing: Razal Pareed

Production Assistant: Kavya Pradeep M.

Producer: Abhinav Chakraborty

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Published on May 19, 2025.

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, senior journalist Amit Baruah engages in a wide-ranging discussion with former Indian Ambassador to the United States Navtej Sarna, exploring the complexities of the U.S.-India relations during the presidency of Donald Trump. This conversation comes at a time when Trump’s statements on mediation in Kashmir, escalating trade tensions, and erratic diplomatic signalling have raised important questions for Indian foreign policy.

Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, Sarna unpacks the deeper implications of Trump’s statements and policies for India. He cautions against overreaction to the President’s often improvisational rhetoric, emphasising instead the need for mature, long-term strategic thinking. Together, Baruah and Sarna critically examine whether Trump's approach to international relations is guided more by theatrics than consistent policy—and how India should respond.

Key themes explored in the conversation:

-Trump’s “offer” to mediate on Kashmir: What lies beneath the headline-grabbing remark, and why India must maintain clarity and consistency in its rejection of third-party mediation.

-Strategic patience in diplomacy: How India should engage with the U.S. system beyond the White House, strengthening institutional relationships at multiple levels.

-India’s position in a changing global order: Understanding the bilateral relationship in the context of Trump’s trade wars, especially with China, and what it means for India’s economic diplomacy.

-The illusion of transactional diplomacy: Why a purely tactical approach to international relations can backfire, and how India can build resilience through long-term engagement.

-The role of professional diplomacy: Sarna reflects on the importance of subtlety, historical awareness, and continuity in foreign policy—especially when faced with unpredictable political leadership.

Sarna’s insights offer a clear-headed analysis that cuts through the noise of 24-hour news cycles, helping viewers understand the structural and strategic dimensions of the India-U.S. relationship in the Trump era and beyond.

Perfect for:

-Students of international relations and diplomacy

-Journalists and political analysts

-Those interested in US-India relations

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Credits:

Interview by Amit Baruah

Editing by Sumiesh S.

Team Frontline: Kavya Pradeep M, Saatvika Radhakrishna