Frontline Conversations

Frontline Conversations

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Frontline Conversations episodes

  • 'Fears of demographic change in Kashmir are real': Waheed Parra

    Published on April 15, 2025.
    In this exclusive interview with Frontline, Waheed Parra—youth leader and legislator from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—raises urgent concerns over the changing demographics of Jammu and Kashmir. Citing government data, Parra reveals that over 83,000 domicile certificates have been granted to non-locals in just two years, triggering deep anxiety about identity, land, and faith among Kashmiris. From the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 to alleged land exploitation under the guise of development, Parra provides a pointed critique of the current administration and challenges the silence of mainstream parties, especially the National Conference. This hard-hitting conversation spotlights the post-Article 370 realities and their long-term implications on the Kashmiri identity.
    Context:
    Since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019, Kashmir has witnessed major legal and political shifts. The fear of demographic change—once dismissed as alarmist—is now surfacing in official figures. Waheed Parra, speaking from the legislative floor and the grassroots, argues that Kashmiris are being systematically disempowered through administrative decisions, selective inaction, and the weakening of political forums.
    Highlights:
    • 83,742 domicile certificates granted to non-locals—what the numbers reveal
    • Demographic anxiety and the erasure of Kashmiri identity
    • The politics of silence: Waheed Parra's critique of Omar Abdullah and the NC
    • The Waqf Act 2025 and its implications for religious autonomy
    • Environmental degradation and unchecked mining in the name of development
    Perfect for:
    • Viewers seeking a ground-level understanding of post-370 Kashmir
    • Scholars, journalists, and researchers following South Asian politics
    • Policy experts focused on federalism, identity, and minority rights
    • Anyone concerned with democracy, representation, and regional autonomy
    Credits:
    Interview by Gowhar Geelani
    Camera by Emm Xi
    Editing by Razal Pareed
    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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    11 min
  • Is Caste-Based Data the Key to Solving India's Inequality Crisis? | Interview with Sumeet Mhaskar

    Published on May 9, 2025.
    With the government announcing plans to include caste in the upcoming census—the first such comprehensive exercise since 1931—India is once again confronting the deep questions of its social hierarchy. In this Frontline Conversations episode, senior journalist Saba Naqvi speaks to sociologist Sumeet Mhaskar to explore the significance, challenges, and far-reaching implications of this move.
    Context:
    As debates over social justice, political representation, and economic inequality intensify, the proposed caste census is emerging as a pivotal issue. Mhaskar argues that caste enumeration is not just a tool of political strategy or symbolic justice, but an essentiall mechanism for mapping India's layered social realities. The conversation also situates the census within the broader context of affirmative action, administrative resistance, and labour market inequalities.
    Highlights:
    • Why caste enumeration is critical to policymaking in contemporary India
    • Contrasting caste politics in Tamil Nadu and Bihar
    • The historic resistance of the Indian bureaucracy to reservation policies
    • The role of caste data in shaping inclusive welfare and employment policies
    • Challenges of declining public sector jobs and quality employment
    • Why understanding caste is essential, like gender or poverty, for tackling structural injustice
    Perfect for:
    • Students of sociology, public policy, and political science
    • Journalists and commentators on Indian society and governance
    • Advocates of data-driven policy and social equity
    Credits:
    Interview by Saba Naqvi
    Camera by Vitasta Kaul and Vedaant Lakhera
    Editing by Razal Pareed
    Produced by Kavya Pradeep M, Vitasta Kaul, and Vedaant Lakhera
    Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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    34 min
  • Abdulrazak Gurnah: 'Larger prosperity in the world has opened up possibilities but also hostilities'

    Published on April 17, 2025.
    In an exclusive interview for Frontline Conversations, the Tanzanian-British author Abdulrazak Gurnah talks to Aditya Mani Jha about his latest novel Theft, his first book since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021. He also discusses the themes such as class differences and migration throughout his body of work, why he spoke out against the practice of publishers using glossaries, his support for the anti-Israel BDS movement, among other things.
    Context:
    Abdulrazak Gurnah is the author of ten acclaimed novels, including the Booker-shortlisted Paradise (1994), the Booker-longlisted By the Sea (2001), and Afterlives (2020), which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Fiction. A former English professor at the University of Kent and Booker Prize judge in 2016, he lives in Canterbury (UK).
    Gurnah's latest novel Theft is set in 1990s Zanzibar, where three young people—Badar, an uneducated servant, Karim, and Fauzia—dream of a better future. Badar finds friendship and belonging with Karim, but a false accusation disrupts their bond. As they navigate love and life, betrayal tests their friendship and changes their lives forever.
    Highlights:

    • Abdulrazak Gurnah on the themes in his latest book Theft
    • Gurnah on the themes across his entire body of work
    • Why Gurnah was one of the first writers in the UK to speak out against use of glossaries
    • Why Gurnah supported the anti-Israeli, pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement
    • The multifaceted changes in post colonial societies
      • People interested in fiction
      • Readers of books set in Africa
      • Readers of fiction with themes of class differences
      • Readers who like novels with migration as a theme
      • Those interested in books by Abdulrazak Gurnah
      • Those who like listening to interviews with Nobel Prize winning authors

        • Perfect for:

        • People interested in fiction
        • Readers of books set in Africa
        • Readers of fiction with themes of class differences
        • Readers who like novels with migration as a theme
        • Those interested in books by Abdulrazak Gurnah
        • Those who like listening to interviews with Nobel Prize winning authors
          • Subscribe and support Frontline Conversations for such insightful and informative documentaries.
          Credits:
          Interview: Aditya Mani Jha
          Editing: Sumiesh S.
          Producer: Abhinav Chakraborty
          Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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          24 min
        • EXCLUSIVE | Banu Mushtaq: I started writing to challenge patriarchy | International Booker Prize

          Published on April 22, 2025.

          In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, acclaimed Kannada writer, activist, and advocate Banu Mushtaq speaks candidly about her International Booker Prize-shortlisted collection Heart Lamp, the struggles of Muslim women in Karnataka, and her lifelong fight against patriarchy. In an interview that is equal parts personal and political, Mushtaq reflects on decades of writing, her roots in the Bandaya (protest) literary movement, and the deeply embedded caste, class, and gender hierarchies she has challenged through her work.

          Context:
          Banu Mushtaq is a towering figure in progressive Kannada literature. A former journalist and an outspoken advocate, she has written across genres—fiction, poetry, essays—and Heart Lamp is a curated collection of 12 short stories written over three decades (1990–2023). The stories portray the inner lives of Muslim women in southern India, offering an unflinching look at their struggles and resilience.
          Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Heart Lamp marks a historic moment: it's the first time a work in Kannada has received this honour. The book gives voice to lives often pushed to the margins, speaking truth to power in the face of patriarchy, religious orthodoxy, and social injustice.
          Highlights:
          Banu Mushtaq on the personal roots of Heart Lamp
          How the Bandaya movement shaped her writing
          Her early struggles as a young Muslim woman in a small town
          The influence of her activism on her literary voice
          Reflections on censorship, backlash, and being boycotted for speaking out
          Her thoughts on the state of Muslim women today and calls for community-driven reform
          The story behind the short story “Black Cobras” and its film adaptation. "Haseena"
          Perfect for:
          - Readers of feminist and socially engaged literature
          - Fans of regional language writing and Indian literary movements
          - Those interested in stories about Muslim communities in India
          - Viewers looking for literary voices of resistance and reform *Anyone interested in how personal experience shapes powerful storytelling
          - Those who appreciate interviews with bold, fearless women writers

          Credits:
          Interview by Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed
          Camera by B K Vasanth Kumar
          Editing by Razal Pareed
          Produced by Saatvika Radhakrishna

          Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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          38 min
        • 'Corruption in the judiciary is a virus that is spreading': Prashant Bhushan

          Published on April 11, 2025.

          In the wake of the alleged recovery of bundles of currency notes in a fire at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence, senior advocate and activist Prashant Bhushan speaks to Frontline on the growing crisis of judicial accountability in India. The incident has reignited debates on judicial appointments, corruption, and the limits of existing oversight mechanisms.

          Context:
          Following Justice Varma’s transfer and the initiation of an in-house inquiry by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, questions are once again being raised about how effectively the judiciary can hold its own accountable. The controversy has also brought the collegium system back into the spotlight, with some in the ruling establishment reviving support for the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015.
          Highlights:
          • The Justice Yashwant Varma episode and its implications for judicial integrity
          • Why impeachment is a weak and politicised process for dealing with corrupt judges
          • The rarity of in-house inquiries and why that must change
          • Bhushan’s proposal for an independent Judicial Complaints Commission
          • Critique of the collegium system and the case for a transparent, independent Judicial Appointments Commission
          • Why giving the government a greater role in judge selection threatens judicial independence
          Perfect for:
          • Law and public policy students
          • Advocates of judicial transparency and reform
          • Journalists and political commentators
          Subscribe and support Frontline Perspectives for such insightful and informative documentaries.
          Originally published on April 11, 2025.
          Credits:
          Interview by Soni Mishra
          Camera by Dipesh Arora
          Editing by Razal Pareed
          Team Frontline: Vitasta Kaul, Vedaant Lakhera
          Produced by Kavya Pradeep M
          Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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          27 min
        • 'Ambedkar was clear: Hindu Raj would be the biggest calamity for India': Anand Teltumbde

          Published on April 9, 2025.

          Ahead of the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, public intellectual and writer Anand Teltumbde speaks to Frontline’s Amey Tirodkar about how Ambedkar's ideas are being invoked and often misappropriated by political parties across the spectrum. He discusses whether Ambedkar is truly being honoured through action, or merely worshipped in symbolism.

          In this interview, Teltumbde challenges the popular narrative that credits Dr. Ambedkar alone for drafting the Indian Constitution. He traces the role of the Constituent Assembly and highlights Mahatma Gandhi’s role in ensuring Ambedkar’s presence there with Congress’s support. From Article 370 and the Uniform Civil Code to the Hindu Code Bill, Teltumbde explores the contradictions in Ambedkar's political positions and the enduring relevance of his warnings against Hindu nationalism.
          Context:
          B.R. Ambedkar remains one of India’s most revered yet contested figures. While his statues are garlanded and his legacy invoked by all major political parties, Anand Teltumbde argues that much of Ambedkar's radical vision has been sidelined. Speaking from Rajgriha, Ambedkar’s residence in Mumbai, Teltumbde critiques not only the right-wing appropriation of Ambedkar’s image but also the lack of engagement with his actual writings, even among progressive followers.
          Highlights:
          • Why Ambedkar’s role in drafting the Constitution needs deeper scrutiny
          • Gandhi’s strategic role in bringing Ambedkar into the Constituent Assembly
          • Ambedkar’s nuanced views on UCC, Article 370, and the Hindu Code Bill
          • The RSS and BJP's appropriation of Ambedkar
          • The danger of reducing Ambedkar to a symbol instead of engaging with his ideas
          Perfect for:
          • Students of political science and constitutional studies
          • Ambedkarite thinkers and activists
          • Scholars of modern Indian history
          • Anyone interested in caste, democracy, and the future of Indian politics
          Read the interview here- https://frontline.thehindu.com/politi...
          Subscribe and support Frontline Conversations for such insightful and informative interviews.
          Credits:
          Interview by Amey Tirodkar
          Camera by Emmanual Karbhari
          Editing by Sumiesh S.
          Produced by Kavya Pradeep M

          Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...
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          37 min
        • Why honour killing still exists in India: Lata Singh speaks

          In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Lata Singh, rights activist and petitioner in the landmark 2006 Supreme Court judgment Lata Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh, reflects on her personal struggle, the continuing reality of honour killings, and the fragile state of the right to choice in India.

          Speaking in the aftermath of a recent honour killing in Maharashtra, Lata Singh recounts the violence, legal harassment, and years of displacement she faced after marrying outside her caste. She examines how, despite clear Supreme Court guidelines and subsequent judgments, inter-caste and inter-faith couples continue to face threats from families, caste groups, and even state institutions meant to protect them.
          She critiques the police’s persistent reliance on “social morality” over constitutional duty, the failure to implement safe houses and fast-track courts, and the absence of a separate law recognising honour killings as a distinct crime. Singh also explains how anti-conversion laws and procedural hurdles under the Special Marriage Act increasingly place consensual adult relationships under suspicion.
          Highlights:
          -Lata Singh’s personal journey and the significance of the 2006 Supreme Court judgment
          -Why honour killings persist despite repeated court guidelines
          -The police’s failure to protect inter-caste and inter-faith couples
          -How anti-conversion laws clash with Article 21 and the right to choice
          -The urgent need for safe houses, fast-track courts, and a separate law on honour killings
          -Why family honour continues to trump constitutional rights
          Perfect for viewers interested in:
          -The right to choice, marriage, and personal liberty
          -Honour killings and caste-based violence in India
          -Supreme Court judgments and their implementation on the ground
          -Inter-faith marriages, anti-conversion laws, and constitutional rights
          -Gender justice, civil liberties, and institutional accountability
          Credits:
          Host: Ashutosh Sharma
          Camera: Dipesh Arora
          Editing: Razal Pareed
          Producer: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar
          Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...

          #frontlineconversations #latasingh #honourkilling #righttochoice #intercastemarriage #interfaithmarriage #supremecourtofindia #article21 #civilrights #womensrights #constitutionalrights #anticonversionlaws #specialmarriageact #casteviolence #democracyandrights

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          53 min
        • Kashmir, custody, and the cost of politics | Waheed Parra explains

          In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Waheed Parra, MLA from Pulwama, speaks candidly about incarceration, surveillance, and the personal cost of stringent security laws in Jammu and Kashmir. Drawing from his own experience under the UAPA, Parra reflects on how the legal process itself becomes punishment, reshaping lives, families, and political faith.

          He discusses custodial humiliation, the erosion of trust in institutions, and what prolonged detention does to the psyche of young Kashmiris who seek a normal life within the constitutional framework. He also talks about the politics of mainstream participation, the PDP–BJP alliance, electoral reversals, and why Kashmir’s conflict cannot be reduced to statistics of “peace” and “normalcy.”
          Highlights:

          • The personal and political cost of UAPA and prolonged legal battles
          • Life inside custody and the culture of indignity in detention
          • Why Kashmir’s youth face surveillance even within mainstream politics
          • The PDP–BJP alliance: intent, miscalculation, and fallout
          • Reservation, merit, and fears of structural disempowerment in Jammu and Kashmir
          • Why conflict leaves long-term trauma beyond elections and headlines
            • Kashmir politics after Article 370
            • Civil liberties, UAPA, and criminal justice in India
            • Mainstream politics, detention, and democratic backsliding
            • Youth, representation, and reservation debates in Jammu and Kashmir
            • India’s security state and its social consequences

              • Perfect for viewers interested in:
              Credits:
              Host: Gowhar Geelani
              Camera: Adil Abass, Idrees Abbas, and M Mukaram
              Editing: Razal Pareed
              Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar

              Originally published on December 18, 2025

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              32 min
            • How the Indian Army handles religion and uniform: Lt General D. S. Hooda explains

              In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Lt General D.S. Hooda, former Northern Army Commander, talks about how personal faith and professional duty should work inside the Indian Army. He explains why trust between officers and soldiers is the foundation of military life, and why the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on faith in uniform reinforces long-standing Army principles.

              Gen. Hooda discusses the role of multi-faith spaces in units, how the Army protects its secular ethos, and why rising social polarisation makes these values even more important today. He shares experiences from his service, examples of leadership in diverse regiments, and clear views on why personal belief must never affect military discipline.
              Highlights:
              -Why the Supreme Court ruling matters for faith and discipline in uniform
              -How multi-faith traditions help hold the Army together
              -Why officers must avoid visible displays of religiosity in uniform
              -How trust and secular values shape leadership in diverse units
              -What steps are needed to preserve the Army’s neutrality and professionalism
              Perfect for viewers interested in:
              -Indian Army culture and leadership
              -Faith, secularism and discipline in the armed forces
              -Civil–military relations and national security
              -The role of values and ethos in military institutions
              Credits:
              Host: Ashutosh Sharma
              Camera: Vedaant Lakhera and Vitasta Kaul
              Editing: Razal Pareed
              Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar

              Originally published on December 12, 2025

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              22 min
            • Is India really the fastest-growing economy? Economist Arun Kumar breaks down the reality of numbers

              In this episode of Frontline Conversations, senior journalist Sukumar Muralidharan speaks with economist and retired professor from JNU, Arun Kumar, who breaks down the turmoil inside India’s economic data ecosystem. He discusses the latest GDP numbers, the IMF’s “not fit for purpose” assessment, and India’s contradictory economic indicators all point to a deeper structural crisis.

              Kumar explains why GDP growth is increasingly detached from lived economic realities, how the unorganised sector has been rendered invisible in official measurement, and why the 2011–12 base year has distorted national accounts for a decade. He also details the political pressures shaping data releases—from unemployment and consumption surveys to poverty estimates—and warns that the upcoming revision of the GDP series may still fail without census data and transparency in methodology.
              Sukumar Muralidharan is an independent writer, researcher, and journalism instructor based in the Delhi region. Formerly the Chief of Bureau, Frontline, New Delhi, he has spent over two decades in print journalism, writing on science, technology, economics, and political affairs.
              Highlights:
              -Why India’s GDP numbers are unreliable—and what the IMF got right
              -How the shift to the MCA-21 database and removal of shell companies distorted growth estimates
              -The systematic invisibilisation of the unorganised sector after demonetisation, GST and the pandemic
              -Manipulation of data on employment, consumption, poverty and health
              -The political logic behind “fastest growing economy” narratives
              -Why GST cuts, corporate-friendly labour codes and tariff geopolitics are worsening inequality
              Perfect for those interested in:
              -Students of economics and public policy
              -Researchers of political economy and development studies
              -Informal sector and labour rights activists
              -Think-tank analysts tracking India’s macroeconomic indicators
              Credits:
              Host: Sukumar Muralidharan
              Camera: Vedaant Lakhera and Vitasta Kaul
              Editing: Razal Pareed
              Producers: Mridula Vijayarangakumar and Kavya Pradeep M
              Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online...

              Originally published on December 5, 2025

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              33 min

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