Frontline Conversations

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Editor emeritus at Toronto Star, Haroon Siddiqui, speaks about his six-decade career in journalism, the evolution of multicultural Canada, the changing nature of Western media, and the politics of identity in an increasingly polarised world. Born in Warangal and raised in Hyderabad, Siddiqui reflects on his early years in India, his migration to Canada i...

Amid a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and a major shift in West Asian geopolitics, what does the latest agreement mean for Iran, Israel, the US, and the future of the region? In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Talmiz Ahmad, former Indian diplomat and West Asia expert, analyses the changing dynamics of the Middle East and the forces shaping its future. Drawing on his decades of diplomatic exper...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Sagarika Ghose, Rajya Sabha MP, Trinamool Congress, discusses the unprecedented political crisis facing the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the West Bengal 2026 Assembly election. As the party grapples with defections by senior leaders, legislators, and parliamentarians, Ghose offers her perspective on the reasons behind the exodus, the role o...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Jawhar Sircar, Former Rajya Sabha MP, Trinamool Congress, analyses the political crisis engulfing the Trinamool following its electoral defeat and the rebellion by a majority of its legislators. Sircar reflects on the structural weaknesses within the party, the rise of Abhishek Banerjee, the growing discontent among Trinamool leaders, and the factors tha...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Ritabrata Banerjee, Leader of the Opposition, Trinamool Legislative Party, speaks about the political upheaval that has shaken West Bengal politics following the Assembly election results. Banerjee discusses the rebellion by a majority of Trinamool MLAs, allegations of internal authoritarianism, the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the party...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, MLA Sheikh Khursheed and Abrar Rashid, brother and son of MP Engineer Rashid respectively, speak about the personal and political fallout of Engineer Rashid's seven-year incarceration, the impact of Article 370, and the future of Kashmir politics. Abrar Rashid reflects on growing up without his father, the trauma experienced by families separated by impr...

Why did thousands of Andhra Pradesh farmers voluntarily give up their land for Amaravati? In this episode of Frontline Conversations, social anthropologist Carol Upadhya discusses the rise, fall, and revival of Andhra Pradesh's capital city project, exploring caste politics, land pooling, real estate booms, environmental risks, the Amaravati protests, and the political contest between Chandrababu...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the viral Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), speaks about the movement that has captured the imagination of millions of young Indians in just a few weeks. What began as political satire has rapidly evolved into a youth-led campaign centred on unemployment, exam controversies, political representation, and growing disillusionment with...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, political scientist Yogendra Yadav speaks about the growing controversy surrounding delimitation, the North-South political divide, federalism, representation, and the future of Indian democracy. He explains why the debate over Lok Sabha seat reallocation has triggered deep anxieties in southern states, and why he believes the principle of federal balanc...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, host Gowhar Geelani leads a discussion on the disappearance and shrinking of Kashmir’s lakes and wetlands, following a recent CAG report that revealed more than 500 lakes in Jammu and Kashmir have either vanished or significantly receded. The panel examines the environmental, political, and social dimensions of Kashmir’s ecological crisis—from shrinking...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Anita Rampal, Educationist and Former Dean, Faculty of Education, Delhi University, examines the NEET paper leak controversy, the growing power of the coaching industry, and the larger crisis surrounding India’s centralised entrance examination system. She argues that NEET and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have transformed education into a high-press...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Suhas Palshikar, political scientist and retired professor from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, analyses the growing controversy around the delimitation debate in India, the recent defeat of a Constitution Amendment Bill linked to women’s reservation, and the larger political implications for federalism, representation, and democratic consensus....

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, sociologist, writer, and Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Royal Global University, Guwahati, Surajit Mukhopadhyay analyses the changing dynamics of the West Bengal Assembly election 2026, focusing on how identity politics has come to shape electoral outcomes in the State. Drawing on historical and sociological insights, he explains how Ben...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, part of a special interview series for Dalit History Month, acclaimed Tamil writer Bama reflects on over three decades of Dalit writing, the enduring legacy of B. R. Ambedkar, and the evolving realities of caste, resistance, and identity in India. She traces how Ambedkar’s call to “educate, organise, and agitate” transformed Dalit consciousness, while al...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, discusses the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the global response to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the role of international institutions in addressing alleged war crimes and human rights violations. Drawing on her reports, field insights, and legal analysis, she...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, political strategist and former head of the AIADMK IT wing, Aspire Swaminathan, analyses the shifting dynamics of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. Drawing on his experience in managing campaigns, setting up war rooms, and travelling extensively across the State, Swaminathan explains how what was once a clear two-front contest has evolved into a com...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, part of a special interview series for Dalit History Month, historian and MacArthur Fellow Shailaja Paik discusses her work on caste, gender, and Dalit women’s history in India. She explains how her research challenges dominant narratives by centring the lived experiences of Dalit women, whose voices have long been absent from mainstream archives. Paik s...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Felix Gerald, spokesperson for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), discusses actor Vijay’s entry into politics and the party’s vision ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. He explains how Vijay’s long-standing social work through Vijay Makkal Iyakkam has built grassroots support and argues that the current political momentum is not merely driven by...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Maidul Islam, Professor at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, examines the growing communalisation of politics in West Bengal and its implications for the 2026 Assembly election. He explains how the rise of the BJP, the spread of RSS networks, and the emergence of localised Muslim political formations are reshaping Bengal’s political lan...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Manuraj Shunmugasundaram, national media spokesperson of the DMK, speaks about the key political narratives shaping the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. The discussion centres on the DMK’s latest manifesto, the Rs.8,000 coupon scheme debate, and the broader ideological framework of the Dravidian model of governance. It also discusses whether welfare me...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, former Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy speaks about the political landscape ahead of the 2026 Puducherry Assembly election. The discussion looks into the performance of the BJP–N.R. Congress government, with criticism on governance, corruption, and the unfulfilled promise of statehood. He explains the alliance politics and electoral strategy, w...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, psephologist Arun Krishnamurthy joins Frontline to break down the evolving dynamics of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. The discussion explores whether the State is moving beyond the traditional DMK–AIADMK binary and what the rise of Vijay’s TVK means for the political landscape. It looks at the role of women voters, Gen Z, and first-time voters, e...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Kovai Sathyan, National Spokesperson of AIADMK, speaks about the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the AIADMK strategy under Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and the party’s battle against DMK. He addresses key issues shaping Tamil Nadu politics today, from the debate over NEET and the impact of the 7.5% internal reservation for government school student...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, former MP and founder of Telangana Jagruthi, K. Kavitha speaks about the Delhi liquor case, her five months in Tihar Jail, and the personal and political fallout that followed. Reflecting on the court’s verdict discharging the accused, Kavitha raises questions about the use of investigative agencies in political battles. Kavitha also addresses the intern...

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Physician-scientist and scientific consultant Dr Karishma S. Kaushik speaks about the realities of building a career in science—beyond awards, breakthroughs, and public recognition. Drawing from her book "The Real Deal", Kaushik reflects on the often-unseen side of scientific life: failed experiments, long periods of uncertainty, and the emotional resili...