South Asia Chat

35:42

Episode 316: India-ASEAN Relationship in 2026:...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/09/25

Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS-NUS, in conversation with Dr Sandeep Bhardwaj, Research Fellow, ISAS-NUS, unpacks India's multifaceted relationship with Southeast Asia.

en

39:35

Episode 315: Energy Impacts of the West Asia Crisis...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/07/20

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the hostilities between the US and Iran have significantly impacted South Asian countries. There was some hope of a return to normalcy after the two countries agreed to a ceasefire. However, with the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement and the resumption of hostilities between the two countries, South Asia faces significant challenges in its energy landscape and its potential repercussions in other social, economic, and political areas. In this episode of

en

41:33

Episode 314: World Cup 2026: India is Missing Yet Again

South Asia Chat ·

2026/06/29

Despite the football World Cup, regarded as the greatest show on earth, having expanded to 48 participating countries in 2026, we are once again in the all too familiar situation of no country from South Asia, including the world’s most populous nation India, being present in the tournament. To discuss the reasons behind the perennial absence of India from the World Cup, Senior Research Fellow Ronojoy Sen spoke to two senior sports journalists -- former Gulf News Senior Associate Editor Gautam

en

46:04

The Bookshelf: Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King

South Asia Chat ·

2026/05/26

In this episode, we speak with Patrick Olivelle, author of Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King. The author is in conversation with Imran Ahmed, Research Fellow, ISAS.

en

60:16

Episode 313: A Tale of Two States: Assembly Election...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/05/19

The electoral verdict in West Bengal, where the Bharatiya Janata Party won a landslide victory against the three-term Trinamool Congress government, and the emergence of a new force in the shape of film star Vijay in Tamil Nadu were the real highlights of the Assembly elections held in India in April 2026. In this episode, Ronojoy Sen, Senior Research Fellow, ISAS, is in conversation with Kolkata-based senior journalist Shikha Mukherjee and Deputy Resident Editor of the Hindu, Tamil Nadu, D. Suresh

en

68:08

The Bookshelf: Spying in South Asia: Britain, the...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/04/07

In this episode, we speak with Paul McGarr, author of Spying in South Asia: Britain, the United States, and India's Secret Cold War. The author is in conversation with Ivan Lidarev, Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS.

en

33:28

Episode 312: Pakistan and the Iran-War: Negotiating...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/03/30

Iqbal Sevea speaks with Moeed Yusuf, former National Security Advisor to Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Vice Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University, about how Pakistan is negotiating strategic and economic challenges arising out of the ongoing Iran war. They examine Pakistan’s delicate balancing act between key regional powers, its energy security challenges, and its complex relationships with Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan. They also discuss Pakistan’s potential role as a mediator in an

en

24:35

Episode 311: The 2026 Bangladesh Elections and...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/02/23

In this episode, we dive into Bangladesh’s February 12 elections and referendum—a pivotal moment that brought a familiar party back to power while calling for deep structural change. The central question is whether a status-quo political force can carry forward an agenda born out of anti-establishment protest, and what this means for Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory. To discuss this unfolding situation, Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS is in conversation with Professor Asif M. Shahan,

en

58:13

Episode 310: India's 2026 Budget: Beyond the Headlines

South Asia Chat ·

2026/02/09

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Iqbal Sevea discusses India’s 2026 Union Budget with Vinod Rai and Amitendu Palit. The discussion focuses on the budget’s approach to macroeconomic stability, including managing inflation, fiscal deficit and growth amid global uncertainty. Key themes include manufacturing and investment policies, incentives for cloud computing and data centres, the India Semiconductor Mission, and measures supporting MSMEs. The conversation also covers India’s evolving

en

86:52

The Bookshelf: Performing Sovereign Aspirations:...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/01/29

In this episode, we speak with Bart Klem, author of Performing Sovereign Aspirations: Tamil Insurgency and Postwar Transition in Sri Lanka. The author is in conversation with Rajni Gamage, Research Fellow, ISAS.

en

42:32

Episode 309: South Asia Outlook: Tariffs, Trade and...

South Asia Chat ·

2026/01/23

In this episode of South Asia Chat, host Iqbal Sevea speaks with Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, to assess how the Indian economy navigated global shocks in 2025 and what lies ahead in 2026. The discussion explores the impact of US tariffs, domestic demand, inflation trends, trade reforms, and India’s evolving free trade strategy, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping India’s economic trajectory in a changing global

en

27:17

Episode 308: COP30 and the Changing Politics of...

South Asia Chat ·

2025/12/18

Held in the Amazon, COP30 carried significant political and symbolic weight for global climate negotiations. Positioned by the Presidency as an “implementation COP,” the conference was intended to pivot the focus from setting goals to tackling the practical challenges of delivery. The summit highlighted both renewed momentum and familiar tensions around finance, forests, trade measures and fossil fuels alongside participation from a broad range of stakeholders. To discuss these developments, in this

en

26:56

Episode 307: India-Russia Relations : Exploring New...

South Asia Chat ·

2025/12/12

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India on 4th and 5th December- marking it his first trip in the last four years. This visit comes at a very delicate geopolitical moment. With the Ukraine war approaching its fourth year and Russia -US relations warming, major power relations are likely to see a critical shift. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor, ISAS on what the visit meant and

en

67:14

The Bookshelf: Art Cinema and India's Forgotten...

South Asia Chat ·

2025/11/25

In this episode, we speak with Rochona Majumdar, author of Art Cinema and India's Forgotten Futures: Film and History in the Postcolony. The author is in conversation with Tanujja Dadlani, Research Analyst, ISAS.

en

26:57

Episode 306: Unpacking Bihar Assembly Elections 2025

South Asia Chat ·

2025/11/25

The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have delivered a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance. The outcome has renewed discussions on the state’s long standing social coalitions, organisational strategies, and shifting political narratives that shaped voter behaviour. From the performance of the Grand Alliance to the limited electoral impact of new entrants such as the Jan Suraaj Party, the results offer important insights into Bihar’s political landscape. At the same time, debates around

en

24:26

Episode 305: Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Tensions

South Asia Chat ·

2025/11/14

The Afghanistan-Pakistan border, long defined by porous boundaries and competing national interests, has once again become a flashpoint for regional instability. In recent months, tensions have escalated over border management, cross-border conflict, and the broader geopolitical implications of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. To discuss the evolving border tension and its context, Ms. Tanujja Dadlani, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr. Zahid Shahab Ahmed, an honorary

en

59:50

The Bookshelf: Toward a Free Economy: Swatantra and...

South Asia Chat ·

2025/11/04

In this episode, we speak with Aditya Balasubramanian, author of Toward a Free Economy: Swatantra and Opposition Politics in Democratic India. The author is in conversation with Sandeep Bhardwaj, Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS.

en

33:28

Episode 304: Advancing India–China Climate Cooperation

South Asia Chat ·

2025/10/14

This episode explores the evolving contours of India–China engagement in the climate and energy domain while both countries take steps towards normalising their relationship following the 2020 clashes at Galwan. As both countries undertake policies towards decarbonisation of their respective economies, cooperation in domains of trade, investment, technology and diplomacy can advance shared goals. To unpack this bilateral dynamic, Dr Karthik Nachiappan, Research Fellow, ISAS-NUS, is in conversation

en

42:39

The Bookshelf: Shikwa-e-Hind: The Political Future of...

South Asia Chat ·

2025/09/30

In this episode, we speak with Mujibur Rehman, author of Shikwa-e-Hind: The Political Future of Indian Muslims. The author is in conversation with Amit Ranjan, Research Fellow, ISAS.

en

24:32

Episode 303: Sri Lankan President Dissanayake's First...

South Asia Chat ·

2025/09/24

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake completes one year in office on 23 September 2025. President Dissanayake came to power in 2024 on a campaign of anti-corruption and system change towards a more equitable society. To provide an overview and analysis of the 2025 budget, ISAS Research Fellow, Dr Rajni Gamage is joined by Mr Mohamed Faslan, Lecturer at the Department of Political Science & Public Policy, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files

Michael Britt

Bedtime Safari

Bedtime History

The Day with Geoff Barton

The Day News and Media Ltd