Grand Tamasha
News & Politics
About
Each week, Milan Vaishnav and his guests from around the world break down the latest developments in Indian politics, economics, foreign policy, society, and culture for a global audience. Grand Tamasha is a co-production of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Hindustan Times.
Episodes
- Can India Keep Its Balance in West Asia?
Kabir Taneja discusses India's evolving West Asia policy, balancing Gulf ties with regional complexities. Topics include the impact of the Iran crisis, shifting alignments, Pakistan's diplomatic role, and Afghanistan-India relations.
- Flash Episode: India's 2026 Elections Explained
This flash episode of Grand Tamasha analyzes India's 2026 state assembly elections. Guests Neelanjan Sircar and Yamini Aiyar join host Milan to discuss the BJP's performance in West Bengal and Assam, political shifts in Tamil Nadu, and the…
- India’s Delimitation Dilemma
The Grand Tamasha podcast episode "India’s Delimitation Dilemma" discusses the challenges and consequences of India not updating its political power distribution for fifty years. Hosted by Milan Vaishnav, with guest Shruti Rajagopalan, the…
- India’s Youth Boom Meets a Jobs Bust
The Grand Tamasha episode discusses the "State of Working India 2026" report, which reveals a paradox in India: educational attainment has risen, yet stable employment for young graduates is scarce. The conversation with lead author Rosa A…
- The Indian Who Helped Build Silicon Valley
This episode features Kanwal Rekhi, discussing his memoir "The Groundbreaker." Rekhi, a pioneering Indian-American entrepreneur, shares his journey from India to co-founding The Indus Entrepreneurs and building venture capital for India's…
- India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point
For decades, India’s growth story has rested on the spectacular rise of its middle class. But a new book argues that this very group—roughly 40 million income-tax–paying households—is now under acute strain. Facing a convergence of job dis…
- Inside The Complex: Family, Power, and India in Turmoil
On this week’s show, Milan sits down with the novelist Karan Mahajan, author of a much-anticipated new novel, The Complex. Karan and Milan discussed the book at our first ever live Grand Tamasha event at Carnegie headquarters in Washington…
- Can India Thrive in Trump’s World?
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has once again altered the contours of international politics. For India, this evolving context raises several important questions about the viability of its foreign policy approach. This week on th…
- Inside Washington: Ami Bera on Shifting U.S.–India Ties
Over the past two decades, Washington and New Delhi have drawn steadily closer—driven by shared concerns about China, expanding economic ties, and a growing Indian diaspora in the United States. To help us unpack all of this, this week Mil…
- Bangladesh’s Political Reset
For decades, Bangladesh has long oscillated between competitive democracy and dominant-party rule. In 2024, mass protests brought an abrupt end to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s long tenure in power, opening the door to Bangladesh’s most c…
- India’s AI Moment?
Just weeks ago, India hosted the 2026 AI Impact Summit, the latest chapter in a global process that began in 2023 in the UK. For India, the stakes could not be higher: it’s a country with immense technical talent and a data-rich digital ec…
- Populism and the Politics of India’s Foreign Policy
We tend to think of populist leaders around the world as disruptive—skeptical of international institutions, impatient for change, and prone to upending foreign policy norms. But a new book by scholars Sandra Destradi and Johannes Plageman…
- Europe’s Discovery of India
Over the past year, Europe–India relations have entered a markedly upbeat phase. What was once a diffuse partnership—long on rhetoric, short on strategy—now looks far more purposeful. From the announcement on a long-delayed EU-India Free T…
- India’s Return to the Trade Game
After years of trade skepticism, India appears to be back in the deal-making business—signing new agreements, reviving stalled talks, and announcing ambitious frameworks with key bilateral partners. A few weeks ago, the European Union and…
- How India Lost the Neighborhood
Over the past few years, South Asia has witnessed a striking wave of mass protests toppling governments and upending long-standing political arrangements in countries ranging from Bangladesh to Nepal and Sri Lanka. These upheavals are ofte…
- Can the U.S. Salvage Its Relationship with India?
U.S.-India relations were once described as one of Washington’s MOST important strategic bets in the twenty-first century. But over the past year, that partnership has come under serious strain—buffeted by trade disputes, sharp rhetoric, a…
- The State of Indian Politics in 2026
2026 is shaping up to be a hectic political year in India. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed the relatively unknown Nitin Nabin to take over as party president. The BJP and its opposition…
- Grand Tamasha’s Best Books of 2025
Grand Tamasha is Carnegie’s weekly podcast on Indian politics and policy co-produced with the Hindustan Times , a leading Indian media house . For six years (and counting), host Milan Vaishnav has interviewed authors, journalists, policyma…
- The Quiet Resilience of U.S.–India Defense Cooperation
Despite geopolitical turbulence, U.S.-India defense cooperation remains strong, evidenced by a new defense framework and increased military ties. Senior advisor Sameer Lalwani joins to discuss the durability and future of this partnership,…
- Rewriting India’s Education Story, One Girl at a Time
The podcast episode features Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO of Educate Girls, discussing the NGO's Magsaysay Award recognition for its work in girls' education across India. Topics include educational barriers, social norm shifts, and the use of d…
- Beyond the Raj: Recasting the India–UK Partnership
The Grand Tamasha episode "Beyond the Raj: Recasting the India–UK Partnership" examines the transformation of the India-UK relationship, exploring recent trade agreements, technological cooperation, and geopolitical realignments. Guest Avi…
- Interpreting the 2025 Bihar Verdict
The 2025 Bihar election resulted in a landslide victory for the NDA, winning 202 out of 243 seats. The episode features Roshan Kishore discussing the election's impact on India's political economy, the JD(U)–BJP alliance, voter polarizatio…
- Understanding South Asia’s “Ordinary Rebels”
Political scientist Kolby Hanson joins Grand Tamasha to discuss his book "Ordinary Rebels," which examines how state toleration impacts non-state armed groups in Northeast India and Sri Lanka. The conversation covers recruitment, the polit…
- How India’s Women Are Redefining Politics
Journalist Ruhi Tewari discusses her new book, "What Women Want: Understanding the Female Voter in Modern India," with Milan Vaishnav on Grand Tamasha. They explore the increasing visibility and influence of women voters in Indian politics…
- The Forgotten Partitions That Remade South Asia
Sam Dalrymple discusses his book "Shattered Lands," detailing the five partitions that dissolved the British Indian Empire, encompassing modern-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, and other nations. The conversation covers the separati…
- A Sixth of Humanity and the Dreams of a Nation
Devesh Kapur and Arvind Subramanian discuss their book "A Sixth of Humanity: Independent India's Development Odyssey," exploring India's concurrent transformations in state, economy, society, and nationhood under universal suffrage. They a…
- The Court and the Republic: A Conversation with Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, former Chief Justice of India, speaks with Milan Vaishnav about his book "Why the Constitution Matters," reflecting on the Indian Constitution's impact on daily life. They also discuss the judiciary's role in Indi…
- H-1Bs, India, and the Global Talent Wars
Grand Tamasha features Britta Glennon discussing the effects of the $100,000 H-1B visa fee on skilled immigration, innovation, and offshoring decisions, with a focus on the impact on Indian professionals and the U.S. economy.
- Why Washington Is Wooing Pakistan
Grand Tamasha discusses the recent developments in U.S.-Pakistan relations, where Washington has shown renewed engagement. The episode features Uzair Younus, who discusses the U.S. reassessment of Pakistan, potential joint ventures, and th…
- From Convergence to Confrontation: Trump’s India Gambit
The episode analyzes the decline in US-India relations, marked by Trump administration tariffs on Indian exports and Russian oil imports, which caused a significant crisis. It explores the history of this relationship, current trade negoti…
- Can Europe be India's Plan B?
Journalist James Crabtree joins Milan to discuss his paper "Pivot to Europe: India’s Back-Up Plan in Trump’s World." They explore the challenges in U.S.-India relations, Europe
- K.M. Panikkar and the Making of Modern India
The podcast features a discussion with author Narayani Basu about her book on K.M. Panikkar, a significant figure in modern India. They cover his diverse roles as a journalist, diplomat, and scholar, and his influence on India's developmen…
- Vajpayee and the Making of the Modern BJP
Abhishek Choudhary joins Milan on Grand Tamasha to discuss his biography of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. They cover Vajpayee's entry into politics, his time as foreign minister, ideological stances, his relationship with L.K. Advani, and dealings…
- Trade Wars: Trump Targets India
Grand Tamasha discusses the US tariff on Indian exports, initiated by Donald Trump’s executive order over Russian oil purchases. Guests Sadanand Dhume and Tanvi Madan analyze Trump’s motives, India’s response, and the future of India’s mul…
- What Kind of Great Power Will India Become?
Ashley J. Tellis returns to Grand Tamasha to discuss his Foreign Affairs essay, "India's Great-Power Delusions." The conversation explores the expected and unexpected forms India's rise as a great power might take, contrasting its growth w…
- Hindutva Politics in the Diaspora
Edward Anderson joins Milan on Grand Tamasha to discuss his book on Hindu nationalism in the Indian diaspora. They explore how Hindu nationalism gained popularity after 1947, its resonance overseas, and the diaspora's engagement with Briti…
- The Decline and Fall of an Indian Ed Tech Empire
This Grand Tamasha episode details the downfall of the Indian EdTech company Byju’s, once a highly-hyped startup, now facing fraud accusations. It examines the cautionary lessons for startups and investors, and the societal pressures on In…
- A Reappraisal of Indira Gandhi’s Life—and Legacy
Historian Srinath Raghavan joins Grand Tamasha to discuss his book on Indira Gandhi, covering her unexpected political ascent, her leadership during the 1971 war, economic impact, and the Emergency period.
- The Secret to Indian Americans' Success
Meenakshi Ahamed joins Milan on Grand Tamasha to discuss her new book, which explores the rapid success of Indian Americans in the US across technology, medicine, and public policy. They delve into factors contributing to this rise, includ…
- Decolonization and India’s Constitutional Order
This episode of Grand Tamasha features a discussion with scholar Sandipto Dasgupta about his book on India's postcolonial constitutional order. They explore the relationship between decolonization and constitution-making, representation, a…
- How This India-Pakistan Conflict Will Shape the Next One
Scholar Joshua T. White rejoins Grand Tamasha to discuss his essay "Lessons for the next India-Pakistan war." They cover attribution in the conflict, military target selection precedents, Pakistani information operations, drone usage, and…
- Operation Sindoor and South Asia’s Uncertain Future
Christopher Clary joins Milan to discuss Operation Sindoor, India's response to a terrorist attack in Kashmir, which escalated into the worst conflict between India and Pakistan in 25 years. They examine the implications for future India-P…
- Recovering the Lost Indosphere
William Dalrymple joins Milan to discuss his book "The Golden Road," which highlights ancient India's significant economic and civilizational impact. They explore the obscured history of the Indosphere, India's global influence through Bud…
- Terror, Trade, and Trump’s India Policy
Milan, Sadanand Dhume, and Tanvi Madan discuss a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, JD Vance's visit to India, and the economic implications of Trump's tariff threats.
- India’s Precocious Welfare State
Grand Tamasha features Louise Tillin discussing her book on India's welfare state, covering its history, late colonial debates, the Nehruvian model, and current debates around social protection.
- Trade, Tariffs, and India's Silver Lining
The Grand Tamasha podcast features Shoumitro Chatterjee discussing the effects of US tariff hikes on India, the nation's export performance, manufacturing sector, and future economic strategy, including insights on the agricultural industr…
- A New Era of Electioneering in India
Amogh Dhar Sharma discusses his book on India's evolving electioneering landscape, focusing on political consulting firms, tech-savvy volunteers, data-driven strategies, and the BJP's digital embrace. The conversation covers the profession…
- The Reactionary Spirit in America—and Abroad
Journalist Zack Beauchamp joins Milan to discuss his book, "The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World." The episode explores the antidemocratic ethos born in the US that now infects democracie…
- Kishore Mahbubani and the Asian Century
Milan interviews Kishore Mahbubani, a prominent diplomat and strategic analyst, about his memoir "Living the Asian Century." They discuss his personal journey from poverty in Singapore, the nation's development, and the rising cultural con…
- The Indian Economy's Many Possible Futures
Sajith Pai, lead author of the Indus Valley Annual Report, discusses the report