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Southasiasphere is our roundup of news events and analysis of regional affairs, now out every two weeks. If you are a member, you will automatically receive links to new episodes in your inbox. If you are not yet a member, you can still get episode links for free by signing up here. In this episode, we talk about the political implications of continued violence in Manipur, including growing calls from the Kuki community for a separate state, and explore the mounting economic crisis in Bangladesh. For “Around Southasia in 5 minutes” we talk about the controversial G20 meeting on tourism hosted by the Indian government in Srinagar, the investigations into a controversial pastor in Sri Lanka and the increasing use of the country’s ICCPR Act to quash dissent, a new political party in the Maldives, a newly released report on the Adani Group by a Supreme Court-appointed investigative committee in India, the growing crackdown on PTI leaders and journalists in Pakistan and a new report on the terrible conditions facing migrant workers from Nepal. For “Bookmarked” we discuss the short film, “The tea is cold”, following the story of a researcher traveling to the North of Sri Lanka and the stories he uncovers. Episode notes: Violence in Manipur, Imran Khan’s arrest, the Karnataka elections and more: https://www.himalmag.com/violence-in-manipur-imran-khans-arrest-adani-myanmar-karnataka-election/ Rebound or relapse: debt restructuring in a time of crisis: https://www.himalmag.com/debt-restructuring-imf-economic-crisis-southasia/ How a human rights law became a tool of repression in Sri Lanka: https://www.himalmag.com/iccpr-human-rights-law-repression-blasphemy-sri-anka/ The Maldives’ ruling party is fighting itself and the opposition in the race for president: https://www.himalmag.com/maldives-presidential-election-ibrahim-solih-mohamed-nasheed-abdulla-yameen-mdp-ppm/ The hidden cost: https://www.himalmag.com/the-hidden-cost-migrant-worker-rights-world-cup-2022/ The tea is cold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXLP_u5tccE This episode is now available on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/mTtni Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PgI8X7gYNJfiqwroMd1w5?si=QtWrzftJRY2UgkYljhdbJw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-fallout-of-violence-in-manipur/id1464880116?i=1000615138637

In this episode, we talk about the violence in Manipur in the past few weeks, and the latest developments following Imran Khan's arrest in Islamabad. For 'Around Southasia in 5 minutes', we talk about the recently held Karnataka Assembly election and Adani Ports' recently completed sale of its port in Myanmar - at far below the value of the conglomerate’s initial investment. We also talk about the impact of cyclone Mocha in Myanmar and Bangladesh, a string of high-profile arrests in Nepal in connection with what is being called the 'refugee scam', new statistics on rising poverty in Sri Lanka, and the recently held Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Goa. For 'Bookmarked', we talk about the movie 'Jinpa' by the renowned Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden, who passed away recently. Episode notes: Majoritarianism in Manipur https://www.himalmag.com/majoritarianism-in-manipur/ Politics and Pakistan’s new army chief https://www.himalmag.com/himal-briefs-politics-pakistans-new-army-chief-2022/ Pakistan needs to go beyond the 18th amendment to end the military’s role in politics https://www.himalmag.com/pakistan-military-beyond-18th-amendment-constitution-politics/ Adani in Southasia https://www.himalmag.com/adani-southasia-power-politics-diplomacy-myanmar-bangladesh-sri-lanka-india/ Jinpa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDOHE7PclZc This podcast episode is available on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/hrX2i Spotify: https://spoti.fi/41RNCoU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3MedZiK And Youtube: https://youtu.be/G-xlfYvyWgY

At Screen Southasia, we host monthly online screenings of compelling documentaries from the region, including Nepal, India, Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. We present a diverse range of films, both classic and new, that showcase the unique cultures, histories and perspectives of Southasia. Screen Southasia is a partnership between Himal Southasian and Film Southasia. For updates on future screenings and Q&A sessions, sign up here: http://bit.ly/ScreenSouthasia In our latest Screen Southasia Q&A session, recorded on 8 May 2023, we speak with the filmmaker Leena Manimekalai and Smile to discuss their 2017 documentary film 'Is it too much to ask?'.  Film synopsis: 'Is it too much to ask?' follows the journey of two friends, Smile and Glady, as they search for a rental apartment in Chennai. Along the way, they encounter obstacles and social stigma for being both single and transgender women. Their identities make them vulnerable to the caste-ridden, feudal and patriarchal landlords of the city, who deny them apartments and, in turn, deny their existence. Despite these challenges, Smile and Glady face every day with grace, humour and positivity, turning their anger and frustrations into songs, dances, plays and works of art that give them hope.

In this episode, we talk about ongoing court cases on marriage equality in India, decriminalisation of same-sex relationships in Sri Lanka, and recognition of foreign same-sex spouses in Nepal. We also talk about the fencing of the Durand Line between Pakistan and Afghanistan. For “Around Southasia in 5 minutes”, we'll be talking about April marking 10 years since the collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, and 8 years since the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, as well as developments related to the acquittal of 69 Hindus who were accused of murder during the 2002 Gujarat riots in India. We'll also be talking about Bhutan's cryptocurrency holdings, voter data theft and manipulation in the lead up to Karnataka‘s state elections, revelations around a bribe impacting the X-Press Pearl disaster litigation in Sri Lanka, wrestlers' protests in India, and the last photos of Japanese photojournalist Kenji Nagai, who was killed in Myanmar. For “Bookmarked”, we talk about Rima Das’ 2018 film, Bulbul can sing, a coming of age story set in Assam. We also tease our upcoming edition of Screen Southasia, ‘Is it too much to ask?’ directed by Leena Manimekalai, which will be screening from 5-8 May, with a Q and A on 8 May. Sign up to catch this and future screenings here: https://bit.ly/ScreenSouthasia Episode notes: The line Durand drew - Daniel Lak: https://www.himalmag.com/the-line-durand-drew/ Pashtuns will not be pawns in Pakistan’s dangerous game with the TTP and Taliban - Hurmat Ali Shah: https://www.himalmag.com/pashtuns-protest-pakistan-peshawar-mosque-bast-swat-waziristan-ttp-taliban/ Tehreek-i-Taliban is making its way back in Pakistan: https://www.himalmag.com/tehreek-i-taliban-peace-talks-pakistan/ How hate works - Rakesh Shukla: https://www.himalmag.com/how-hate-works-gujarat-riots-rakesh-shukla-2019/ The Nepal earthquake, one year later - Himal Southasian: https://www.himalmag.com/the-nepal-earthquake-one-year-later/ Scandalising the supply chain - Dina M Siddiqi: https://www.himalmag.com/scandalising-the-supply-chain-bangladesh-2022/ Yameen’s conviction, the Taliban ban on women’s education, Kite Tales and more - Southasiasphere (January 2023): https://www.himalmag.com/southasiasphere-yameen-conviction-taliban-womens-education-rohingya-crisis-2023/ Bulbul Can Sing - A film by Rima Das: https://www.netflix.com/title/81026003 Episode transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/marriage-equality-india-durand-line-gurajat-nepal-earthquake-wrestlers-protests/

Southasiasphere is our roundup of news events and analysis of regional affairs, now out every two weeks. If you are a member, you will automatically receive links to new episodes in your inbox. If you are not yet a member, you can still get episode links for free by signing up here: https://bit.ly/3GVBb3o In this episode, we talk about recent airstrikes in Pazigyi village in Myanmar and new restrictions on women’s rights from the Taliban, from restrictions in access to green space in Herat to a ban on UN women workers across Afghanistan. For “Around Southasia in 5 minutes”, we’ll be talking about the debate around an antiterrorism bill in Sri Lanka, sexual harassment cases in south India and Bhutan, the controversial Adani-funded Godda plant which recently began power supply to Bangladesh, the hosting of G20 meetings in Kashmir in the backdrop of some explosive revelations from a former governor of Jammu and Kashmir, and a firing incident at the Bathinda army base in Punjab. For “Bookmarked” we talk about Joyland, an Urdu and Punjabi language film from Pakistan exploring queer relationships and desire in a multigenerational family. We also tease our upcoming film for Screen Southasia, our monthly documentary screening in partnership with Film Southasia - “Is it too much to ask?” by Leena Manimekalai. To catch this and future screenings, please register here: https://bit.ly/ScreenSouthasia Episode Notes: * Myanmar, Bangladesh and the global game over Rohingya repatriation: https://www.himalmag.com/myanmar-junta-bangladesh-united-states-china-rohingya-repatriation/ * Adani in Southasia: https://www.himalmag.com/adani-southasia-power-politics-diplomacy-myanmar-bangladesh-sri-lanka-india/ * Joyland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy9bNgbZMJI * Screen Southasia: Is it too much to ask?: https://bit.ly/ScreenSouthasia Listen to this episode on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/37VZi Spotify: https://spoti.fi/41I9cMT Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UOXwp5 Youtube: https://youtu.be/0si430hz4Og Transcript: https://bit.ly/3UVgieD

The Adani Group has been making big news for the wrong reasons. Hindenburg Research’s report accusing the group of “the largest con in corporate history” sent Adani stocks plummeting, wiping well over USD 100 billion off the group’s valuation even as the conglomerate denied doing any wrong. Suddenly Adani is facing extra scrutiny from investors, governments and the media – but activists who had long alleged malpractice in Adani projects in India and across the region, as well as journalists who earlier exposed the group’s questionable practices, are left to wonder what took so long. The world’s focus has mostly been on India, but the Adani Group’s vast footprint has left marks across much of the rest of Southasia too. In Bangladesh, pressure is building for the government to reconsider a power deal with Adani that may not be in the country’s best interests. In Sri Lanka, like in Bangladesh, there are questions over what role the Indian government played in securing ongoing Adani projects. In Myanmar, following the 2021 coup, there has been scant attention to how Adani has continued with controversial projects under the rule of the unelected military government. And in India, there are the perennial questions over Gautam Adani’s closeness to Narendra Modi, and allegations of special treatment for his business house. In our latest edition of Southasian Conversation, recorded on 11 April 2023, we look at the long reach of the Adani Group – from energy to transport and logistics, from India to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Myanmar – to draw attention to the conglomerate’s record in Southasia, and to ask not just what it says about the Adani Group itself but also about power, politics and diplomacy in the region. Panelists: * Ravi Nair – Investigative journalist * Zia Hassan – Economist and political commentator * Rawan Arraf – Executive Director, Australian Centre for International Justice * Rathindra Kuruwita – Journalist and researcher Moderator: * Roman Gautam – Editor, Himal Southasian

At Screen Southasia, we host monthly online screenings of compelling documentaries from the region, including Nepal, India, Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. We present a diverse range of films, both classic and new, that showcase the unique cultures, histories and perspectives of Southasia. Screen Southasia is a partnership between Himal Southasian and Film Southasia. For updates on future screenings and Q&A sessions, sign up here: https://bit.ly/3UwHAaR In our first Screen Southasia Q&A session, recorded on 3 April 2023, we speak with the filmmaker Kesang Tseten, to discuss his 2006 documentary ‘Hami Kunako Manche’ (We Corner People). Film synopsis: This is a story of a village in Rasuwa District, north of Kathmandu – in ravines beyond which no settlement lies. The inhabitants call themselves people placed at the corner: their backs against the wall, without electricity, roads, health posts, and lacking even a single shop. Villagers walk four hours just to buy chilli or salt, or to sell their bamboo weavings, their only means of cash income. Now, a bridge comes to the village, addressing longstanding fears about the rushing torrent below. How will their lives change?

In this episode, we talk about recent events in the Doklam border dispute in Bhutan, with India and China both involved; an escalation in attacks on journalists in Bangladesh, Kashmir and the Maldives, and the tragic drowning of an Afghan journalist; and the Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as an MP in India, following a recent court conviction for defamation. For “Around Southasia in 5 minutes”, we’re talking about the search for the Sikh radical Amritpal Singh in India, a High Court case on sedition law and legislative amendments curbing the Chief Justice’s powers in Pakistan, attempts to criminalise predatory lending in Nepal, Sri Lanka receiving the Extended Fund Facility from the IMF and developments in the 2019 Jamia violence case in India. For “Bookmarked”, we talk about Hami kunako manche, a classic Nepali documentary, featured in the first edition of Screen Southasia, our monthly documentary screening in collaboration with Film Southasia. To catch future screenings, please register here. Episode Notes: Yameen’s conviction, the Taliban ban on women’s education, Kite Tales and more: https://www.himalmag.com/southasiasphere-yameen-conviction-taliban-womens-education-rohingya-crisis-2023/ Embers of a Sikh fire: https://www.himalmag.com/embers-of-a-sikh-fire/ Tamil Sikh: https://www.himalmag.com/tamil-sikh-fragments-of-memory-2022/ Southasia’s déjà vu: https://www.himalmag.com/southasias-deja-vu/ Delayed elections in Sri Lanka, tax raids on BBC in India, PTM leader Ali Wazir’s release and more: https://www.himalmag.com/tax-raid-bbc-india-delayed-local-government-elections-sri-lanka-ptm-ali-wazir-release/ Sri Lanka’s great IMF lie: https://www.himalmag.com/sri-lanka-imf-development-food-insecurity-debt-economic-crisis/ How the IMF bailout is changing Sri Lanka’s foreign policy: https://www.himalmag.com/imf-bailout-sri-lanka-china-india-us-foreign-policy/ Hami kunako manche: https://www.shunyatafilm.com/we-corner-people-hami-kunako-manche/ Listen to this episode on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/WcQQm Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4353shB Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3nPysBW Or Youtube: https://youtu.be/XhCmF-ox3zE

In this episode, we talk about the attempted arrest of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan and details of the case against him, involving state gifts. We also discuss a fresh UN High Commissioner for Refugees funding call for Afghanistan, where the dire humanitarian situation means 20 million people - almost half the population - are experiencing food insecurity. In “Around Southasia in 5 minutes”, we discuss the spread of adenovirus in West Bengal, protests around toxic smoke at the Brahmapuram waste dump in Kochi, Nepal’s new president, trade union action in Sri Lanka opposing the IMF’s conditions for a bailout loan, a new Human Rights Watch report on political prisoners in Bhutan, and news of Zangkar Jamyang, a Tibetan writer and language rights activist, who disappeared in 2020 and has resurfaced in a Sichuan prison. For “Bookmarked”, we’ll be discussing A path home, a graphic novel about Naga repatriation. Episode notes: Sri Lanka’s great IMF lie: https://www.himalmag.com/sri-lanka-imf-development-food-insecurity-debt-economic-crisis/ Refusal and responsibility: https://www.himalmag.com/refusal-and-responsibility-tibetan-intellectuals-2022/ Returning spoils of colonial conquest: https://www.himalmag.com/returning-spoils-of-colonial-conquest-2021/ A Path Home - graphic novel On Naga repatriation https://rradnagaland.org/novel/ Full episode and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/imran-khan-attempted-arrest-un-appeal-afghanistan-aid-graphic-novel-on-naga-repatriation/ Listen on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/cfUx6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0mEtnNPOcUXNJaylY5OkH0?si=TrWbRtooQWSIhf3-pP_0Nw Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/southasiasphere-20-march-imran-khans-attempted-arrest/id1464880116?i=1000605299207 Youtube: https://youtu.be/-xayhndIjlQ

In this episode, we talk about the assembly election and by-election results in India, and examine growing trepidation in Bangladesh about a 2017 deal signed between the Bangladesh Power Development Board and the Adani Group. In “Around Southasia in 5 minutes” we’re talking about the closure of the Dainik Dinkal newspaper in Bangladesh; Pakistan on the economic precipice and a recent loan from China that’s bought the country some time; shifts in the Nepali ruling coalition requiring a second vote of confidence for prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal; a new report on forced demolitions, arbitrary detention and torture in Tibet; and the Delhi High Court upholding the controversial Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the Indian Army. For “Bookmarked”, we’ll be talking about Prasanna Vithanage’s feature film Gaadi, which discusses caste discrimination in Ceylon at a time when courtiers plotted to overthrow the Kandyan king Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe. Episode notes: Power play: https://www.himalmag.com/power-play-bangladesh-2021/ Bangladesh’s BNP fights to make a political comeback: https://www.himalmag.com/bangladesh-nationalist-party-bnp-political-rallies-election/ Rebound or relapse: Debt restructuring in a time of crisis: https://www.himalmag.com/debt-restructuring-imf-economic-crisis-southasia/ Desecration in Drago county: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c6d7c35b2cf790541327f25/t/63cfdcc81771d947c2081480/1674566871741/Desecration-in-Drago-County.pdf A plot twist makes Pushpa Kamal Dahal prime minister of Nepal: https://www.himalmag.com/nepal-election-pushpa-kamal-dahal-prime-minister-2022/ Gaadi: https://youtu.be/JQIEvMb6eCM The podcast episode is now available now Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/QHajB Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3tdej1S3ea0wjaV4HuzQQc?si=aa0cc1671e524a15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/southasiasphere-6-march-election-in-the-northeast/id1464880116?i=1000603230087 Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZNxl1MZM7ng

According to the UN, 2022 was one of the deadliest years for Rohingya refugees at sea since 2014. Over 3500 Rohingya attempted to leave Myanmar or Bangladesh by sea in 2022, and at least 348 lost their lives or went missing while doing so. But these tragedies have already faded from headlines, even though the Rohingya crisis continues. In this edition of Southasian Conversations, recorded on 27 February 2023, we bring attention to the Rohingya community and their ongoing struggles for survival, dignity and justice. We look at the present crisis but also beyond, to go farther than entrenched narratives focussed solely on Rohingya dispossession. Moderator: • Ben Dunant, Editor-in-chief, Frontier Myanmar Panelists: • Kaamil Ahmed - Journalist for the Guardian and author of I Feel No Peace: Rohingya Fleeing Over Seas and Rivers • Ruki Fernando - Human rights activist • Sahat Zia Hero - Founding editor for Rohingyatographer Magazine • Sharifah Shakirah - Founder and Director of Rohingya Women Development Network Full video discussion and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/the-rohingya-refugee-crisis-at-sea-and-beyond-struggle-for-justice/

In this episode, we talk about delayed local government elections in Sri Lanka. We discuss the tax raid on BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi. We also discuss the shutdown of embassies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In “Around Southasia in Five Minutes”, we discuss the release of PTM leader Ali Wazir after almost two years behind bars in Pakistan, a new political party law and a directive from the junta on civilians carrying firearms in Myanmar, the controversial appointment of Victoria Gowri as an additional judge of the Madras High Court in India, rumours of a growing rift in the Taliban in Afghanistan after critical comments made by interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Bangladesh’s selection of a new president. For “Bookmarked”, we discuss the documentary Dreaming of Words, which tells the story of Njattyela Sreedharan, a fourth-standard drop-out who went on to compile a comparative dictionary of Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. Full episode and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/tax-raid-bbc-india-delayed-local-government-elections-sri-lanka-ptm-ali-wazir-release/ Episode Notes: Sri Lanka’s local elections are a major threat to the ruling class: https://www.himalmag.com/srilanka-local-elections-aragalaya-tax-policy-economic-crisis-ranil-wickremesinghe-rajapaksas/ Protests in Gwadar, a BBC documentary on Modi, Tamil fiction in translation and more: https://www.himalmag.com/southasiasphere-protests-gwadar-bbc-documentary-modi-gujarat-riots-tamil-fiction-translation/ Pashtuns will not be pawns in Pakistan’s dangerous game with the TTP and Taliban: https://www.himalmag.com/pashtuns-protest-pakistan-peshawar-mosque-bast-swat-waziristan-ttp-taliban/ Taliban regime under siege, within and without: https://www.himalmag.com/himal-briefs-taliban-regime-under-siege-afghanistan-2022/ Dreaming of words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWmRnOcm_Ko

“The military’s exit from politics would not only stabilise civilian democracy but also strengthen the Parliament, as the country’s supreme body that is directly accountable to the people,” writes Salman Rafi Sheikh, assistant professor of politics at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, in his article for Himal Briefs looking at how Pakistan needs to go beyond the 18th amendment to end the military’s role in politics. In our latest Himal Twitter Spaces session, recorded on 6 February, we speak to Salman about this continued cycle of crises in Pakistan, and how reviving the 2010 reform process can be key to stabilise the polity and target the vast business empire controlled by the military establishment. Pakistan needs to go beyond the 18th amendment to end the military’s role in politics - Salman Rafi Sheikh https://www.himalmag.com/pakistan-military-beyond-18th-amendment-constitution-politics/ More Himal Twitter Spaces: https://www.himalmag.com/category/himal-spaces/

In this episode, we talk about the silent strikes in Myanmar marking two years since the country’s military coup. We also look at security in Pakistan in the wake of a suicide bomb blast in Peshawar, and the spiralling impact of the country’s debt crisis on the wellbeing of citizens. In “Around Southasia in Five Minutes”, we discuss the impact of a report by Hindenburg Research accusing the Adani Group of stock manipulation and marketing fraud, the Indian National Congress’s recently concluded Bharat Jodo Yatra, the controversy surrounding the citizenship of the politician Rabi Lamichchane in Nepal, the release of the Sri Lankan student activist Wasantha Mudalige, the contentious Maldivian presidential primaries, and much more. For “Bookmarked”, we talk about the documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, shot in the Nilgiri Mountaints in Tamil Nadu, which has been nominated for an Oscar. Full episode and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/silent-strikes-myanmar-coup-militancy-debt-pakistan-peshawar-elephant-whisperers/ Episode notes: Resisting a coup: https://www.himalmag.com/resisting-a-coup-myanmar-interview-2021/ Southasiasphere episode 25 January 2023: https://www.himalmag.com/southasiasphere-protests-gwadar-bbc-documentary-modi-gujarat-riots-tamil-fiction-translation/ Rebound or relapse: Debt restructuring in a time of crisis: https://www.himalmag.com/debt-restructuring-imf-economic-crisis-southasia/ Pakistan needs to go beyond the 18th amendment to end the military’s role in politics: https://www.himalmag.com/pakistan-military-beyond-18th-amendment-constitution-politics/ Musharraf’s last stand: https://www.himalmag.com/musharrafs-last-stand/ Adani Group: How the world’s third richest man is pulling the largest con in corporate history: https://hindenburgresearch.com/adani/ The Elephant Whisperers: https://www.netflix.com/title/81312835 Southasiasphere is our roundup of news events and analysis of regional affairs, now out twice a month. If you are a member, you will automatically receive links to the new episodes in your inbox. If you are not yet a member, you can still get it for free by signing up here: https://himalmag.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0c87df9f0948bcfa1bc80d2b4&id=2c748501e0

In this episode, we look at the Gwadar Rights Movement and other burgeoning protests across Pakistan, from demonstrations against the local government elections in Karachi to protests around skyrocketing inflation in Swabi and against rising militancy in Sindh. We also unpack the recent BBC documentary on Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots - and the Indian government's reaction to it. In Around Southasia in Five Minutes, we talk about the impact of the Afghan winter and malnutrition in Sri Lanka, an eviction drive in Jammu and Kashmir, an attempt to merge madrassas and allow for state surveillance in Assam, proposed amendments to the Press Council Act in Bangladesh. For Bookmarked, we discuss the Mozhi Prize for Tamil fiction in translation. Episode Notes: Gujarat as another country: https://www.himalmag.com/gujarat-another-country/ The long wait for justice: https://www.himalmag.com/the-long-wait-for-justice-srilanka-2020/ A tool for oppression: https://www.himalmag.com/bangladesh-a-tool-for-oppression-dsa-2022/ Mozhi: https://mozhi.co.in/ Full episode and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/southasiasphere-protests-gwadar-bbc-documentary-modi-gujarat-riots-tamil-fiction-translation/ Listen on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/zoxZ2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fDGjSAkCkm3T7x3ccqr5h?si=Nekdi42ZS7qT7z-fUXXALw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/southasiasphere-protests-in-gwadar-a-bbc/id1464880116?i=1000596448152 Youtube: https://youtu.be/KXriCw4R3tQ

Over the past year, Sri Lanka has often been cited as a case study in economic precarity, and while headlines have been full of stories of poverty and the ongoing protests, there has been less dedicated coverage over next steps. The UN states that at least 5.7 million people within the country require humanitarian aid. With food inflation reaching 85.6 percent in October, 28 percent of the population face moderate to severe food insecurity. These events have to be set against a global cost of living crisis; with reports of inflation everywhere from Pakistan to the UK, France, Kenya and Nigeria. As food and fuel prices rise, lower income countries are disproportionately impacted, and the impacts of debt mismanagement become starkly visible. In this edition of Southasian Conversation (recorded on 21 January 2023), we ask: how should governments negotiate complex debt restructuring processes? What do examples from the region, and indeed globally, tell us about navigating debt restructuring, and how will this impact people’s lives in the interim? We at Himal hope this will provide an opportunity to revise these questions and also serve as a platform for an open and timely conversation on what’s next for Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Full panel discussion video and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/debt-restructuring-imf-economic-crisis-southasia/ Available on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lvzJL6epHEA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-162273488/rebound-or-relapse-debt-restructuring-in-a-time-of-crisis?si=5ec8295432ab47f5b33491b2e1842d47&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YNld1yWbw6TTf6lHs4r0S?si=ugsFp678Sbiy9Q0rQAdBpw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebound-or-relapse-debt-restructuring-in-a-time-of-crisis/id1464880116?i=1000596441692

In this episode, we look at several steps towards accountability for corruption and money-laundering in the region, from Myanmar to the Maldives. But a closer look reveals that the timing of these charges are significant. In Around Southasia in 5 minutes, we talk about the Taliban ban on education for women, Pakistan’s early to bed early to rise policy, the Rohingya crisis at sea, the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to tie India’s Aadhar ID card to public benefit schemes, and the Dalai Lama’s recent visit to Bodh Gaya. And in Bookmarked, we discuss Kite Tales, an online storytelling initiative from Myanmar. Episode notes and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/southasiasphere-yameen-conviction-taliban-womens-education-rohingya-crisis-2023/

In this episode, we unpack the recent elections in Nepal by discussing the newly formed parties, key campaign issues, and the likely outcome of these results at a time when the country is facing various political and economic challenges. In Around Southasia in 5 minutes, we talk about protests against an Adani-backed seaport project in Vizhinjam, Kerala, and the wider influence of the Adani Group in Sri Lanka. We also look at how China’s zero-COVID policies have been received in Tibet, the reimposition of Sharia law in Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff. Plus in our culture section Bookmarked, we discuss two documentaries by EastMojo marking one year since the Mon massacre in 2021, and ‘Moshari’, a climate-horror short film from Bangladesh. Cartoon by Gihan de Chickera Full episode and transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/southasiasphere-nepal-elections-pakistans-new-army-chief-moshari-and-more-2022/ Listen on Youtube: https://youtu.be/WADAQyQKXDc Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-162273488/nepal-elections-pakistans-new-army-chief-moshari-and-more?si=5ed5c6c1a8a74752a50e7fedbb5682cd&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nepal-elections-pakistans-new-army-chief-moshari-and-more/id1464880116?i=1000590358077 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5KO6rLFTzcpn7fxPhJWgPJ?si=1A174e5QSWeJTFRFA-DKmw

As the 2022 FIFA World Cup is being broadcast around the world, we discuss the exploitation of Southasian migrant workers who built stadiums for the tournament in Qatar. In our latest Himal Twitter Spaces session, recorded on 25 November, we speak to Namrata Raju, India Director at Equidem Research and Consulting, which has released a report on migrant workers in Qatar. Bhadra Sharma, a journalist for the New York Times in Nepal, was scheduled to speak but was unable to join the Twitter Space due to technical difficulties. Transcript: https://www.himalmag.com/the-hidden-cost-migrant-worker-rights-world-cup-2022/

In this episode, we unpack the recent protests against militancy in Swat valley following an attack on a local school bus in Mingora and an increasing number of violent incidents in the region. In Around Southasia in 5 minutes, we talk about Sanna Irshad Mattoo and other Kashmiri journalists being barred from international travel, the killing of ARY News journalist Arshad Sharif, recent airstrikes in Myanmar, and recent developments in the dispute over the contested Chagos Islands. Plus in our culture section Bookmarked, we discuss the Marathi-language film, 'Trijya' (2019), plus our monthly recommendations for reading and watching.