What happens in Bangladesh rarely stays within its borders. From questions of democracy and governance to identity, migration, regional security and geopolitics, developments in Bangladesh have profound implications for South Asia and for diaspora communities around the world. In this thought-provoking episode of the Common Ground India–UK Series, Lakshmi Kaul, Contributing Editor, sits down with Imran Choudhary B.E.M. — writer, journalist, historian and former refugee during the Bangladesh Liberation War — for a wide-ranging conversation on history, belonging, politics and the future of the region. The discussion begins on Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary, exploring the deep emotional and cultural connections that shape Bengali identity across generations. Imran reflects on memories of home, the role of literature and music in preserving heritage, and what it means to belong to multiple worlds at once. The conversation then turns to the changing nature of diaspora politics. As political debates in South Asia increasingly resonate across borders, Lakshmi and Imran examine how younger generations of South Asians in Britain engage with issues of democracy, nationalism, religion and identity. They discuss whether rising social divisions, concerns around hate crimes, and feelings of exclusion among minority communities are contributing to political disengagement—or inspiring a new generation of activists and leaders. The interview also explores: 🔹 The future of democracy in Bangladesh 🔹 The impact of political developments on regional stability 🔹 India–Bangladesh relations and changing geopolitical realities 🔹 How events in Bangladesh shape wider South Asian dynamics 🔹 The evolving role of diaspora communities in public discourse 🔹 Identity, belonging and intergenerational change 🔹 The opportunities and challenges facing young South Asians today As the conversation concludes, Lakshmi asks what keeps Imran awake at night—and what possibilities, challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the region. Watch now and join the conversation. Chapters - 0:00-1:15 Opening 1:27-4:11 Personal Journey and Connection to India 4:15-11:48 Rabindranath Tagore, Bangla Identity and the Memories of Childhood 12:42-22:39 Surviving Adversity: From Refugee to Politician 23:34-24:34 Are Young South Asians Redifining Politics and Identity? 24:49-28:12 Are Hate Crimes Driving The Youth Away From Politics? 28:59-36:14 Political Landscape in Bangladesh 36:33-37:40 Will Political Change in West Bengal Affect India-Bangladesh Relations? 37:44-39:40 Closing #Bangladesh #SouthAsia #Democracy #IndiaBangladesh #LakshmiKaul #ImranChoudhary #CommonGround #IndiaUK #Politics #Geopolitics #Diaspora #BengaliIdentity #RabindranathTagore #SouthAsianDiaspora #RegionalSecurity #CurrentAffairs #InternationalRelations #BangladeshPolitics #UKIndia #GlobalPolitics

In this episode of Global Order, host Swareena Singh speaks with Dr. Sriparna Pathak, one of India’s leading China scholars, to unpack the realities of India–China relations amid growing geopolitical competition in Asia. The conversation explores whether India can leverage its strategic position near the Strait of Malacca, why Beijing appears reluctant to resolve the long-standing border dispute, and how China’s approach to trade, infrastructure, and regional influence shapes its broader strategy. Dr. Pathak examines the implications of China’s expanding footprint in South Asia, the challenges posed by economic dependence, and India's efforts to strengthen its strategic autonomy through military modernization, economic diversification, and regional partnerships. The discussion also addresses common misconceptions about China, the future of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the role of the Belt and Road Initiative, and why understanding China's long-term strategic thinking is essential for policymakers and the public alike. Chapters 00:00 - 02:30 - Opening 02:31 - 05:11 - India and the strategic advantage at the Strait of Malacca 05:12 - 11:47 - India- China border dispute management 11:48 - 22:03 - India- China economic relationship and critical vulnerabilities 22:04 - 33:26 - China's expanding footprint in India's neighbourhood 33:27 - 36:50 - Biggest misconceptions about China 36:51 - 37:49 - Closing #IndiaChinaRelations #China #India #Geopolitics #IndoPacific #Quad #BorderDispute #InternationalRelations #SouthAsia #TheGlobalOrder #StrategicAffairs #ForeignPolicy #IndianOcean #ChinaStudies

At Samudramanthan 2026, Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd.) reflects on the complexity of understanding the norms, beliefs, and values of states surrounding the Bay of Bengal. He emphasizes the importance of diverse interlocutors in navigating the intellectual and strategic dimensions of this maritime space, and highlights the significance of collaborative dialogue in shaping regional understanding. Watch the full address - https://youtu.be/-Ypz6GdfdzQ #Samudramanthan2026 #MaritimeStudies #BayOfBengal #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #StrategicStudies #MaritimeSecurity #IndianOceanRegion

At Samudramanthan 2026, Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd.) opens by emphasizing the importance of the seminar as a platform to bring together multiple perspectives on a strategically significant maritime region. He highlights the need to examine how maritime spaces are perceived in the contemporary international order and how states transform these spaces through their interactions. Watch the full address - https://youtu.be/-Ypz6GdfdzQ #MaritimeStudies #MaritimeSecurity #InternationalRelations #Geopolitics #IndianOceanRegion #Geostrategy #Statecraft #BlueEconomy

At Samudramanthan 2026, Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd.) highlights the importance of interdisciplinary engagement among security, economic, diplomatic, and cultural perspectives to build a more holistic understanding of strategic spaces. He warns that history will not forgive “failures of imagination” if we continue to view complex domains through a single lens. Watch the full address- https://youtu.be/-Ypz6GdfdzQ #Geopolitics #StrategicStudies #InternationalRelations #MaritimeStudies #Geostrategy #Statecraft #ForeignPolicy #CriticalThinking

At Samudramanthan 2926 Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd.) explains how a state’s outlook is shaped by three interlinked elements: its interpretation of history, its strategic intentions toward emerging opportunities, and its material capabilities. He emphasizes that geopolitics cannot be understood in silos of culture, security, or economics, but must be seen as an integrated framework combining all these dimensions. Watch the full address - https://youtu.be/-Ypz6GdfdzQ #Geopolitics #Geostrategy #Geoeconomics #InternationalRelations #StrategicStudies #Statecraft #ForeignPolicy #MaritimeStudies

At Samudramanthan 2026, co-organised by Global Order and the National Maritime Foundation, Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd.), delivers an insightful inaugural address on the evolving ways in which maritime spaces are understood in the contemporary international order. Speaking on the strategic and intellectual importance of the Bay of Bengal region, the Vice Admiral underscores how maritime geography is often underexplored through a truly interdisciplinary lens. He calls for a deeper integration of historical interpretation, state intent, and material capabilities to better understand how nations engage with maritime domains. Challenging the tendency to view geopolitics through isolated frameworks of security, economics, or culture, he argues for a more holistic “amalgamated” perspective—one that reflects the real complexity of geostrategy, geoeconomics, and geopolitics. Highlighting India’s own maritime identity and the broader Bay of Bengal region, he emphasizes the importance of multi-perspective dialogue among diplomats, strategists, scholars, and practitioners. The address also reflects on the growing ecosystem of Bay of Bengal studies and maritime discourse emerging across institutions in India and the region. Chapters 00:00 - 03:04 - Introduction to Maritime Perspectives 03:05 - 06:03 - India's Maritime Identity and Historical Context 06:04 - 08:49 - The Importance of Holistic Maritime Security #Samudramanthan2026 #MaritimeSecurity #IndianOceanRegion #BayOfBengal #Geopolitics #Geostrategy #Geoeconomics #MaritimeStudies #IndiaMaritime #NationalMaritimeFoundation #GlobalOrder #ViceAdmiralPradeepChauhan #StrategicStudies #InternationalRelations #SeaPower #BlueEconomy #StrategicThought #IndianNavy #OceanGovernance #MaritimeDialogue

Strategic deception has long been a feature of statecraft, but according to former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, China has refined it into a sustained effort to shape international perceptions. In this clip, he examines how Beijing successfully cultivated favourable narratives abroad and what this reveals about the role of information and influence in China's rise. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/3Ke6W7VEcyk #ChinaStudies #Geopolitics #StrategicAffairs #ForeignPolicy #InternationalRelations #ChinaStrategy #InformationWarfare #GlobalPolitics #SecurityStudies