Aatish Taseer on Modi, exile, and the idea of India

Published on September 12, 2025. In this episode of Frontline Conversations, writer and journalist Aatish Taseer discusses his new book “A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile”. A memoir-travelogue, the book probes belonging, identity, and migration in a world where history is politicised and purity is weaponised. Taseer reflects on the fragility of India’s urban elite, the failures of the Opposition, and how Narendra Modi’s rise exposed deep vulnerabilities in Indian democracy. He also speaks of his own exile after his OCI card was revoked in 2019, and how it reshaped his sense of self, privilege, and home. From Morocco and Uzbekistan to Andalusia and Sri Lanka, Taseer traces the afterlives of empire, the rise of ethno-nationalism, and the fragile promise of reconciliation in post-colonial societies. Highlights: -How A Return to Self came together after Taseer’s exile -India’s elite, their arrogance, and their decline -Opposition’s failure to reinvent itself after Modi’s rise -Privilege, exile, and belonging in a politicised world -The global wave of cultural purity and populism -Islam’s erasure from Andalusia and echoes in Ayodhya -Lessons from Sri Lanka and India on decolonisation -What “home” means when exile becomes permanent Perfect for: -Readers of memoirs and travelogues with political depth -Those interested in identity, migration, and belonging -Viewers curious about India’s democratic crisis under Modi -Students of post-colonial studies and global populism -Anyone seeking insights on exile, home, and creativity Credits: Host: Abhinav Chakraborty Producer: Kavya Pradeep M Creative assistance: Mridula Vijayarangakumar Editing: Razal Pareed Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online... Follow us on: Facebook - / frontlineindia Twitter - / frontline_india Instagram - / frontline.magazine LinkedIn - / frontline-magazine-b12921295