Journeying the Brahmaputra: China’s Yarlung Tsangpo Dam, river dolphins, and pirate encounters

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, author and journalist Sanjoy Hazarika speaks to writer Samrat Choudhury about his latest book, "River Traveller: Journeys On The Tsangpo-Brahmaputra From Tibet To The Bay Of Bengal"—a sweeping blend of memoir, reportage, history, and river journey spanning Tibet, Northeast India, and Bangladesh. The discussion traces the 2,900-kilometre journey of the Brahmaputra, from the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet to the Bay of Bengal, exploring geopolitics, China’s dam-building ambitions, climate uncertainty, and the fragile ecology of one of Asia’s great rivers. Hazarika reflects on travelling across high plateaus and floodplains, filming in Tibet in 1998, encounters with river dolphins, and even a tense moment being chased by pirates in the Bay of Bengal. The conversation also examines migration and citizenship debates in Assam, the complexities of the NRC, and the human stories that unfold along the river’s shifting banks. At its heart, this is also a philosophical meditation on humility, memory, and what it means to be “completely at the mercy of the river”. Perfect for: • Readers of travel writing, memoir, and narrative nonfiction • Students of geopolitics, migration studies, and environmental policy • Those interested in Northeast India, Tibet, Bangladesh, and river ecologies • Viewers concerned about climate change, dams, and water security Credits: Host: Samrat Choudhury Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Mridula Vijayarangakumar and Kavya Pradeep M If you found this conversation insightful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more in-depth discussions. Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online-subscription/ Follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/frontlineindia/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/frontline_india Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frontline.magazine LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frontline-magazine-b12921295/ #SanjoyHazarika #Brahmaputra #Frontlinemagazine #RiverTraveller #YarlungTsangpo #ChinaDam #RiverDolphin #brahmaputrariver #NRC #Assam #ClimateChange #Hydropower #NortheastIndia #MigrationDebate #BayOfBengal