In this episode of Frontline Conversations, Political Editor Anand Mishra visits Kalyan Bigha, the ancestral village of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, to explore the making of a leader who has dominated the State’s politics for two decades. Speaking with Sitaramji, Nitish Kumar’s childhood companion and long-time associate, the conversation traces his journey from a thoughtful boy who mediated playground fights to a political figure seen as both a reformer and a relic of the old order.

As Bihar heads toward yet another election, Frontline revisits Nitish Kumar's legacy through the eyes of those who knew him best. From his early promise and developmental politics to the fatigue of incumbency and questions about his health, this ground report captures how memory, loyalty, and myth-making intersect in Bihar’s political imagination.

Highlights:



Nitish Kumar’s childhood and his reputation as a conciliator


The making of a political persona rooted in rural Bihar


How villagers view his two decades in power


The evolution of caste and development politics under his rule


Tejashwi Yadav’s challenge and the limits of generational change


Reflections on legacy, loyalty, and the fading aura of leadership




Viewers following Bihar’s 2025 election closely


Students of political science


Journalists and researchers studying leadership and democracy




Perfect for:

Credits:
Reported by: Anand Mishra
Camera: Ranjan Rahi
Editing: Razal Pareed
Produced by: Vedaant Lakhera and Vitasta Kaul

Originally published on November 1, 2025

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