Gandhi and Populism

Friends, 

Today on Mahatma Gandhi’s 66^th death anniversary I am thinking of him and this notion of populism, which seems to be sprouting all over the world. I am no scholar on the technicalities of populism but in a general sense it is a rather uncrystallized, aspirational yet increasingly popular sentiment. Often times it takes the form of reactionary movements where citizens cannot bear the status quo. Unfortunately, such movements and their successes have a short life span. The so-called Arab Spring and Ukraine are the latest examples of this concept. In the Indian context, the spectacular success of the AAP in Delhi too is giving way to a somewhat chaotic governance making people wonder if its success in Delhi can really be scaled to the national level. 

In almost all these movements, protests gave voice to some legitimate, deeply felt grievance. While these movements had broadly defined ideals they did not have any meaningful roadmaps. Not only that, most of these movements bypassed key steps in building a sustainable movement that would stay viable post-victory. And this is where Gandhi comes in. 

In 1920, India was in some ways on the cusp of winning independence as the non-cooperation movement took the nation by storm. Mass protests were breaking out and after a really long time people saw a national fervor in the opposition to the British. And then there was the massacre of policemen in the obscure town of Chauri Chaura and Gandhi withdrew the movement. Many thought this would permanently deflate the movement. It didn’t. The next ten years Gandhi spent building elements of nation through this movement. Today’s protests don’t think they can afford to do that. There is an understandable impatience. For Gandhi the objective was not just a political change in Delhi but a transformation of Indian society that post-independence could build and sustain the institutions a democracy would need. He deeply understood the cultural evolution Indian needed to go through to, in his own words, be “worthy” of independence. Most populist movements and their leaderships are not visibly putting in that effort. I am not being judgmental but critical. I am saddened to see such incredible amounts of public energy and sacrifice simply not yielding results. 

In 2001, Young India put together this process flow for Gandhian Nonviolent Transformation (http://www.yidream.org/nvda.shtml) that shows nonviolent direct action (protests) as one of the final steps in a movement for change. Today, the earlier steps are getting bypassed and with discouraging outcomes becoming all too frequent. There was a reason Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. went to India in the late 1950s to better understand the mechanics of the Indian freedom movement. He understood the importance of methodology. And did the Civil Right Movement ever perfect the art of nonviolent transformation!

At the highest level, these movements are lacking a vision that encourages mass participation beyond sitting in a large square and facing off brutal police action. And when victory is achieved in the short-term the process of reconciliation is never started. In some cases, it is revenge that is sought. Gandhi gave a constructive program for every Indian to be a participant in the movement no matter whom they were or where they lived. The movement also had a spiritual element that separated the British from their deeds. The incredible relationship India and Britain developed right after independence is an outcome of the Gandhian approach.

My request to all those brave souls fighting the right fights is to not only start articulating a vision for the future but also the numerous smaller steps you will need to take to sustain your hard fought win. Institutions on paper are only as good as the culture in which they find themselves. A cultural transformation is as much part of a political movement as is change at the helm or in laws. In the end, culture is at the epicenter of our democratic aspirations that find expression through our politics. True change has to permeate all three. Just like Gandhi made happen in India and left a country that 66 years later is still a democracy.

May the Mahatma’s soul forever rest in peace.

Peace.

Rohit.  

India Grieves with Outrage!

Friends,

I am sure many of you have been following the ordeal of a 23 year old woman who was the victim of a horrific gang-rape in New Delhi recently. The Associated Press is reporting the victim has passed away in a Singapore hospital. The story is at: http://apne.ws/W9Tf9T

I am saddened and outraged at so many levels that it is hard to start any analysis. As a parent and a brother, my heart goes out to the family of this young lady. They need all our prayers and support. But that is not going to be enough because they also need justice! At the very minimum, the perpetrators need to be broght to justice in the most expedited way possible to make an example of this case for all those who dare think of such acts of cowardice and malice. From a legal standpoint, we at Young India stand in solidarity with all those who demand a significant enhancement in the punishment of such crimes.

As students of politcs and culture this may be a teachable moment. First and foremost, those who have been insensitive to the concerns raised by the genuine protestors need to be politically shunned. Political leaderships will be evaluated on how they handle the more regressives elements of their party. Some MPs of the Congress Party have demeaned the party with their outrightly sexist remakrs. Those should not be defended and action has to be taken. At the same time let's separate the political mileage earners from those genuinely anguished. Let me call out the BJPs outrage here. The party and its historical predecessors (Jana Sangh et al) have been at the forefront of women's oppression and regressive policymaking. Right from the very outset of India's independence they have opposed women's right to parental property, opposed the ban on polygamy and even blatantly supported of the inhuman act of Sati (burning a widow alive with her dead husband!). Most of us are aware of the Shiv Sena goons who have violently opposed Valentine's Day. So, if there is going to be a serious coaltion of political forces to fight for women's rights let's please caste aside the theatrics from the BJP et al. 

But way beyond the politics, which is in some measure a reflection of our culture, we have to introspect. While India has made great progress in culturally giving the girl child more of its rights and encouragement there still is a rural urban divide on this count. India has not made sufficient progress on training the male child in giving due dignity to the opposite gender. And all of this starts at home where the father is disrespectful to the mother, and so on. We should understand how these criminals were brought up, by who, and what on earth did their derelict parents teach them, if anything at all!?

The cultural battle is fundamental. The legislative victories alone will not suffice. And, if there ever was a time for law enforcement to come clean then this is it. Nothing is worse than a victim's re-victimization by the people discharged to protect her. So, let's band together, culturally and politically, to remember this young lady whose death can absolutely not be in vain. It took something this outrageous for our hearts to move. Somehow the horrors of Gujarat 2002, where such cases are in a significant number, did not move our hearts as they seem to be getting buried under some ridiculous metric of economic "development" by Mr. Modi. Please channel your outrage in a fashion that creates a new gender construct for our society and polity.

Let's please pray for the departed soul's peace and seek guidance for right action. 

Peace.

Rohit. 

Missing the Mahatma

Friends,

Just a few minutes ago 62 years ago Mahatma Gandhi spoke his last words remembering God as he succumbed to three bullets from an assassin. The assassination raises many questions. First, the irony of the most ardent practitioner of nonviolence being murdered. Second, the glorification of the assassin in some quarters. Third, those glorifying the assassin occupying important positions of power till quite recently. These ironies point to how misunderstood Gandhi is even today.

While the Mahatma's historical role is paid homage philosophically he has been relegated to seminars and stamps. But, thankfully, not by all. There still are the nonviolent transformers out there fighting for things like rehabilitation of the displaced (read Narmada Bachao Andolan), the Right to Information (read all those fearless activists trying to bring transparency to Indian governance), the Rural Employment Guarantee Act (read those who inspire unpaid and exploited workers to demand full wages), and millions other throughout the world who are fighting against injustice but don't let their struggle don't color their view with violence towards those denying people justice.

As important as it is to promote Gandhian thought it is far more important to realize Gandhian action. And this pursuit to ensure our collective journey is inclusive, which the Mahatma himself claimed to be his dream, can be made in various domains - the political, the social, the economic and even the personal. Fundamental to this pursuit is lending others the dignity they deserve. It may sound pretty basic but beyond etiquette it is a realization of our and everyone else's basic rights. And if we're denied then have the capacity to demand them.

This struggle for justice and peace is what drove Gandhi. Even though today reminds us of our immense loss yet it should serve as a reminder that Gandhi's work is far from finished. His legacy beckons. Continue the march.

Peace.
Rohit.

First Anniversary of the Mumbai massacre

A really sad anniversary it is. Mindless and brutal violence shook us all. We were unable to respond to such a ghastly act. I am not talking from a mere law enforcement perspective but emotionally, politically and culturally the crudeness of this act left us loud in rage but speechless on comprehension. As we tearfully remember those we utterly unfairly lost a year ago the path ahead for our collective healing seems unclear.

There are many who prescribe violence in response to violence. Whereas there are those such as honorable Rabbi's and Imam's currently paying homage to the fallen who passionately argue that we need to fight madness with compassion and love. To some this may smack as yet another call to passivity but beyond the law enforcement task to disrupt those bent upon bringing humanity to its knees a deeper spiritual and cultural response must be probed. We need to take away the cultural, moral and spiritual shelter from under which such plots are planned and supported.

But we must acknowledge our pain and anger. However, we must channel it away from paltry revenge and towards creating the energy needed to painstakingly work with our friends from Pakistan to uproot the plotters not merely in the physical sense but also in the socio-political one. Religious extremism is an anethma to democratic evolution. Be it of the Muslim or the Hindu kind. Let's beware of predators who are ever ready to use the weapon of hate to incite ever greater oppression, marginalization and violence.

On this 26/11 the world could yet again commit to the overall empowerment of all peoples so that devious minds can never find any fertile ground to breed suicidal hate. This may sound like a very open-ended goal but its execution is decentralized and affords each one of us a chance to make an impact in our own locale and not wait for edicts from capitols. Please do join us once again in paying heartfelt homage to ones we lost and share our solidarity with loved ones left behind.

Peace.

Rendezvous of Democracies: Obama-Singh Summit

Indo-US relations have taken a peculiar route throughout history to arrive at this point. Both nations with great cultural diversity and strong democratic traditions should have been the most natural of allies and friends. But that didn't quite materialized. Instead the ideological fault lines of the Cold War came to define their relationship.

Sure the two nations have moved quite a bit from the days of the Soviet Union but mistrust, hyper-sensitivity to protocol and on India’s part a feeling that the United States still does not value India as a friend continues to linger in the psyche and headlines. The latest instance of Indian officials reading way more than that was said (sure the Indo-Pak public reference during the President’s recent China visit could have been avoided) is yet another example that the post-Bush era has brought an all-too-well known discomfort for Indian officialdom. The administration too has been a little careless in understanding this sensitivity. For the sake of numerous global and regional challenges that are calling out for joint leadership the hope is that both bureaucracies can sort things out so that crucial progress can be made so that the aspirations of their common citizens not special interests on both sides can be responded to.

CLIMATE CHANGE

On Climate Change, the clock has almost run out. With little chance of the Boxer-Kerry Bill that sets emissions targets for the US getting through before the Copenhagen climate summit India is not going to feel any additional pressure to oblige with the same – binding targets. But Copenhagen should not be made the totality of the global climate effort. Thus, this visit of India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s holds increased importance in formulating actionable policies that clearly invest joint resources in assisting new renewable technologies and the business models needed to sustain them. Best practices on the regulatory side too should be a target of such policies. With the US Smart Grid program soon to reach a launch date it is highly desirable that details be exchanged with India so that similar efficiencies could be achieved in India as well – another leader in green house gas emissions.

AFGHANISTAN and SOUTH ASIA

India’s familiarity with the cultural and political landscape of Afghanistan should be leveraged in helping formulate US policy towards Afghanistan. Not to mention the security related convergence for both nations. If the United States can delink its AfPak policy from India (let Pakistan focus on Afghanistan and not Kashmir) and find more effective ways of bringing India and Pakistan together then that would create a conducive environment for progress for peace. It’s not Indian hegemonic visions for South Asia that get hurt when the US brings up Kashmir it is a frustration about the US misinterpreting the issues in Kashmir and those between India and Pakistan. American leadership can play a constructive role but it will have to be asked for by all parties. This is in no way challenging the sentiments of the Obama administration to pursue peace but a mere suggestion on the strategy to achieve it.


If South Asian peace is indeed a goal then the President must impress upon his message of complete nuclear disarmament to the next level by pursuing a serious policy initiative with India on this. Many analysts believe that the Nuclear Deal was a step back on this front. It is time re-address this issue. Of course, India’s nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than that of the United States but American leadership could make reciprocating steps possible. It is time to put these thoughts into commitments and then action. Nations that produced Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. must do this.

ENGAGEMENT PARADIGM

Fundamentally, two democracies must engage in such a way that empowers their people. More generally, beyond trade, educational, cultural and scientific collaboration aimed at larger sections of both societies needs to be accelerated. So far we’ve got the big guys on both sides talking and getting business done. Now is the time for a major expansion in education not just at the higher education level but also at the primary and secondary levels. Similarly, health care at the primary level and small business development aimed at employment generation should be a focus area. With the climate change crisis staring at us making renewable technology commerce a key part of bilateral engagement would be a big step in the right direction.

The great intellectual thread that ties the two nations started from Thoreau. It helped Gandhi weave an unprecedented movement for human freedom and dignity that inspired a great chapter of the American Revolution under Martin Luther King. The hope is once the statecraft and gallantry subside the millions of lives President Obama and Prime Minister Singh can impact could be more just a little more hopeful.

Peace.

Remembering Gandhi on Religion

Friends,

As we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 140th birth anniversary today I am reminded of the centrality of religion in his worldview. Many on the left and even some progressives have been critical of Gandhi bringing religion into the realm of social and economic justice and thereby muddying the waters. Their contention is that religion blunts the sharp attack one must make against oppression - social, economic or political. Thus, I believe today may be a good day to share my reading of the Mahatma's approach.

First, Gandhi's religion was not bound to ritual instead it existed entirely in the spiritual realm where worship included people from all faiths and exploration of the Truth an intense inward journey. The quote that I remember the most is:
Our goal should not be to convert [proselytize] but to make others a better follower of their own faith.
A fundamental requirement of peace is the ability to coexist. The above quote talks not of a passive coexistence but one that is activist and inspiring. It also reaffirms Gandhi's faith in the oneness of things, the eventual confluence of great religions and the ultimate destination for all spiritual seekers. So, what Gandhi did, and beautifully so, brought this inner pursuit in alignment with that of the outer world which was plagued by injustice. He added yet another dimension to spiritual seeking - the seeking of justice through nonviolence. Of course, Dr. Martin Luther King perfected the method as part of the Civil Rights Movement.

The moral imperative that drives policy is often ridiculed as emotionalism and utopian. For those committed to preserving the status quo that may well be an easy, dismissive way of approaching the ones working for transformation. Yet, it is the moral imperative that must give the transformers the courage to persevere. Be it health policy, financial regulation, foreign policy or any other policy matter the "still voice within" should be a guiding force over the vociferous sounds of "reason". This is not an appeal to do away with logic but, as the Mahatma did so often, present reality in such a way that change and its moral urgency become inescapable.

Hence, let us pray for the Mahatma's soul rest in peace and for the same strength that he had, which even today inspires millions to help their fellow human.

Peace.
Rohit.

Reflections on a great life

Friends,

Three years ago on this a day I informed you of the passing away of my grandfather, Shri Hardas Sharma. He was the instrumental figure in my life who drew me towards social justice and the meaningful role of politics in achieving that ideal. He was a vociferous advocate for policies that lent rural India the dignity and attention it deserves.

Today, when I see the success of India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) I remember him. A former Gram Sabha leader himself, he would be delighted to see that this policy is providing a real building block for Mahatma Gandhi's dream of "Gram Swaraj" (Rural Self-Sufficiency). Also, the Right to Information Act would have been something that he would have used to fight for the rights of the poor and exploited. Were he alive he would have been hopeful for India. Sure, there are huge challenges ahead. Even the NREGA has numerous open issues surrounding transparency and real rural asset development but overall the spotlight now shining on rural India can only do good.

Even though my grandfather left the Congress party post-independence in response to Mahatma Gandhi's message that Congress workers should become "constructive" workers his emotional attachment to the party never really waned. Of course, till this day it remains my greatest regret that my joint appearance with him at his native district Congress headquarters happened to be scheduled for just a few days after his unexpected death. Yet, I believe he would have been delighted by the most recent election results where policy, to a good degree, overrode identity - a cause he fought for all his life.

So, on this day we can report back to him and the rest of that greatest Indian generation that the work to build a nation for all goes on. We have challenges ahead but so do we have courage and determination. For, I believe, that is the ultimate tribute to these departed great souls of India. May they rest in peace.

Rohit Tripathi.

More Details about India's Climate Report

The Government of India seems more aggressive than ever to challenge the target lobby at Copenhagen. By sending three high profile members of the government to the release of the reports the signal is clear - we are moving forward with no change in our strategy. What is needed is a real internal debate to codify sustainable development. Not just mere national missions with no real sense of accountability. What is needed is a Right to a Sustainable Environment campaign not merely to save the flora and fauna but livelihoods that are tied to the survival, hopes and aspirations of millions who are far removed from this debate.

Peace.
Rohit.

Ominous Signs for Copenhagen

From our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/yidream

Ominous signs for Copenhagen. India to use this report to bolster its case against any mandated target on emissions. http://twurl.nl/2u0tio

Jury is still out on this line of thinking - as long as we are better than the worst we are good enough. The industrialized nations too carry little moral authority on the issue as their per capita emissions are indeed many fold that of India's. So, who gives? The planet?

Small Business movement gets active in India

From our Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/yidream

Heartening movement on the Small Biz front in India. Some time ago Young India had done a series of state of affairs reports in the process to build a suite of policies to promote small business entrepreneurship. We haven't formally shared our recommendations publicly but quite a few are now being championed by representative associations in the Small Biz space in India. More here... http://is.gd/2ydI4

Peace.

NREGA Analysis

From our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/yidream :

Comprehensive analysis of NREGA by Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey, the authors of the Act. http://is.gd/2qSNH

India's March Continues...

Friends,

It's a special day for every Indian. The freedom that Indians cherish today was finally achieved on this day in 1947. After a long and divisive battle India's spirit got its voice among the community of nations. Millions like my grandfather endured insult and injury to see posterity breathe in a land where people were not subjects but citizens.

It is an emotive moment as well. The Indian independence movement shaped an entire generation and their families. I have been a direct beneficiary of that legacy and feel privileged to carry the responsibility to further it.

It goes without saying that the dream of India's founders is still a work in progress. India may have made quantitative leaps in the macroeconomic sense yet qualitative challenges to basic needs like education, health and employment remain. There must be an urgency to meet these challenges. The class divide cannot be allowed to grow beyond a certain point of inflection of social tension.

In the end India is an optimistic nation. The hope is that it maintains a cohesion and inclusion in its national march towards a more democratic state. Its leadership is needed on critical issues such as Climate Change and global security. Now is the time for India to stand up and partner with other visionaries to take us all forward in this young century.

Long live the Indian nation and may peace be with its people.

Peace.
Rohit.

Civil Disobedience in Pakistan

Really... who would have thunk it? But the remarkable turn of events in Lahore, now falling under the umbrella of the "Long March", breathe hope into an increasingly desperate situation. Mahatma Gandhi would indeed be proud to see his methodology bearing such wonderful fruits as the restoration of an independent judiciary. What is truly heartening is that the rule of law embodied by the Judiciary took center stage in this spontaneous, nonviolent (more or less) movement. It gives us all great hope that an institution other than the Army has a great role to play in Pakistan's future. And, finally there is an institution that the people of Pakistan can wholeheartedly support without inflicting damage on their own democratic evolution. Praise is truly due to the people of Pakistan.

Peace.

Salt

Every year on this day, the 12th of March, I imagine the scene in the early hours at Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in 1930. He and a band of followers were getting ready to undertake a journey to the sea to make Salt. The long, arduous 206 mile stretch that lay ahead would become an eternal symbol of the path one must tread to the Truth. The Truth for the Mahatma was India's independence and the rights of its people to live with dignity. So, he chose to dramatize this struggle by opposing an unjust Salt Tax levied by the British. He could have protested in numerous ways but he chose to go back to Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience to wage this battle for India's soul.

I had the privilege to walk the last leg of this historic march to the sea on its 75th anniversary. And as the sea was visible in the distance to us marchers we could feel the weight of history once again. It reminded me not only the original march but numerous marches that punctuated the Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King. The sheer act of fearlessly walking into the den of those who intimidate you, subjugate you and despise you with a moral strength that overpowers any army they could assemble is by far the most powerful force known.

Mahatma Gandhi was a blessing for India and also one of its greatest gifts. Today, we remember him and millions more, like my own grandfather, who marched along. Even now, in moments of solitude when we seek guidance to serve others we can hear those footsteps in the distance urging us to continue marching.

Peace.

Fondly remembering a Great One

Friends,

Today is President Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial. Young India is delighted to share its best wishes with all Americans and everyone else who believes in sustaining a progressive democracy. President Lincoln, while in the midst of upheaval, never truly lost his view of the future and brilliantly waged a battle that brought America back from a moral abyss. His leadership and dedication to the democratic ideal, which to him was the same as the ideal of human equality, still inspires us today. His life, his writings and his martyrdom will forever be with us in all those moments of doubt when the dark shadow of the present blinds us to the future. Because not only did Lincoln pierce through the darkness of the present he did so to ensure the future was well lit for generations to come.

It is fitting that on this day the President who signed the Emancipation Proclamation is remembered by the first African American President in history - Barack Obama. America has given the 16th President a memorable gift.

Peace.

Remembering a martyr

Statistically it's only been 61 years since Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated but it seems like many already see him as a relic from the ancient past. Not us at Young India. His core message of peace through nonviolence and its strategic execution continue to drive us and our initiatives.

As we look back to pay homage to a great soul we once again realize the transcendental nature of his message and method. We may have quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the past but it may be worth repeating his words:

Jesus gave me the message. Gandhi gave me the method.

The Gandhian method places the process of achieving peace at the same pedestal as its attainment. For him the process and its attainment were inseparable. We do not tire of sharing with you our interpretation of this process at: http://www.yidream.org/nvda.shtml

What has aroused our great interest more recently has been how, knowingly or unknowingly, President Obama has approached different policy matters using the same Gandhian method for transformation. Overall, we feel that he sees government's role as an agent of nonviolent transformation through active civic participation - an essential element of the Gandhian method.

In our next few posts we will analyze some of President Obama's initiatives and see them in light of the Gandhian method. But today we pause to commit to peace within ourselves and the world we live in. That is what Gandhi ji did all his life and our commitment would be the ultimate and most fitting homage.

Peace.

A message we need to hear

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke on All India Radio 50 years ago when he visited India to probe deeper into Gandhi's message of nonviolence and India's freedom movement that exemplified its success.

It has been Young India's persistent endeavor to project the Gandhi-King view of nonviolence as much more than the romanticism it invokes as a relic of the past: it is an active, dynamic and essential force for transformation. The moral supremacy inherent in nonviolence is often rejected as naive idealism. Not much different could be expected since the strategic understanding of this most potent transformative tool has barely been passed down from the generations that perfected it. And where it has its relevance debated and then ignored. But today the time to enshrine nonviolence as the guiding light for policy that places empowerment at its epicenter has arrived. And as Dr. King once said, "Peace is not the absence of violence but the presence of justice." To this I dare add forgiveness and reconciliation. I hope Dr. King's words inspire you as they have inspired me.

We will soon start laying out our ideas on how the nonviolent ethic can be weaved into the policymaking fabric of our democracies.

Peace.
Rohit.

The Inauguration of Barack Obama

Friends,

At times of profound reflection I always go to the most eloquent rendering of one such occasion by one of the world's greatest statesman, Jawahar Lal Nehru, at the dawn of independent India's life:

A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.

On Tuesday the soul of American democracy will indeed find a remarkably greater utterance as a seemingly unbreakable glass ceiling will be shattered forever - an African American will become President. But Barack Obama represents way more than just the hopes and dreams of African Americans. He represents the aspirations and hopes of all Americans and the larger global family. In him America and the world sees someone whose improbable story inspires optimism even in these uncertain economic times. Billions of prayers are being made for him as a person and a leader. He will need them.

It is not that Barack Obama will carry the weight of our collective aspirations but by sharing his faith in our collective destiny he has helped restore ours. Obama's humility and demeanor allow us to place him among the good-hearted, ordinary folk we interact with. While being like one of us he clearly has something special. His ordinariness makes him extraordinary. And my sincere hope is that he stays the way he is.

A friend of mine complained why so much money was being spent on the inauguration in such tough times. It's a legitimate question. But no matter how poor the parents the birth of a child is always celebrated. Similarly, no matter how materially challenged America may be the American spirit, the democratic spirit, the human spirit deserve to celebrate the coming off age of a great nation. After 233 years another chapter of the American revolution is being written. Moments such as these need to be captured in our consciousness so that they continue to remind us how far we have traveled and what all we have overcome. No doubt an even longer journey awaits but as we pause to take stock a cheer is in order for democracy.

Many have said that this inauguration is a culmination of Dr. King's dream. I feel that its fulfillment is still ways to go but we are certainly taking a giant leap in the right direction. But on his 80th birth anniversary it is hard to give him a better gift. America has realized the strength of character over the superficiality of color.

At Young India we are eagerly looking forward to working with the new administration. We will continue our efforts to steer the bilateral relationship in a direction that empowers both peoples.
Our voice is a part of the great chorus that is being sung to welcome a new President and hope for a more perfect union in America and among the larger community of nations.

Peace.

Rohit.

India General Election preview?

After multiple phases of polling votes were finally counted today for elections to state assemblies in 5 Indian states: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, NCT of Delhi, and Rajasthan. Going into the elections following was the power structure and the arrow indicates tallies per the leading and completed result trends (Sources: Election Commission of India and www.ndtv.com)

• Chhatisgarh: BJP (50/90) ---> BJP (51/90)
• Madhya Pradesh (MP): BJP (173/230) ---> BJP (144/230)
• Mizoram: Mizo National Front (MNF, 21/40) ---> INC (31/40)
• Delhi: Indian National Congress (INC, 43/70) ---> INC (42/69)
• Rajasthan: BJP (120/200) ---> INC (98/200)

A quick comment or two about these states:

Chhatisgarh: Winning as incumbent in India is huge. But the BJP needed this win badly since their gains of late have been minimal.

Madhya Pradesh: The BJP win was expected. Their margin was bound to go down but they still managed to win. Again a must-win of sorts for the BJP. They had to win at least MP or Rajasthan for their own morale for the general election.

Mizoram: The up-down nature of regional politics is evident here. We do not have a great insight into Mizo politics but past trends and a continuous histor of government non-performance makes an incumbent's loss quite predictable. From a general election standpoint, this may not make much of a difference since Mizoram is a very small state.

Delhi: This was a local verdict. Sheila Dixit, Delhi's two-term Chief Minister, has wide appeal across Delhi. This may help the Congress keep most of the 7 parliamentary seats for Delhi.

Rajasthan: More than anything else this was an outright rejection of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindhia. She had angered important constituents and her standing among the urban middle-class had taken a beating because of her administration's incompetence. Plus, Ashok Gehlot, the Congress' leader is a popular and competent figure. The Congress stands to make good gains in Rajasthan at election time in the Spring since Rajasthan has 25 seats of which the Congress currently holds only 4.

Many media outlets had proclaimed this round of state elections, the last before the next general election next Spring, as the "semi-finals" for the parliamentary battle at the hustings. We tend to disagree with that generalized categorization. Increasingly state elections in India are getting more and more local in nature and thus, trends should be extrapolated with caution.

Based on the results and trends so far, viewing them from the larger parliamentary context, this trend indicates the Congress led UPA government may just hold on to power next Spring. Obviously, at this point we are glossing over many fine print details that could sway things but a big reason why the UPA will make it for another five years is that no viable opposition/alternative has emerged. Unsurprisingly and counter to our 2004 hopes the BJP has sustained, if not strengthened, its sectarian character and shown little interest in deeper legislative issues. They can hardly make any claim to fame given their absence from important policy dialogues. And as much as we disagree with the sectarian-side of BJP politics we are sad at the ideological wasteland that is only growing on the political landscape.

While the Indian National Congress still houses the more progressive elements in Indian politics it has a new mantra - youth. We ourselves are only now moving from our 20's into our 30's but don't believe that our thoughts are any superior to our seniors because we are younger. We do take pride in our ideas and convictions but are not ageist. The angst in India emanating from the non-performance of a wide swath of political leadership is understandable. But to correlate that exclusively to the age of the political practitioner is inaccurate. The young leaders within the political class have yet to articulate a new, transformative and inspiring vision. And they must respond to their greatest criticism - how are they going to achieve it? We're not talking nuts and bolts but a basic roadmap that highlights the new kind of synergies that must be achieved to move the whole nation in tandem.

The vision that Indians long from the political class is, however, taking shape in numerous civil society groups and people's movements. Unfortunately, these inspiring stories and the lessons thus learned are not find way into the political discourse, strategy or policy. India has awakened but its leaders, irrespective of age, have not.

Here's a parting thought as parties gear for the big one: Rather than recruiting purely on age and entitlements the parties interested in a true national revival must recruit those who are leading civil society in the direction that India needs to go in. Now, that will be a coming of age.

Peace.

Team Young India, Inc.

Sensible steps forward

Friends,

It goes without saying that the officialdom in Pakistan must, and our hope is will cooperate with counterparts in India to not only bring the masterminds of the Mumbai blasts to justice but ultimately uproot this weed of terror.

Amid all the incriminations and vociferous and justifiable anger lies the Indo-Pak peace process. No, we are not merely referring to the track-1 diplomacy between bureaucrats on both sides. We are talking of the painful yet substantive gains that have been made by people to people interaction on both sides. It is an understatement to say that prior to the massacre in Mumbai India and Pakistan were enjoying the best bilateral relations they have ever had in their conflict-ridden 61 year history. Thus, for a handful of despicable cowards to hijack this growing affection would be a great tragedy. We must move forward and Indians must insist that their new Pakistani friends join in the fight against the inhumanity of terror, which won't spare them either.

Leaders on both sides must immerse themselves in getting to the bottom of the current tragedy. However, they must not disengage from the larger goal of South Asian peace, which alone will defeat terrorism. This is a time for statesmen and stateswomen not for political leaders. Let's tread this treacherous part of our history with care and focus on healing wounds rather than opening more. Indians are standing resolute against terror and know that their Pakistani friends too will do the same; they just need to be reassured.

This horrific episode should once again shine a light on the intolerant forces in the subcontinent irrespective of what religion they espouse. Their ideas of nationhood and religion must be outrightly rejected and their political alienation is a must to obviate their existence. There can be no moral ambiguity about hate.

So, please stand with us in solidarity with the victims in Mumbai and all those who died saving them. We owe it to them and all those who are victims of violence throughout the subcontinent that we move ahead with a steadfastness and sensibility that peace deserves.

Peace.

Team Young India, Inc.