The BJP had seemed as though it was the party for the new middle classes: rejecting Nehruvian socialism for conspicuous consumption and clasping the 'BJP to its collective bosom', says Vir Sanghvi. But now the BJP is being torn apart by an existential crisis and the middle class seems relieved by the Congress Party's victory: So, here’s my question: never mind what the crisis of the BJP tells us about the BJP. What does it tell us about the Indian middle class? Or, put another way: what … [Read more...]
Nilekani’s appointment is nothing new…
June 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
... because the UPA has already been tapping civil society for talent and experience that can be lent to government and now they're extending this to the corporate world, says Anil Padmanabhan in his MINT column: It is important because it takes forward a trend that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had initiated from its first term and assiduously pursued. It is a template the UPA has employed to stay connected with expertise and rework government, policy as well as … [Read more...]
Head Hunting
June 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In Tehelka, Ashis Nandy argues that the BJP's dependence on Hindutva was bound to be problematic. Instead of allowing their fundamentalist elements and loony right-wing aligned groups some minor acknowledgement, the BJP instead allowed the fringes to antagonise the party's larger support base. The "Indian genius" was to allow contradictions, he says, citing the early trends within the Congress Party as an example: many of its members initially belonged to both the Congress as well as other Hindu … [Read more...]
Hindutva deja vu
June 24, 2009 By 1 Comment
It isn't just these elections which have goaded the BJP into examining what exactly their relationship with Hindutva should be - turns out 2009 is a variation of 2004. It's useful to take a look at what the world looked like back then - There are several factors which could pull the BJP away from the emotive issues. A powerful middle class is emerging in the country both in urban centres and in rural India, proud to be Hindu but squeamish about extremism of the kind that erupted in … [Read more...]
Rahul’s young guns take charge in Gujarat
June 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
One of the initiatives that Rahul Gandhi has been systematically undertaking to ensuretalent and potential gets recognised within the Congress Party is a revamp of vaious chapters of the Youth Congress. We'll update you on that process here at Hamara Congress. Here's a look at what happened in Gujarat: A four-member Youth Congress Election Commission oversaw the polls. Also, Rahul had roped in the Foundation for Advanced Management of Elections (FAME), a non-governmental organisation that … [Read more...]
Election verdict 2009 – Whither BJP?
June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
First was the post that Sudheendra Kulkarni wrote. Then was the Swapan Dasgupta post on what Sudheendra Kulkarni wrote. Now is the Ram Puniyani post on what Swapan Dasgupta wrote (on what Sudheendra Kulkarni wrote). BJP could come to power only because of harping on identity of Lord Ram. BJP does hold Ram is the symbol of India’s identity. This is one of the expressions of their cultural nationalism. The question arises why only Lord Ram is the symbol of India, why not Shambuk, or Bali or … [Read more...]
What next for the BJP?
June 20, 2009 By 2 Comments
Staunch BJP supporter and apparently one of the brains and executors of the Friends of BJP blog, Rajesh Jain, has a series of posts on his own blog, analysing first, the Congress success and then systematically analysing the BJP's failure. The BJP now faces a clear fork in the road. Either it has to become more Hindu-oriented and thus aim to win the majority Hindu vote, or it needs to discard its religious overtones and become a clear right of centre party. The former is not going to be easy … [Read more...]
Of birthdays, parties and presents
June 19, 2009 By 1 Comment
- by RAJEEV GOWDA Today is Rahul Gandhi’s birthday. But Rahul is not in Delhi. He has taken off for a well-deserved holiday abroad. He has thus managed to stay away from the crowds of well-wishers who would have otherwise shown up at Congress headquarters and found different ways to demonstrate their affection on this, his special day. Down south in Bangalore, on this occasion, I attended a function organized by our dynamic Youth Congress General Secretary Venkatesh Gowda. It involved … [Read more...]
Singh’s 100-day plan to revolutionize India
June 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A decisive victory has PM Manmohan Singh headed straight for the jugular of antiquated policies, so to speak, in an attempt to choke off their air supply. Infusing fresh breath into Indian politics with reforms and new schemes designed to ensure transparency and distribute wealth, PM Singh is being ambitious, and he may well be successful, says a Newsweek article. Believing that the Congress Party's near-majority in Parliament will free Singh to slash red tape and spur growth, bankers, … [Read more...]
The Bharat Ratna
June 17, 2009 By 1 Comment
- by guest contributor C R KESAVAN Rajaji affectionately patting Pandit Nehru on the cheek as soon as the latter was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 1955. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan looks on. Rajaji, S. Radhakrishnan and C.V.Raman were the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna in 1954. -C R Kesavan, great-grandson of Rajaji (C Rajagopalachari) shares this picture with Hamara Congress from the family archives. … [Read more...]
