Sunday Posts

Sometimes, fairy tales are possible. One is unfolding right now in Delhi. Just as I was contemplating writing a post on the decline of democracy, Indian voters demonstrated what is really possible. It is a return of hope with a vengeance. This one is for the world, worthy of celebration more than Indian Mars Mission and stock markets. So, I must recount the details even of this famous event, lest someone has missed. In Delhi, the Capital city of India which is also a State, an assembly election was held at the fag end of 2013. Despite everyone thinking that Indian politics is a two-horse game - and the choice is really between heir apparent Rahul Gandhi and business-backed Hindu supremacist Narendra Modi - a new party gets the most seats. Started by a former taxman, the diminutive Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Admi Party ran on an anti-corruption manifesto, and almost won a majority.  Since the two big parties can not form a coalition among themselves, eventually Mr Ke...

As I wrote about a tipping point may be coming to Indian Education ( see here ), when a rollback of regulation may open up the space for experimentation and innovation, and allow the Indian institutions to take advantage of the domestic demand, something was playing out in Delhi indicating just the opposite was happening. A friend and correspondent was quick to point out that my optimistic musings may be off the mark, particularly on a day when an ugly example of political interference on academic decisions was playing out. This is about Delhi University (DU) wanting to introduce the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) instead of the usual three years. There was nothing in the University Statutes that disallows the university from doing it, and the university laid out the explanations for changing the system. Initially, the regulators, University Grants Commission (UGC) was backing the decision, so much so that the university admissions started as usual. This was an unpo...

Arvind Kejriwal asks for ten days to solve the problems of Delhi!  He is a novice in politics: One never says when one will do something one does not intend to do. But what if he really wants to solve the problems? Problems such as corruption, VIPs cornering everything, police standing by as women are harassed, rising water and electricity charges while convenient arrangements ensure unlimited and free provisions for rich men's farmhouses.  But we have always been told that these problems can not be solved. We just have too many people. And, it is people who don't want to follow the rules. It is their fault: What can the government do? We have been told, for last sixty years and more, that it is best to have democracy for a day. You vote and you go home. You leave governance to those who can. You vote again in five years. We have got used to being governed: We are too messy, too incompetent, too poor - besides, we are just too many! The only way out is a ...

I am in Delhi and put up in Le Meridien , a hotel very close to Rajpath and the Parliament. From the 12 th floor, I have a good view of the Gateway of India, and an unique opportunity to do some morning walk on Rajpath . Coming from Mumbai , it is such a change. I was travelling with the trade mission and some of members commented about the cleaner roads and clearer traffic. This, despite the omnipresent extension work of Delhi metro, which seemed to be coming right near the Parliament House, and past that, to the Airport. I also notice something peculiar in Delhi, which I never notice in Mumbai . I feel discriminated, only if slightly. I am travelling with a Northern Irish Trade Mission. I am Indian, and hold an Indian passport, though my rooms have been booked together and the same fare has been paid. Interestingly, everyone in Delhi assumes me to be a junior member, or an assistant, to the other, white members of the mission. It does not infuriate me anymore. It amuses me. It was ...