A New Saffron Dawn in Indian Politics

‘The world’s largest democracy’ cast more than 500 million votes over five weeks to decide who would win and take India roaring into the future and Narendra Modi came out on top with a huge majority.  India has spoken. Decisively.

For the first time in 30 years Indian voters helped create a majority government blasting the incumbents to an insignificant minority.  Right wing and Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) had long been tipped to win the election but most Delhiites I spoke to last month were sure that they wouldn’t have an outright majority and would inevitably have to form a coalition of sorts.  My goodness was everyone shocked, it was time for a new generation.  Even former MPs that had held on to their safe seats for 15 years or more were ousted for the first time. 

Happy Navratri

For those celebrating this wonderful Hindu festival, Happy Navratri.

Simply translated as “nine nights”, the festival is dedicated to female goddesses. It is celebrated twice a year; at the beginning of Summer and Winter as Hindus consider these times as important junctures in climate change and solar influence.

Not the News

One would imagine that the sudden creation of 300,000 refugees and mass panic in the world’s largest democracy would warrant a news story in the United Kingdom but apparently not.

In recent days in Assam, a region in north east India has seen a surge in attacks between Hindus and Muslims in the area and there have been accusations of ethnic cleansing.