May 27, 04: Indian Politics with Tehelka's Amit Sengupta
Discussion of election results and the new government led by Manmohan Singh in India. Amit Sengupta of Tehelka joines us live from New Delhi.
Music of Ghazals by Iqbal Bano.
AMIT SENGUPTA is editor of the “Commentary and Analysis” section of the weekly publication TEHELKA with the web version on Tehelka.com. Tehelka is the only “commercial free, reader sponsored” newspaper in South Asia that has become a symbol of free and fearless journalism. Incidentally, Tehelka was reborn and rejuvenated just a few months ago after being brought down by the outgoing BJP government for exposing corruption in high places.
The last few weeks have been loaded with excitement in Indian Politics. First, the wheels of democracy turned and sprang a surprise – the Congress party was catapulted into power against all odds. And just when it seemed that the architect of the electoral victory, Italian born Sonia Gandhi, was all set to be the next Prime Minister of India, she sprang an even bigger surprise by declining the job. The first time in living history that anyone refused the most powerful position in India. Manmohan Singh, the architect of India’s economic reforms with a squeaky clean image, takes over as the Prime minister.
-- What brought down the BJP led government ? Was it because the poor were ignored ? Were they being held responsible for massacres and lack of justice in Gujarat ? Has right wing Hindu ideology lost its vote winning power? Was it a brilliant campaign by Sonia Gandhi and Congress ?
-- Why did Sonia Gandhi refuse to be the PM ? Was it the vicious campaign against her foreign origin ? Was it the fear for her safety ? Or was it as simple as her having no interest in the job ?
-- What does a change in government imply for economic liberalization and privatization, relations between India and Pakistan, relations between India and the US…
MUSIC: IQBAL BANO was born and brought up in Delhi. She received training under Ustad Chaand Khan of Delhi Gharana. She moved to Pakistan after marriage. She gained immense popularity singing classical ghazals. Although belonging to the Begum Akhtar’s school, Iqbal Bano over the years, nurtured her style and embellish it with her own improvisations. Her ghazals are raaga based do not invlolve excessive orchestration. She is also an accomplished Persian ghazal singer and was very popular in Iran and Afghanistan. She is considered as an expert in singing ghazals of Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
