INDIRA LAISRAM

It was George Bernard Shaw, famous Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics, who said politics is the last resort of the scoundrel. Perhaps a tailor-made quote for politicians in India? With corruption, criminalisation and dynastic rules rampant in politics, the anger and frustration of Indians have reached a tipping point. Or so it seems. A new phenomenon has emerged in India over the past 12 months. That phenomenon is called the Aam Admi Party (AAP). The following months will tell us whether Narendra Modi will become the prime minister of India or whether AAP will turn the tables. India’s general elections will be held from 7 April to 12 May. The big story that is brewing today is the story of AAP, quite literally the common man’s party, which has emerged from nowhere to grab so much attention. Amitabh Mattoo, Director of the Australia India Institute and Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne, says, “The jury is still

I just got back from India when sitting in the quiet office of my home, the news of the death of Arunachali student Nido Tania in Delhi screamed loud all over the internet. Not quite refreshing to wake up to the news especially when I just had the best six-week holiday of my life there. For days I was glued in front of the computer reading up on everything that ensued where one word ‘racism’ surfaced over debates, protests, editorials and many write ups. A glaring reality is the fact that north-easterners face racism in ‘mainland India’ but equally condemnable is also the fact that reverse racism exists in the north east where many non-tribals bear the brunt of discrimination. I dare say racism is a two-way street and rather than playing out the victim card, we must look at progressive ways of tackling the issue. Over the past few years, I have made a few interesting observations about my Indian friends here in Australia.  One friend once said she wished she could bring half of I