There is no place like India today. Economic growth, social tumult, development, political turmoil, minor revolutions, major conflicts, democracy at its finest, governance at its worst – everything is happening here. It is today a land of both opportunity and oppression. Indians are at once rich and poor, highly educated and grossly illiterate, very healthy and terribly sick, hopelessly corrupt and scrupulously honest. Billionaire entrepreneurs and impoverished peasants co-exist here, sometimes in conflict, but often peacefully.
All of it finds resonance in its capital New Delhi, a city that in 2011 celebrated the hundredth anniversary of its founding by the British. Ironically, many of the issues that generate debate today have their roots in India’s colonial legacy. This blog, which would be predominantly written from Delhi, would document how the wheels in the government are turning and how each turn is shaping policy. It would also keep track and comment on economic, political and social developments in the country. Occasionally, it would also stray into international affairs that have a bearing on India.