My brother Krishnadev Calamur (KD) , has written this extremely interesting article in the New Republic. we have been having a running debate on the elections. i am blogging some select quotes from our mails.

KD wrote to me on the day of the elections:

“you know the old joke about the definition of mixed emotions — abt the mother in law driving over a cliff in your brand new ferrari, i have a new definition:

bjp out — but sonia in. i know you’re going to kick my ass, but i think that family’s contributions to india have been so immense, they should not be asked to contribute anymore!!”

My response

Desh ki Neta ….. Sonia Gandhi
Amazing results. Modi Massacred. Naidu Neutered. Ram Naik beaten by Govinda, Manohar Joshi out, Murli Manohar Joshi out
If a democracy wants a dynasty is it a dynasty or a democratic choice.
The BJP has said it has no objections to Sonia being PM – though Sushma Swaraj said it will take her some time to get psychologically used to the idea. That family is the only thing that stands between Hindutva and India – and the RSS is too strong and too virulent, and the Congress without the family too weak.
End of the day KD, India wins – there is a left alliance with a fairly clear mandate – and a fairly clear way forward.She is a foreigner only for those who believe in a western concept of nationalism – the Indian concept of belonging is very different

KD’s response

ok i disagree. not with the results, which are heartening, but at your points, “If a democracy wants a dynasty is it a dynasty or a democratic choice.” the answer to me clearly is it is dynasty.
nehru himself warned of the tyranny of the majority and several instances in world history — hitler, who was voted to power, mussolini, who made the trains run on time — and umpteen others were the result of a popular mandate. so to use you logic there, it would be to ask, “if a democracy wants fascism, is it democracy or fascism.” the answer, clearly is fascism. with all due respect to mrs. g (and appa), she was voted in, and she took away civil rights during eemrgency. if she had been a poor widow from the middle of MP, i can’t see too many people voting for her. at least she had been politically groomed. i’m sorry, who is rahul gandhi? why did he have a ticket to contest? it’s complete rubbish. democracy is not merely people voting for one rogue over another, it’s about public service, and i’m not quite sure what these chaps have done to merit being elected. wrote a piece on the election for the new republic. it’s a pretty big deal to get published in it. (it’s my second piece for them). here’s the link.

love, kd

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=vj9XEgrdWCmRiPTRE%2Fafqj%3D%3D

My response

congrats. neat article. u still have to send me the first one on the angry muslim. There are many reasons why the BJP lost – economy was just one part of it. have printed and given the article to amma. she is preening. rani sends you a big lick.

a) There was Gujarat – and their silence on the worst kind of communal targeting and violence.
b) there was targeting of other minorities – like the Christians. both communities came out on the day to vote
c) violence against SC/ST has been the most in the last 5 years. they too turned up on the day.
d) There was the drop in interest rates which meant that pensioners get less on their pensions
e) there was inflation. A cylinder of gas that cost 140 bucks 2 years ago, cost 260 bucks today. salaries are almost standard
f) there was stupid alliances. The person who recommended that the BJP dump DMK and go with AIDMK cost them, not just TN but the country. What is interesting is that every BJP ally except the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD:) and AGP have been decimated
g) this is not just the poor voting against the government. it is also the middleclass and the youth. In Delhi there is a complete whitewash – the Congress has won all 7 seats. In mumbai it has won 6 out of 7 – Ram Naik and Manohar Joshi have lost from Mumbai. One to Govinda and the other to an unknown called Eknath Gaekwad. 25 ministers have lost their jobs.
h) For those of us, for whom India is shining – we made a call on the kind of country we want to live in. If Gujarat had not happened i might have just ended up voting NDA.
i) the entire India shining campaign boomeranged. It was the Indian crab syndrome. The concept fo shining is relative. so the feeling was why is it shining for them and not for me.
j) Modi was the star BJP campaigner. wherever he campaigned there was a backlash.
k) personal attacks against Sonia and family went down very badly. this is not the west. certain social “forms” are expected to be observed.

expecting his call to have a voice debate. i love technology:)