Elections

In 2006 and 2007, I spent several months in Ahmedabad while on a fellowship from my university in the US. During my time in Ahmedabad, I interacted with the mostly-Hindu NGO staff where I was based, residents of the largely Hindu shantytown where the NGO was working, and professors at Gujarat University. Less than five years had passed since the city had gone through its nightmare: vicious riots involving saffron-clad men entering urban neighborhoods and brutalizing, gang-raping, and burning other human beings. Some 1,500 Muslims were killed.

It is time to confront theocratic bigotry head on.

"The infamous George Allen "macaca" comment is part of a long history of offensive speech. The words, though, are only the tip of the iceberg, walking the talk is the real challenge for politicians."

The current events in Pakistan are nothing more than a replay of an old story. We have a threat to the United States (communism now replaced with 'Islamofascism'), the ensuing billions of dollars in aid to fend off the threat, a suspended judiciary, and of course le generale du jour.

A South Asians for Obama organizer explores what an Obama presidency would look like, explains what's in it for progressives, and asks what is the future role of this country.

The recent election of Bobby Jindal to governor of Louisiana and Barack Obama's presidential candidacy explores the relevance of race, ethnicity, and South Asian-American issues in the American Race/Ethnicity nexus.

The re-election of Narendra Modi five years after the Gujarat pogrom signals that it is time for a progressive Hindu movement to reclaim the religion as one that is progressive, tolerant and secular humanistic.

A Nepali human rights advocate realistically examines the potential and limitations of the upcoming election in bringing about sustainable peace, stability, and social justice to Nepal.

The South Asian community of New York City provides a compelling case for what a widespread and organized effort to register and mobilize voters could look like.