Tag: Congress

CNN, Courage, Death, human rights, Politics, Race, Racism

The word ‘hero’ is overused but it’s truly fitting for John Lewis

I love driving by this mural that is not too far from my home in Atlanta.

When is the last time I cried over the death of a public figure or a politician? I can’t remember, really. Perhaps it was when Indira Gandhi was assassinated. I was young then and mourned the woman I had idolized in childhood. Beyond politics, she served as a role model for Indian girls of my generation.

Last night, I cried when I heard the news that John Lewis had lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. I grieved the death of a tireless fighter for freedom and justice. Continue reading “The word ‘hero’ is overused but it’s truly fitting for John Lewis”

Moni Basu1 Comment
Florida, Uncategorized

Hiatus over. I’m back with a heartbreaking story from Florida

I haven’t written in a while. I’ve been busy. In the months since my last post, I quit my job at CNN, moved to Gainesville, Florida, and began teaching writing and reporting classes at the University of Florida. Life changing, for sure. Now that I am a bit more settled, I plan to resume this blog once again. Hopefully, it will get a shiny, new … Continue reading Hiatus over. I’m back with a heartbreaking story from Florida

Moni Basu1 Comment
Asia, India, Politics

India's day of reckoning

By Friday afternoon, everything should become clear. Who did more than 500 million voters choose to lead India? India’s day of reckoning is here. Election results will be announced soon. All week, there has been so much speculation and interpretation of exit polls that my head is spinning. By all guesses, Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party will become the next prime minister of … Continue reading India's day of reckoning

Moni Basu4 Comments
Asia, Hinduism, India, Politics

Looking like change in India

Today was the last day of polling in India’s mammoth parliamentary elections. Five weeks of voting; Nine polling days; 814 million eligible voters; 543 Lok Sabha (lower House) seats. From all the exit polling I’ve seen, it looks like the worst loss ever for the Indian National Congress, the party of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi that for so many years led an independent India. … Continue reading Looking like change in India

Moni Basu
Asia, India

The world's biggest election

Get this: Starting on April 7, nearly 815 million Indians will begin casting ballots in this year’s parliamentary elections. Yes, 815 million! That’s almost 100 million more than there were in the last election in 2009. How to accommodate the huge number of estimate voters in the world’s most populous democracy? Polling is staggered over nine days: April 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 24, 30 and May … Continue reading The world's biggest election

Moni Basu