In 1977, Babu Jagjivan Ram came within a whisker of being named prime minister of India.
His Janata Party had created history just days earlier, when it handed the Indian National Congress its first general election defeat since the country became independent in 1947.
Had Mr Jagjivan Ram’s colleagues not balked at the idea of picking him as their leader, India would have had its first Dalit prime minister.
Dalits, who come from the lowest section of India’s traditional social hierarchy – or “caste system” – were for centuries oppressed and considered “untouchable” by much of society. It is perfectly conceivable, then, that Mr Jagjivan Ram’s ascension would have had a symbolic, and perhaps even substantive, impact on the country’s politics.
Why is this story relevant nearly half a century later? Because, with just seven months to go before the next general election, the name of another Dalit leader – Mallikarjun Kharge – is doing the rounds among India’s opposition parties to be their prime ministerial candidate.
It’s worth pointing out that what derailed Mr Jagjivan Ram’s historic bid wasn’t so much the question of whether India was or wasn’t ready for a Dalit head of government. The voters had, a decade earlier, broken convention by electing a woman prime minister in Indira Gandhi.
In fact, he was a victim of intense factionalism within the Janata Party. There were also concerns that he would be perceived as an establishment candidate who had only recently switched sides after enjoying decades-long stints in the Congress party and in government.
Much like the Janata Party was an amalgamation of disparate political groups hurriedly put together to take on the mighty Congress party, a 26-party alliance called “INDIA” was created this year with the aim of challenging the equally formidable Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in government since 2014.
As president of the Congress party – now in the opposition and the largest constituent of INDIA – one would assume that Mr Kharge would be a runaway choice for the top post, were the coalition to defeat the BJP in May. But that is yet not the case.
More from Chitrabhanu Kadalayil
In 1977, the Janata Party opted against naming a prime ministerial candidate before the vote, to avoid making the election a personality contest against a towering Mrs Gandhi.
INDIA has similarly resisted calls to name its leader ahead of the 2024 vote.
First, the hypercompetitive rivalries that exist within the alliance make it nearly impossible for it to name a first among equals. Second, whoever gets picked would then have to face the one name Indians overwhelmingly favour as prime minister if polls are any indication: Narendra Modi, the two-term incumbent.
And yet there is a case for INDIA to announce Mr Kharge as its leader. Failing that, it should at least drop enough hints at regular intervals to the voter that his name is in the mix.
The reason for this isn’t just Mr Kharge’s vast experience in politics and government spanning five decades, or that he is a polyglot who can connect with voters across the length of India. It isn’t just his successful leadership of Congress over the past year, during which he rebuilt the party and helped it win key state assembly elections.
It is also his Dalit background. This is important at a time when caste-based politics, which has historically championed social justice, has gradually regained traction after almost a decade.
In 1977, the opposition didn’t need a prime ministerial candidate largely because it had one hot-button issue with which to corner the government of the day. That was the nearly two-year-long national emergency it had imposed, which included the curbing of civil liberties, jailing of opposition leaders and forced sterilisations, the last of which particularly appalled the average voter.
In 2024, the opposition does not have such a single, strong anti-incumbency sentiment to bank on.
What it does have is a potentially attractive message revolving around caste and social justice. In recent weeks, its leaders have pledged to work towards reconstituting caste-based reservations to more accurately reflect today’s population.
It needs to be noted here that the last nationwide caste census was conducted in 1931, which, INDIA says, drives home its point about the need to conduct a new pan-India survey. The results, it explains, will then lead to a more accurate and fair distribution of the reservations pie that entails government jobs, college admissions and welfare.
Whatever one’s opinions about affirmative action, this message of reconstituting caste-based reservations could resonate with millions of voters. Surveys conducted over the years have concluded that a majority of Indians identify themselves as belonging to one or the other constitutionally defined “backward class” and “scheduled caste” (or Dalit) groups.
If, indeed, INDIA succeeds in weaning away voters from the BJP on the issue of caste/class, it would represent a decisive shift in Indian politics. Because Indian politics is essentially centred on identity, two of the most dominant strands of which are religion and caste.
The BJP has always sought to use religious identity to unite Hindus – who for decades had been divided by caste affiliations – into one voting bloc. INDIA, on the other hand, is hoping it can reconsolidate the country’s myriad lower caste/class groups into one voting bloc, in the process breaking Mr Modi’s as-yet winning coalition.
The alliance has several stellar leaders representing the backward class and Dalit groups to choose from to articulate its agenda.
It is, of course, a fact that Mr Kharge’s successful political career is almost entirely based on merit, and not just his background. However, could there be a better messenger to take INDIA’s social justice message to the electorate than one of the country’s most visible Dalit leaders?
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The Programme
Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills
Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako
Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
More on Palestine-Israeli relations
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE%20ILT20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMarquee%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMoeen%20Ali%2C%20Andre%20Russell%2C%20Dawid%20Malan%2C%20Wanindu%20Hasiranga%2C%20Sunil%20Narine%2C%20Evin%20Lewis%2C%20Colin%20Munro%2C%20Fabien%20Allen%2C%20Sam%20Billings%2C%20Tom%20Curran%2C%20Alex%20Hales%2C%20Dushmantha%20Chameera%2C%20Shimron%20Hetmyer%2C%20Akeal%20Hosein%2C%20Chris%20Jordan%2C%20Tom%20Banton%2C%20Sandeep%20Lamichhane%2C%20Chris%20Lynn%2C%20Rovman%20Powell%2C%20Bhanuka%20Rajapaksa%2C%20Mujeeb%20Ul%20Rahman%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInternational%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ELahiru%20Kumara%2C%20Seekugge%20Prassanna%2C%20Charith%20Asalanka%2C%20Colin%20Ingram%2C%20Paul%20Stirling%2C%20Kennar%20Lewis%2C%20Ali%20Khan%2C%20Brandon%20Glover%2C%20Ravi%20Rampaul%2C%20Raymon%20Reifer%2C%20Isuru%20Udana%2C%20Blessing%20Muzarabani%2C%20Niroshan%20Dickwella%2C%20Hazaratullah%20Zazai%2C%20Frederick%20Klassen%2C%20Sikandar%20Raja%2C%20George%20Munsey%2C%20Dan%20Lawrence%2C%20Dominic%20Drakes%2C%20Jamie%20Overton%2C%20Liam%20Dawson%2C%20David%20Wiese%2C%20Qais%20Ahmed%2C%20Richard%20Gleeson%2C%20James%20Vince%2C%20Noor%20Ahmed%2C%20Rahmanullah%20Gurbaz%2C%20Navin%20Ul%20Haq%2C%20Sherfane%20Rutherford%2C%20Saqib%20Mahmood%2C%20Ben%20Duckett%2C%20Benny%20Howell%2C%20Ruben%20Trumpelman%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
More coverage from the Future Forum
