Articles by Rakesh Ahuja (6 total)
Gandhi at 157: the multicultural vision Australia made its own
Today marks the 157th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. His vision of religious pluralism, cultural identity and belonging without assimilation finds a striking echo in Australian multiculturalism.
Eighty years after independence, India faces a crisis of identity and institutions
Youth unemployment, economic inequality, religious nationalism and growing tensions between India’s states are placing mounting pressure on its democratic institutions and federal system.
Modern warfare requires cultural intelligence
Washington’s failure to subdue Tehran stems in part from overlooking the Iranian mindset moulded by Persian civilisational pride and the Shiite sense of martyrdom. It underscores the value of cultural intelligence as the third pillar of warfare, alongside human and singal intelligence.
Unravelling Indian elections 2024: the queered pitch
For the first time, Indian elections warrant scrutiny. The largest Earthian carnival is in full swing in India. Over staggered phases, nearly a billion eligible voters are electing 543 representatives from 62 parties across 36 States and Territories. This grand spectacle of democracy of and by and for the people is fuelled by a staggering public and political parties' spend of over $15 billion. The winner will be declared on 4 June.
Flawed democracies: Modi, Trump, and a dilemma
Is democracy spawning elected autocracies? In 2024, a tale of two much-vaunted yet internationally ranked “flawed democracies” is unfolding. The outcomes of their national elections—India in June and the US in November—will test the mettle of the democratic institutions that underpin their governance systems.
Australia's India bet: Not a lay down misère yet
When do shared values become shared interests? Australia's relations with India have accelerated exponentially. The nearly century-long pattern of discovery and rediscovery of India by the Australian polity is now history. Durable knots are being tied across the spectrum of political, economic, and social issues.