South Asia
-
Cross-Border Politics and the Game of Cricket
•
By any measure, cricket is more than just a game. Historian C.L.R. James famously wrote that “Cricket is first and foremost a dramatic spectacle. It belongs with theatre, ballet, opera and the dance.” Today, with an estimated global audience exceeding two billion, cricket is deeply embedded in the political and…
-
Reform, Resilience and Growth: Evolution of Indian Fiscal Policy from 1991 – 2024
•
The evolution of the fiscal policy of India from 1991 to 2024 is a story of transformation, resilience and adaptation, reflecting the interplay of domestic reforms, political imperatives and global challenges. Throughout these decades, India shifted from managing a severe balance of payments crisis to becoming one of the world’s…
-
Minorities: Strangers within their own country
•
On Oct. 7, 2024, the 10th anniversary of my father’s passing, I yearned to connect with my older sister in Bangladesh. Unable to visit our parents’ graves herself, my sister arranged for someone to light candles in their memory. However, the images she sent me depicted not only the illuminated…
-
Court-ing Growth in India: Cut Red Tape, Create Jobs
•
India’s economy must create 1.1 billion well-paying jobs by 2050 before its “demographic dividend” window closes. However, neither the government’s current job-creation strategy nor a service-led approach addresses the magnitude of this problem. The fundamental solution lies in removing regulatory bottlenecks in Indian states and decongesting courts, thus creating conditions…