LOTUS FOR POTUS: Election Canvassing in Pennsylvania

Sujata Massey

 The air was warm, and the sky so blue. Tall trees showed off crowns of red, orange and gold leaves as I cruised along Interstate 95 last Sunday morning.

Despite it being prime leaf-peeping time, I wasn't taking a scenic route for idle pleasure. Pennsylvania is a swing state in the coming national election; some say it's the state that Vice President Kamala Harris must win in order for the electoral college to line up in her favor. I’d heard about a massive canvassing day in Montgomery County, an area north of Philadelphia with slightly more Democrats than conservatives. My intention was to wind my way into North Wales, a town within the county, to deliver literature and perhaps a few words to possible voters.

 

The last time I canvassed was in Minnesota during the 2008 election on behalf of Barack Obama. During that long-ago fall, I carried a paper list and door-knocked in the tightly knit neighborhoods of Minneapolis, and the suburb of Eden Prairie, where the distance between houses was greater. I had chatted with Democrats and Republicans alike, because sixteen years ago, people were more relaxed about speaking with strangers. And we weren’t so polarized. Would canvassing work, in this day and age?  And now it was so much more complicated, involving data entry into a smartphone. 

 

The night before my drive, I’d received a text with instructions to add a voter canvassing app called Minivan. Now, It’s one thing to double-click an app onto your iPhone, but quite another to use that app skillfully. Minivan’s video tutorial showed how a map of houses would pop up when I was on the street, and how I’d be able to key in information such as whether I made contact, dropped literature, and any details the residents voluntarily shared about their voting plans. Minivan also had a built-in geographic tracker of where the phone was, something that made me feel a little more secure about the unknown encounters ahead. 

 

I reached the Montgomery Mall in North Wales in less than two hours, faster than Apple thought it would take. And walking into this vintage suburban mall, I realized I’d visited here twenty years earlier with friends to take our children to a Harry Potter movie. The suspenseful opening credits and thundering film score brought my daughter to tears, so we all fled the mall’s AMC theater and soothed the miserable at a candy stand, which was still there. I hoped this memory was not an omen that I'd once again back out of the mall without fulfilling a mission. 

 

Montgomery Mall seemed to have few visitors on a Sunday morning, just like many enclosed malls around the country today. The Harris-Walz campaign had rented a storefront for its purposes. This former shop was filled with volunteers, signs and totebags. I signed in and was off to sit at a table where a kindly man was giving a hands-on Minivan tutorial. Just what I needed. I also breathed easier when another volunteer appeared and said she’d be glad to partner with me while door-knocking. My partner was a lovely woman who had Minivan down cold without needing instruction. She also was a Perveen Mistry reader. What were the chances?

 

My partner and me 

Well, we both had connections to India. This particular rally and canvassing effort was organized by Indian American Impact, a national organization that raises money and gathers volunteers to support South Asian American candidates up and down the ballots. 

There are certainly conservative South Asian voters who support Trump, but the majority of South Asian voters lean Democratic. Kamala Harris has both Jamaican ancestry from her father, and Tamil ancestry from her late mother, who was born in India. The name Kamala is Sanskrit for lotus flower. I bought a catchy LOTUS FOR POTUS bumper sticker from Impact’s merch table, which also had wonderful tee-shirts with expressions like Desis Decide and Kamala Ke Saath (together for Kamala). How important is the South Asian vote in this campaign? Recent articles in The Washington Post  and New York Times focus on the nation's largest and most affluent immigrant population. Close to 400,000 South Asians who are eligible voters live in the swing states. 

 

After the buses carrying volunteers from Washington DC and New York City arrived, it looked like the crowd was pushing a few hundred. The people were of all ages—from children tagging along with their parents to well-dressed gentleman in their seventies. Volunteering also was not limited to South Asians; I saw Black and Caucasian and East Asian faces in the room. Yet the vibe at the gathering was distinctly Desi—the unifying nickname for South Asia that comes from the root word “Desh,” or homeland. Being a Desi means having roots on the Subcontinent, no matter how long ago your ancestors left.

Healthy snacks included samosas and chai

 

On Indian-American Impact’s  website, I found they were endorsing 48 candidates running for political office nationwide. These people were aspiring for jobs ranging from city council positions to judgeships and congress and senate. Impact does not expressly align itself with a political party, however it mentions that its core values include advocating for healthcare, climate and environmental safety, immigration, voting rights, and racial justice. They also don’t rubber stamp every politician who has South Asian ancestry. For example, Nikki Haley, a former Republican governor and a losing candidate in the Republican presidential primary, wasn’t on the list. 

 

Among the passionate speakers at our rally was Nina Ahmad, a Bangladeshi immigrant who is both the first Muslim and first Asian-American elected to the Philadelphia City Council. Nina reminded us to tell immigrant voters leaning Republican that while in office, Trump created a de-naturalization section within the Department of Justice that enabled government to strip Americans of citizenship. Recently, Trump has spoken of weaponizing the Justice Department and actively sending away legal immigrants, starting with Haitians, through a concept called Remigration. Imagine how this tactic could be employed at will against all green card holders and naturalized citizens!

Neil Makhija and Padma Lakshmi

 

Neil Makhija, a vibrant young man who was elected as the first Asian-American Montgomery County commissioner (there are three), also got us fired up with a discussion of local politics. Makheja had been sued three times already by the Pennsylvania Republican party for organizing a voter registration van and ensured voting information was printed in eight languages. “They sued me for making it possible for people to vote!” he said. His New York Times editorial about the importance of voting and the ironclad security around ballots is excellent.

 

Washington State Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal was on hand to push us into motivation, including the now-famous chant, “We’re Not Going Back.” We heard a moving song performed live by the Broadway composer/singer Ari Afsar, backed by a talented South Asian student acapella singing group from Penn State. Padma Lakshmi, who celebrates foods and diverse cultures on her Hulu series, “Taste the Nation,” explained why she supports Kamala Harris, and also why she thinks Donald Trump is so dangerous for the country. 

 

A volunteer meets Pramila Jayapal

Padma Lakshmi in action

Forty minutes after arrival, my new pal and I headed to her car, loaded with some election literature, and with our phones playing Minivan. 

 

The first two households were apartments on the back of a restaurant building. Nobody answered the door, so it was a rather anticlimactic feeling. Had we even reached the correct doors?  We continued on to a townhouse community. Here, on a street called Susan Circle, we had a list of 58 households. All close together, all well-numbered; excellent.

 

Going with a companion from door to door in the sunshine was quite a bit of fun. We saw great Halloween decorations, containers planted with fall chrysanthemums, and windows that were sometimes opened for conversation with us—or used as a way to see what we were up to. I understand that solicitors aren’t welcome on most doorsteps, including my own. Therefore, I felt very grateful for the people who were brave enough to open their doors and listen to our spiel:

 

“Hi, we’re here to check if you are planning to vote…that’s great, will it be early voting or on election day? Do you feel comfortable telling us who you’re planning to vote for? …That’s wonderful…And will you also support Senator Bob Casey?”

 

When we met people who said they hadn’t made up their minds, one of us might ask, “What issues are important to you in this election?” We’d both listen and reflect back to them what they had expressed. “That makes sense. Did you know…”  We were careful not to make speeches.

 

In this neighborhood, we chatted with many Asian Americans, many first or second generation immigrants. We had a conversation with a white woman who said she was grateful her boss made it clear to all his employees that they could take time on a workday to vote; she was voting for Kamala, and so were most of her co-workers. We also met a young white man who opened the door and held a whispered conversation with us because of conservative people nearby. He said he was voting for Kamala because of his girlfriend, and the importance of women’s rights over their bodies. I thanked him for it, just as many of the residents thanked us for volunteering. 

 

Those were very heartening moments. There were also some laughs. We couldn’t even begin to ask questions when an East Asian lady (probably in her eighties) opened her door, took one look at the two of us, and shouted: “No, no! I don’t want that. I’m voting Trump!” 

 

We had another humorous encounter when we rang the doorbell on a nearby house. Eventually  a second floor window was raised, and we saw the sliver of the face of a friendly boy who looked and sounded under age eleven. 

Boy: “I can’t open the door because my parents aren’t home.”

Us: “No problem, we understand. Is it OK if we leave a piece of information at your door?” 

Boy: “Go ahead.”

Sharp unknown adult voice: “No! Don’t leave anything!”

 

As we crisscrossed Susan Circle, Minivan cheered us on: “You’re 25% done!” until we completed our list. It turned out that we had made personal contacts with 26% of the households on the list, something to crow about because the Indian Impact volunteers told us that a10 percent rate of personal contact was typical. I suspect the sight of two women made people more curious than wary.  Although--as my partner pointed out--the Amazon delivery truck did roll through and help us get people to the doors during our last half hour of service. 

 

Would I canvas again? I am signed up for next weekend, canvassing for Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic Senate hopeful in Maryland. A slow stroll for three hours seems a small effort to make in exchange for some memorable encounters. And if these meetings will encourage a few uncommitted people to think more about making a choice—and knowing the importance of voting—I’m very satisfied. 

Sujata will mail a free signed book to anyone in the US who door-knocks for Kamala Harris before November 5. Visit her website, sujatamassey.com,and email her with subject line Canvas for Kamala. In your email to me please include a selfie of you at the canvassing headquarters; your home street address;book of choice and optional personalized inscription. Thank you!

 Kwei--Wednesday

Dread and Depression: The Re-Election Campaign of President Biden

As President Biden campaigned for re-election, a cloud of dread and depression seemed to hang over registered Democrats and many independents. These groups felt trapped between a rock and a hard place, seeing no viable alternatives on the horizon. The initial enthusiasm that had surrounded Biden's previous campaign had significantly waned, leaving behind a populace disillusioned by unfulfilled promises and ongoing political strife. Meanwhile, Republicans were elated at the prospect of Donald Trump's re-election, feeling invigorated and hopeful about a potential return to his administration. This stark contrast in sentiment highlighted the deep political divide within the nation as people grappled with the thought of another four years under a familiar administration.

Kamala Harris Steps In: Euphoria and Enthusiasm

However, the political landscape shifted dramatically when Vice President Kamala Harris stepped into the spotlight. Her presence ignited a wave of euphoria and enthusiasm that had been sorely lacking. Harris, with her dynamic energy and compelling vision, brought a renewed sense of purpose to the campaign. The prospect of the first woman of color potentially winning the presidency sparked a sense of pride and hope, especially among communities that had long felt marginalized. Her candidacy symbolized progress and the possibility of real change, energizing the base and attracting a diverse coalition of supporters.

Harris's Campaign: A Movement in the Making

Much like Barack Obama's historic campaigns, Kamala Harris's election bid appears to be transforming into a powerful movement. Her campaign is galvanizing a broad spectrum of supporters who see her as a beacon of progress and change. Harris's ability to inspire and mobilize diverse groups has created a groundswell of activism and engagement, reminiscent of the fervor that surrounded Obama’s ascent to the presidency. This movement is not just about electing a candidate but about advocating for a vision of America that values inclusivity, justice, and equality.

The Irony of Systemic Racism and Potential Progress

The irony of a country steeped in systemic racism potentially electing a woman of color as president did not go unnoticed. The United States, with its deeply ingrained issues of racial inequality, stood at a crossroads. On one hand, Harris’s rise was a testament to the progress made since the civil rights movement. On the other, it highlighted the persistent challenges and contradictions within the nation’s social fabric. This juxtaposition became a focal point of national discourse, prompting discussions about the true state of racial equality in America and what her potential presidency could mean for future generations.

Tim Walz: The "Attack-Dog" with Humor

Gov Tim Walz (Tim Walz. (2024, August 7).
In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Walz

Adding to the dynamic ticket was Tim Walz, known for his no-nonsense, "attack-dog" approach to politics, laced with a touch of humor. Walz’s ability to cut through political doublespeak and connect with everyday Americans provided a refreshing counterbalance to the often dry and overly cautious political rhetoric. His straightforwardness and willingness to confront issues head-on resonated with many voters who were tired of political gamesmanship. Walz’s presence on the ticket signaled a shift towards a more aggressive and relatable campaign strategy aimed at rallying the base and swaying undecided voters.

Embracing Liberalism: A Strategy for the Future

To secure victory and enact meaningful change, the campaign needs to embrace the term "liberal" and redefine it as a force for good. In an era where labels can often be used as weapons, it’s crucial to reclaim and reframe liberalism positively. Liberals advocate for policies that provide for children, improve education, ensure healthcare, and address climate change. By proudly owning the term, the campaign can counteract negative connotations and highlight the tangible benefits of liberal policies for everyday Americans.

Reframing the Opposition: From Danger to Weird

Another strategic approach involves shifting the narrative around the opposition. Instead of portraying them as a danger to democracy, which inadvertently amplifies their influence, the campaign could adopt a more relatable and disarming tactic. Using language that paints the opposing side as "weird" or out of touch with mainstream values can be effective. This tactic demystifies and diminishes their appeal, making their positions seem less threatening and more eccentric. By framing the opposition in a way that resonates with everyday experiences, the campaign can better connect with voters on an emotional level.

Conclusion: A New Era on the Horizon?

As the campaign unfolds, the potential for a new era in American politics becomes increasingly tangible. The combined forces of Harris’s historic candidacy, Walz’s straightforward appeal, and a strategic embrace of liberal values create a powerful narrative of progress and possibility. While challenges remain, the enthusiasm and hope ignited by this dynamic ticket suggest that a new chapter in the nation's history is indeed possible. The journey to the election will undoubtedly be fraught with obstacles, but with a clear vision and a renewed sense of purpose, the future looks promising.

This election is not just about choosing leaders but about defining the direction of the country for years to come. It is a moment of reckoning and a chance to reaffirm the values of equality, justice, and progress. Whether this truly marks the beginning of a new era will depend on the collective will and action of the American people. After the election of Barack Obama, many thought a change was on the horizon for America. Now there are many that say it made no difference.

 

Attention, Voters! A Letter from Perveen Mistry

 Sujata Massey

(Ed. note: Perveen Mistry, a female lawyer living in 1920’s Bombay, has reached across time and reality to write a frank letter to 2024 voters. As the chronicler of Perveen's legal mysteries, I'm impressed by her forthright investigations  of political issues and modern technology. Let us enjoy her ramblings and perhaps find a few kernels of timeless wisdom.)

 

To My Dearest Readers Abroad:

 

I send very best greetings from Bombay, where we are deluged by the rainy season, and I spend much time trapped inside my family home in Dadar Parsi Colony. If the newsboy can get through the flooded streets, he delivers a paper that is the highlight of my day. So, imagine my surprise when, instead of handing me the August 4, 1924, Sunday edition of Times of India, he brought me a bundle of Sunday newspaper titled The New York Times dating from August 4, 2024, as well as the previous weekend in July!

 

What kind of magic broug these epistles from a remote land and time? At first, I worried that the experience meant that I am suffering insanity. I've come to think I'm part of a very complicated, literary dream that has allowed me hours of excitement. Because of the similarities between me and Miss Kamala Harris, clearly only I could be the architect of this fantasy.  But there remains a possibility that these engaging tabloids are an authentic portent--and that is why I am writing an open letter to the dear citizens of the United States in future times.

 

Could it be true that an election for the presidency of your country is 92 days hence?. If so, the papers are saying that female voters are anticipated to be very active.  In my day, very few women are allowed to vote in elections—it happened just recently in Bombay that ladies owing property and suitable income can vote in elections. Thus, my mother has a voting right, because her name appears alongside my father's on the household deed. That privilege is not mine yet, I am a supporter of universal suffrage regardless of gender and income; I've enclosed a picture of Indian suffragists in London in 1911, fighting to say this.

 

Being unable to vote is a great frustration for me; although I must say the candidates who have come up in the Bombay for the city legislative spots are rather dull. The powerful rulers—the viceroy in charge of governing British India, and the governor of my own Bombay Presidency—are hand-picked by Britains’ prime minister; it has nothing to do with their popularity in India. Within the last few years, though, Indians have the right to run for seats in the central legislative, the council of state, and provincial assemblies. And this is a good start.

 

I tell myself that I can support forward-thinking politics in Bombay by attending meetings to hear these candidates. Chiefly, I’ve made donations of my own hard-earned money and inheritance to the candidates who are brave enough to speak up for dominion status or any sort of freedom from colonial rule. Take note of a treasured photograph of the esteemed Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in a peaceful procession with his supporters.

 

Even with my limited political experience, I beg to offer a few words to faraway citizen living in the strange new world your newspapers illustrated.

 

My first recommendation is to be cognizant of your own ability to cast vote. If you voted without incident four years ago, things are likely fine; but many such voters receive a notice by mail, reminding them that they will receive a postal ballot by mail or should vote in person. If citizens have moved out of station, or only recently registered to vote, it’s prudent to check that your papers are in order to enable voting. College students who will be away from their native place in November especially need to ensure their ability to vote. 

 

My second point is financial. It is quite common to receive solicitation for donation from various candidates and political parties. Yet we must keep an eye out for unscrupulous organizations that abuse presidential candidate’s names for their own purposes. (Ed note: I recently received a text promising to match any credit card donation to the Harris campaign by 400 percent. Highly dubious! )

 

Ahem—let’s return to business, shall we? My heartfelt plea is to give to others running for office: the many good people running to take places as senators and congressional representatives. These people aren’t so much in the news, and they receive scant funds in comparison to presidential candidates.  Yet they are crucial, for how could a president suggest societal improvements be put into law without having a solid base of elected members of Congress to pass such laws? Please do the needful and support them!

 

Another of my pleas is to put pen to paper. A good letter can brighten a day and inspire a person to action. Why not send personal cards to people around the country urging them to vote in this election? There are postcard-writing parties throughout America—and I can attest that it's a practical use of time to write letters from home during inclement weather.  

 

Now, might I address larger types of gatherings? Here in India, large political assemblies in public are often prohibited by the government on the basis that they incite sedition. How fortunate you are to be able to dance and cheer in university stadiums for the sake of politics! I also learned that modern Americans may view films of such gatherings from their own houses, which sounds most amusing. Another curiosity I read about is something called a Zoom meeting for fundraising and political encouragement. Apparently, news spread from person to person, and audiences of thousands come together to witness the meeting whilst actually remaining in their various homes. 

 

The Zoom business is incomprehensible, but I can discuss what it means to do political work outside the home. Motivated individuals may enroll to assist on the important day either as an elections judge or nonpartisan election observer. If people wish to campaign to the very end,   they can drive to swing states to distribute materials and even help people who need transportation to polling places. 

What choices you have! But this idea of “choice “is something that you will surely lose, should a small group of conservatives take control of your diverse and impressive nation. These men have publicly stated their desires to implement strict laws about childbearing and other personal behavior, and to dismantle education and censor libraries and the press. Believe it when I say your society will suffer under such laws—that’s how it is in my time.

 

 

Yours sincerely, 

 

Perveen Mistry (Miss)

Partner, Mistry Law

Mistry House, 10 Bruce Street,

Fort, Bombay. 

Indira Gandhi, the Iron Lady

 Sujata Massey

Indira Nehru Gandhi at her ancestral home

Can a woman become a successful president?

The mission was attempted just once before in the United States, with Hillary Clinton at the top of the Democratic ticket. Although Hillary won the popular vote, she didn't win enough electoral college votes and ultimately lost the election to Donald Trump. The question simmers again in this ungodly hot summer, eight years later: could a female politician such as Gretchen Whitmer or Kamala Harris make it to the top?

An estimated 81countries, large and small, have been governed by women leaders. Even places where women’s rights are considered worse than the United States; for example, India, which elected and re-elected one of the world’s most successful and controversial female prime ministers: Indira Gandhi. Indira's astonishing rise to power in late 1950s India lasted through 1984, and reveals how women can unexpectedly succeed in government.

Indira during adolescence

Indira Priyadarshini Nehru was born in 1917 in Allahabad, the capitol of Uttar Pradesh, an important province in Northern India. She was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, a famous leader in the freedom movement, especially in the 1930s and 40s. Indira’s mother, Kamala Kaul Nehru, was chosen as Jawaharlal’s bride by his father, Motilal, a wealthy lawyer who served as president of the Congress Party for several terms. The family was close to Mohandas Gandhi, also called Gandhiji within India and Mahatma Gandhi to his growing international audience.

Political protest times in the 1930s

 

Both Jawaharlal and Kamala Nehru threw themselves into activism, participating in protests that were violently countered by the police. They were often imprisoned during Indira’s childhood, leaving her to be raised by her grandfather and a large house staff. The grand family home had a revolving door for freedom activists who dined and stayed, inadvertently educating Indira even further. At age 12, Indira started a child activist group called the Army of Monkeys that relayed messages and helped adults involved in political protest. At fifteen, when Gandhi came out of one of his hunger fasts, he requested that Indira serve him a glass of orange juice. But it was still an existence where Indira was educated at schools run by the British, even though she wore the khadi cloth that Gandhiji advocated.  

After coming out of prison, Kamala was ill with tuberculosis. Like many wealthy Indians did, the Nehru family went to Europe for the healing air. The Nehrus set up residence inGeneva, Switzerland, where the climate helped Kamala, and they mingled with people of many nationalities and political beliefs. Young Indira traveled by foot and tram by herself to her international day school, another unusual activity for a girl in the 1920s. Shortly after Indira finished high school, Kamala expired from her chronic tuberculosis. Indira grew even closer to her father, who sent her for a broad education that included Shantiniketan in Bengal, and Somerville College in Oxford, England. She was there during the 1930s, when activism for Indian independence was also occurring in England. In these circles, though, Indira was always seen as a small player: when she spoke nervously in front of a group of activists in England, people joked about the squeaky, high pitch of her voice. Other times in India, her quiet nature in group settings led her to be labelled a ‘dumb doll.’ 

Marriage in 1942 to Feroze Gandhi

Yet people took note of her, given her famous parents; especially a handsome young activist from Bombay named Feroze who met her mother in Europe, and following Kamala’s death, became closer to Indira. Born a Parsi with the original surname Ghandy, Feroze changed the spelling in the 1930s, perhaps to align with his mentor, Mahatma Gandhi. In 1942, Indira married Feroze against her father’s wishes, although he and many political power players attended the wedding, which Mahatma Gandhi had warmly endorsed. Because of her new surname, many people mistakenly believed that Indira was connected by marriage or blood Mahatma Gandhi’s clan. 

After marriage, Indira declared a desire to focus on motherhood.  She gave birth to two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay, early in her marriage, and in these busy years, turned down opportunities for roles in the party. Yet in 1947, when her father was elected as the first prime in independent India, she faced an offer that was hard to refuse. 

Jawaharlal requested her support as a political mate, asking her to leave Feroze to come to live with him in New Delhi and serve as his official hostess. By this time, Feroze was busy in Lahore running the National Herald, a newspaper founded by his father-in-law. There were also strains in the marriage caused by Feroze’s extramarital relationships. 

Indira took her sons with her to her father’s place: Teen Murti Bhavan, the ‘three statues home,’ resting on 30 acres in Delhi. She hosted visitors and accompanied her father on political missions. Within a few years’ time, Feroze became largely absent from her life. He died of a heart attack in 1960 at the age of 47, an event that Indira spoke sadly about, despite the long separation between then. She never married again.

Indira's 1959 election as Congress Party President

Indira had gradually increased her political activities began in the 1950s, and was elected as President of the Congress Party in 1955. In this role, she assisted her prime minister father with challenges that arose nationally, including her infamous decision to disband the state of Kerala’s elected Communist government in 1959.

Jawaharlal Nehru died as prime minister in 1964 from a heart attack. The next elected prime minister was a Congress Party politician Lal Bahadur Shastri, who offered Indira a choice of appointments. She chose Minister of Information and Broadcasting, a job that wasn’t especially prominent. In January 1966, Shastri visited Tashkent and had a sudden violent heart attack, turning blue from a cause that was never discovered. The Congress Party elected Indira as the next prime minister. Yet shortly after stepping into the role, the right wing of the Congress Party challenged her. She won a narrow victory in the 1967 election and had to serve with a deputy prime minister, Moraji Desai, a politician whom she didn’t trust. 

In 1971, she had a strong reelection victory, but there was no time to relax. Trouble was brewing in Eastern Pakistan, where the Bengali-Urdu speaking population wanted to become its own country. These guerilla fighters were aided by Indian troops, at Indira’s direction. India’s invasion of Pakistan resulted in the war finishing quickly and the creation of Bangladesh. This triumph enhanced Gandhi’s image and led her New Congress Party to a landslide victory in national elections in 1972. However, India’s food shortages, price inflation and regional disputes made the next few years challenging. A rival politician with his own party argued that she’d been fraudulently elected in the 1975 election. 

Indira declared a state of emergency, giving herself great powers to arrest political opponents and suspend a free press. During this time, her younger son Sanjay assumed a large role in her government and directed a mass sterilization of India’s rural poor. When Indira finally ended the emergency and agreed to hold a new election, she lost to the rival Janata Party. A trial followed in which she was convicted of corruption and briefly imprisoned. But soon thereafter, the rival party fell apart, and she ran for prime minister on the Congress party ticket in 1980, winning again. Nobody had called her a dumb doll for years. Her nickname had become Iron Lady.

Learning steps from folk dancers

 

Indira Gandhi seemed blessed with election magic. Yet her very difficult challenge in the 1980s was the rise of Sikh separatists in the state of Punjab. India She ordered the army to storm a holy site, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where Sikh militants were believed to be staying. The resulting carnage was not forgiven, and in 1984, one of her personal bodyguards, a Sikh who was sympathetic to the militants, shot her to death while she was taking a morning stroll through her beautiful garden. 

As things stand, the incumbent president, Joe Biden, will run again on the top of the Democratic ticket. And I don’t expect any of the possible women candidates for president this year will have such a wild, and ultimately tragic, political story. 

But still . . . 

Note the ways that Indira Gandhi and Kamala Harris are similar. Both grew up with significant childhood independence, and they became fluent in multiple cultures, given their connections to different countries and religons. They became activists in young adulthood, and they selected husbands with different religions. And these husbands weren’t the ones who gave them assistance in their careers; father-figure politicians who played a role. 

Sometimes a preponderance of small advantages can add up to possibility. But in 2024, will the chance be there? 

Thanks to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust for all photos used in this essay

AID TO AFRICA: Does it do any good?

Wed--Kwei

Does aid to Africa do any good?

Vice-President Kamala Harris landed in Ghana on Sunday March 26 at the start of a weeklong trip to the African continent. On her trip, Harris said she wants to promote "increasing investments," the "economic empowerment" of women, girls and young businesspeople, "digital inclusion" and food security in light of mounting challenges from climate change.

But all this in the face of China’s grip on Africa. Biden’s administration wants to re-engage the mighty continent in opposition to China’s foothold, but the attempt is probably too little too late. All over the continent, the Chinese build roads, dams, railways, bore-holes for villages, and they take over African cobalt and gold mines. Their reputation for ignoring human rights is legendary. Not to put too fine a point, they really don’t care. 

Following the usual MO of visits to Africa by western leaders, VP Harris promised $100 million in "aid to the region” (primarily security against terrorism) and the Biden administration is asking for another $139 million from Congress to "help Ghana reduce child labor, improve weather forecasting, support local musicians and defend against disease outbreaks.” Wait. Did you say improve weather forecasting and support local musicians? Simply knowing Ghana, weather forecasting is not going to improve (what do you need that for anyway in a tropical country?) and local musicians are not going to be supported, but the politicians will laugh all the way to the bank.

Why does Africa even need aid?

The history of aid to African countries dates back to the colonial era, when European powers provided assistance to their colonies in the form of infrastructure, education, and health programs. After African countries gained independence in the 1960s, aid continued to flow in from the West, with a focus on development projects such as dams, roads, and other infrastructure. China has largely replaced the West in that regard. Below I’ve listed some of the “pros”of aid with a rebuttal (in italics) for each.

1. Humanitarian assistance: Foreign aid can provide essential resources and support in the face of natural disasters, conflict, or other crises. It can save lives, alleviate suffering, and help people rebuild their communities.  During epidemic outbreaks like Ebola, this was certainly important, but eradication of disease in Africa has always been tied to politics and regional security, including the WHO and MSF (Doctors Without Borders). Medical aid frequently lauds the work of American and European doctors while ignoring the efforts of local physicians.
2. Economic growth: Foreign aid can help stimulate economic growth by providing resources for infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and other key sectors. But does it really? If a western government gives an African country aid but none of it goes to local farms and manufacturing, then where is the growth? Trickle-down economics doesn’t work here either.
3. Poverty reduction: Aid can help reduce poverty by directly providing resources to the poor, supporting social safety nets, and enabling access to education and healthcare.  There’s no evidence that aid helps reduce poverty to any significant extent in Africa. In fact, doling out aid can keep the recipients nations in endless poverty. French West Africa is a good example.
4. Capacity building: Foreign aid can contribute to strengthening local institutions and building capacity in areas like governance, public health, and environmental management. How? If there’s no political will at the ground level, there’s little point in receiving financial aid.
5. Technology and knowledge transfer: Aid can facilitate the transfer of technology, expertise, and knowledge from developed countries to African countries, promoting innovation and development. Africa always pays the price when it asks for aid, whether it’s in the form of technology, expertise or anything else.

The true effects of foreign aid

1. Dependency: Dependence on foreign aid can potentially undermine the self-reliance and self-sufficiency of African countries, making them vulnerable to the whims of donor nations. Begging is what African governments do best. It’s now a conditioned response. Meanwhile, the national debt of many countries continues to burgeon. Ghana’s was about $65 billion in 2021, about 82% of its GDP.
2. Corruption and mismanagement: This is the biggest problem. It’s a fact: foreign aid is misused or misallocated all the time due to corruption or poor governance, limiting its impact on poverty reduction and development.
3. Ineffectiveness: the effectiveness of aid in promoting long-term economic growth is very questionable and I would venture to say, totally unproved. Aid can actually hinder development by distorting local markets and discouraging domestic investments.
4. Foreign aid can be used as a tool for exerting political influence, as donor countries may attach conditions to the aid they provide, potentially compromising the sovereignty of recipient countries.
5. Lack of local ownership: In some cases, foreign aid projects may be designed and implemented without adequately considering local needs, priorities, and cultural context, which can lead to unsustainable or inappropriate interventions. It’s not uncommon when you visit a country like Ghana to see projects that are unfinished because a new government is in power.       

Bottom line

The effectiveness and impact of foreign aid in Africa depend on factors like the type of aid, the intentions of the donors, the quality of governance in recipient countries, and the specific context in which aid is provided. But like Moyo Dambisa, as well-intentioned as it may appear, much of aid is a bad idea. And I still can’t get over the improving weather forecasting.

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