I doubt one American in ten would know what a chit was. As far as I can recall I haven’t heard it from anyone except Indians and Brits since I left the UK.
Also, I know you know this, but just as a matter of public record, it was an electorate 815 million 
Yeah, yeah, I just didn’t feel like looking up the actual number. I’m a little surprised that much of the population is of voting age.
Yeah, India’s fertility rate(2.6 or so) is now coming quite near the replacement(2.1), so the population of children is close to stabilising.
It’s even closer than that. 2.1 is replacement level for development countries, in poor countries it’s generally higher (because of higher child death rates). I don’t know exactly what it is for India, but presumably higher.
The depressing thing is there is so much variation among states: Bihar has around twice the fertility rate (based on the published statistics) as the least fertile states. The states with the highest birth rates are precisely the same ones which are already the least functional and have the most social problems.
You are correct. I’m unable to find what India’s replacement rate would be with its under 5 mortality rate of around 50, and unwilling to do the math. A rough estimate is around 2.3
Yeah, but that’s a pretty established correlation in development circles. The more backwards and poor the area you live in, the more kids you have.
IIRC ,in Leon Uris ’ * Battle Cry * a disgruntled Marine was advised to apply for a TS (tough shit ) chit from the chaplain …“or toughski shitski as we say in the Russian Marines ,”:
Thoughts from one of Modi’s main political opponents, senior MP of the Congress party, author and former UN deputy secretary general Shashi Tharoor.
The conversation has moved on a lot since I last had time to read and respond to this thread, but that’s an interesting article, and I wanted to swing by to say that it seems that, so far, my reservations appear to be have been unfounded. Modi is certainly striking a surprisingly centrist note, quite different from all the strident campaign rhetoric - but 5 years is a long time in politics or any other field. I’m trying to keep an open mind.
He’s certainly been striking a conciliatory tone towards political opponents(and to some limited extent in foreign policy) that is markedly different from his campaign, which was very combative. But in terms of policy/philosophy, I haven’t seen a difference in his views as presented through the campaign and after victory. The campaign was entirely centrist too. Of course these are early days, and it’s important to wait and see. There’s been some minor kerfluffle in Maharashtra of late(though the state government is run by the Congress) where a Muslim was beaten up by extremist Hindus and later died.
I’ve always liked Shashi Tharoor, and even though he is limited by his role in what he can say, I’m impressed that he’s expressed the sentiments he has. Right from the election results he’s repeatedly stressed the things he likes about what Modi has been saying, and has been very fair in his statements, which cannot be said for a lot of people (I’m looking at you NYT). It is tougher to be magnanimous in loss than in victory, and it makes me happy that he’s been doing it.
I’ve been following the first few days of the Modi government with interest, and while he has clearly got a desire to shake things up and get on with his agenda, there are quiet rumblings that have me concerned.
Two things in particular strike me as being slightly worrying. One is the sudden anti-NGO attitude that seems to have become widespread, seemingly overnight. Anything that’s not focussed on development seems to have become all but treasonous, and that concerns me a lot. I don’t deny that India needs development very quickly, but to ignore human rights and environmental factors is not the way to go about it. The government doesn’t seem to want to tolerate any dissent or even oversight of their policies, and this sudden lashing out has me worried that there’s more in the near future.
Equally worrying is the sudden tendency of the police to target anyone on social media who makes any sort of critical comment or satirical statement about Modi himself. India has plenty of politicians who have created a dictatorial personality cult, but this is taking things to extremes. The authoritarianism on display here doesn’t reflect the actions of a moderate, inclusive leader.
Early zeal that will be tempered in time? I certainly hope so, but I’m sceptical. There needs to be space for dissent and free speech, even if it’s distasteful or satirical or plain mockery. There also needs to be critical oversight of government policy, and I don’t think that’s something that can be supplied by the mechanics of Indian politics alone. NGOs who highlight environmental and human rights issues are essential to keeping things in check.