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On Barack Obama

Keeping aside centuries-old racial prejudices, Americans created history by electing the first African-American as President. Barack Obama will have to muster all the resources at his command to demonstrate qualities of leadership. The whole world will watch him as he sets out on the path of restoring his country’s position as the world’s superpower. His election is both a challenge and an opportunity.

C.K. Sardana,

Bhopal

Let us hope the Obama effect will help the world overcome the divisions of caste, class, community and region. Let us also hope it will inspire our voters to look beyond narrow considerations and vote for those who display sincerity and commitment towards effective and inclusive governance.

Gunjeet Kaur,

Bikaner

While it took centuries for the developed and enlightened nation to usher in a change, some of the much younger democracies have proved to be much more progressive in breaking the barriers of gender, religion, and race. While Great Britain elected Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in 1979 after Sir Robert Walpole became the first Prime Minister in 1721, Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first woman Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 1960. Indira Gandhi was elected India’s Prime Minister in 1966. Bangladesh, a nation formed in 1971, has seen two women Prime Ministers. In Pakistan too, Benazir Bhutto was elected Prime Minister twice.

The countries that are in the forefront of giving sermons on human rights and gender equality are not necessarily in the forefront of practising what they preach.

Fasih Rahman,

St. John’s, Newfoundland

Mr. Obama’s election has caused worldwide excitement. But in India, it seems to have assumed bizarre proportions. The people are agitated over his phone call (or the lack of it) to our Prime Minister, his views on Kashmir and business outsourcing, his inclusion of a person with RSS background in his transition team and so on.

The media response is even more amusing. There is a scramble to locate our own Obamas oblivious of the fact that Barack Obama is a product of a unique political environment and democratic system. Mr. Obama may be good for the U.S. and the world. What India requires is indigenous political solution to suit its needs.

K. Subramanian,

New Delhi

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