Dr. Shashi Tharoor

Okay. So first of all, as far as India is concerned, I mean, this is a battle we fight daily on our own soil. And I have been, I hope I'm acknowledged as being a very strong voice against sectarian tendencies in our politics. I believe strongly and passionately.

Okay. So first of all, as far as India is concerned, I mean, this is a battle we fight daily on our own soil. And I have been, I hope I'm acknowledged as being a very strong voice against sectarian tendencies in our politics. I believe strongly and passionately.

Okay. So first of all, as far as India is concerned, I mean, this is a battle we fight daily on our own soil. And I have been, I hope I'm acknowledged as being a very strong voice against sectarian tendencies in our politics. I believe strongly and passionately.

that every Indian has the same rights as every other Indian and that their religion, their language, their ethnicity, their color, the region or the state they come from have absolutely no bearing on their rights as an Indian and their contributions to this great country.

that every Indian has the same rights as every other Indian and that their religion, their language, their ethnicity, their color, the region or the state they come from have absolutely no bearing on their rights as an Indian and their contributions to this great country.

that every Indian has the same rights as every other Indian and that their religion, their language, their ethnicity, their color, the region or the state they come from have absolutely no bearing on their rights as an Indian and their contributions to this great country.

And in many ways, my notion of Indianness is comparable to most Americans' idea of civic nationalism in America, where you all belong and you're sheltered by this collective identity. You can be Jewish, you can be whatever, Californian, you could be Hungarian speaking, whatever, but you are American. who you are because being American makes it possible. And it's the same for us in India.

And in many ways, my notion of Indianness is comparable to most Americans' idea of civic nationalism in America, where you all belong and you're sheltered by this collective identity. You can be Jewish, you can be whatever, Californian, you could be Hungarian speaking, whatever, but you are American. who you are because being American makes it possible. And it's the same for us in India.

And in many ways, my notion of Indianness is comparable to most Americans' idea of civic nationalism in America, where you all belong and you're sheltered by this collective identity. You can be Jewish, you can be whatever, Californian, you could be Hungarian speaking, whatever, but you are American. who you are because being American makes it possible. And it's the same for us in India.

You can be a good Muslim, a good Gujarati and a good Indian all at once because that Indian-ness is what protects your ability to be all of that. And I fought for that idea and I will do so till my last breath. But having said that, When it comes to something like a conflict with Pakistan, it's very interesting how quickly some of these divisions in our internal domestic politics disappears.

You can be a good Muslim, a good Gujarati and a good Indian all at once because that Indian-ness is what protects your ability to be all of that. And I fought for that idea and I will do so till my last breath. But having said that, When it comes to something like a conflict with Pakistan, it's very interesting how quickly some of these divisions in our internal domestic politics disappears.

You can be a good Muslim, a good Gujarati and a good Indian all at once because that Indian-ness is what protects your ability to be all of that. And I fought for that idea and I will do so till my last breath. But having said that, When it comes to something like a conflict with Pakistan, it's very interesting how quickly some of these divisions in our internal domestic politics disappears.

And as I mentioned to you, the striking sight in the daily briefings of an Indian woman military officer who is a Muslim sent a very powerful message both at home and abroad. This is who we are. That's not who we are. Not the guys across the border with their sectarian bigotry. And to my mind, that was actually a very welcome reminder.

And as I mentioned to you, the striking sight in the daily briefings of an Indian woman military officer who is a Muslim sent a very powerful message both at home and abroad. This is who we are. That's not who we are. Not the guys across the border with their sectarian bigotry. And to my mind, that was actually a very welcome reminder.

And as I mentioned to you, the striking sight in the daily briefings of an Indian woman military officer who is a Muslim sent a very powerful message both at home and abroad. This is who we are. That's not who we are. Not the guys across the border with their sectarian bigotry. And to my mind, that was actually a very welcome reminder.

The second paradox, David, is that this government, despite the fact that it has presided over some of the worst tendencies of bigotry and encouraged intolerance within Indian society, it has actually been a remarkably good government when it comes to strengthening India's relations with with the Arab and Muslim world.

The second paradox, David, is that this government, despite the fact that it has presided over some of the worst tendencies of bigotry and encouraged intolerance within Indian society, it has actually been a remarkably good government when it comes to strengthening India's relations with with the Arab and Muslim world.

The second paradox, David, is that this government, despite the fact that it has presided over some of the worst tendencies of bigotry and encouraged intolerance within Indian society, it has actually been a remarkably good government when it comes to strengthening India's relations with with the Arab and Muslim world.

It's quite astonishing to see, for example, the closeness of India's relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Egypt, all of which have never been better. And it's striking that's happening on the watch of a government that domestically has been rightly criticized for some of its statements and actions with regard to the Muslim minority. So there is hope yet.

It's quite astonishing to see, for example, the closeness of India's relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Egypt, all of which have never been better. And it's striking that's happening on the watch of a government that domestically has been rightly criticized for some of its statements and actions with regard to the Muslim minority. So there is hope yet.