Dr. Shashi Tharoor

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.

I do believe that we are going through a certain churn in our politics. You're quite right that it's reminiscent in many ways of what we're seeing around the world. The same degree of xenophobia and rejection of the people not like us kind of thing that you've seen in the U.S., in Brexit in Britain, in Hungary, in Erdogan's Turkey and so on.

I do believe that we are going through a certain churn in our politics. You're quite right that it's reminiscent in many ways of what we're seeing around the world. The same degree of xenophobia and rejection of the people not like us kind of thing that you've seen in the U.S., in Brexit in Britain, in Hungary, in Erdogan's Turkey and so on.

I do believe that we are going through a certain churn in our politics. You're quite right that it's reminiscent in many ways of what we're seeing around the world. The same degree of xenophobia and rejection of the people not like us kind of thing that you've seen in the U.S., in Brexit in Britain, in Hungary, in Erdogan's Turkey and so on.

Right across the world, there have been a lot of these tendencies and we're seeing it rising in many parts of liberal Western Europe with the rise of AFD in Germany or the equivalent party in Austria. There have been suddenly elements given a free reign to say we are more authentic representatives of the country than these people who worship foreign gods and speak foreign tongues.

Right across the world, there have been a lot of these tendencies and we're seeing it rising in many parts of liberal Western Europe with the rise of AFD in Germany or the equivalent party in Austria. There have been suddenly elements given a free reign to say we are more authentic representatives of the country than these people who worship foreign gods and speak foreign tongues.

Right across the world, there have been a lot of these tendencies and we're seeing it rising in many parts of liberal Western Europe with the rise of AFD in Germany or the equivalent party in Austria. There have been suddenly elements given a free reign to say we are more authentic representatives of the country than these people who worship foreign gods and speak foreign tongues.

And that sort of thing, I'm afraid, is what has also been rising in India. But I do believe that liberal, pluralist, humane values have not been snuffed out. We're going to continue to keep them aloft in my country.

And that sort of thing, I'm afraid, is what has also been rising in India. But I do believe that liberal, pluralist, humane values have not been snuffed out. We're going to continue to keep them aloft in my country.

And that sort of thing, I'm afraid, is what has also been rising in India. But I do believe that liberal, pluralist, humane values have not been snuffed out. We're going to continue to keep them aloft in my country.

Look, I don't think the US would be better off with one or the other kind of group in India. I think that the US, this particular administration may be equally comfortable with people of that persuasion, whereas arguably someone like Bill Clinton or Barack Obama would not have been comfortable with a more explicitly sectarian Indian government.

Look, I don't think the US would be better off with one or the other kind of group in India. I think that the US, this particular administration may be equally comfortable with people of that persuasion, whereas arguably someone like Bill Clinton or Barack Obama would not have been comfortable with a more explicitly sectarian Indian government.

Look, I don't think the US would be better off with one or the other kind of group in India. I think that the US, this particular administration may be equally comfortable with people of that persuasion, whereas arguably someone like Bill Clinton or Barack Obama would not have been comfortable with a more explicitly sectarian Indian government.

In fact, Obama made a famous speech in Delhi calling for greater religious tolerance at a time when Mr. Modi's government was still pretty new. So there is a difference, yes, in your domestic politics between a more liberal government and a government that considers itself more conservative.

In fact, Obama made a famous speech in Delhi calling for greater religious tolerance at a time when Mr. Modi's government was still pretty new. So there is a difference, yes, in your domestic politics between a more liberal government and a government that considers itself more conservative.

In fact, Obama made a famous speech in Delhi calling for greater religious tolerance at a time when Mr. Modi's government was still pretty new. So there is a difference, yes, in your domestic politics between a more liberal government and a government that considers itself more conservative.

But ultimately, I still would like to believe, David, that this relationship is above and beyond that, that if tomorrow a more liberal Indian dispensation came to power, that there would still be enough forces in America that would want to preserve a good relationship with it. One factor, undoubtedly, is the extraordinary influence of the Indian American diaspora.

But ultimately, I still would like to believe, David, that this relationship is above and beyond that, that if tomorrow a more liberal Indian dispensation came to power, that there would still be enough forces in America that would want to preserve a good relationship with it. One factor, undoubtedly, is the extraordinary influence of the Indian American diaspora.

But ultimately, I still would like to believe, David, that this relationship is above and beyond that, that if tomorrow a more liberal Indian dispensation came to power, that there would still be enough forces in America that would want to preserve a good relationship with it. One factor, undoubtedly, is the extraordinary influence of the Indian American diaspora.

It's now 3.4 million strong, which is a good 1% of your population, heading a little above 1%. And these are people with a tremendous contribution being made to America. They have the largest single median income of any ethnic group, higher than Japanese Americans, higher than white Americans. They're making significant contributions in a number of cutting-edge sectors.