Acche Din? Not for BJP's Gujarat campaign
December 11, 2017 11:03
Who would have thought that something Mani Shankar Aiyar said would become an issue, and perhaps THE issue, of a Gujarat election?
I certainly did not and nor do I think it is an issue of the size in Gujarat that people think outside it is.
When I heard about the scandalous remark, I checked my Gujarati dictionary, which translates 'neech' as 'dusht'. The English translations are 'wicked', 'vile' and 'mean'.
Should Aiyar have used the word? No: Political debate, and all debate must be civil. But does it have a meaning that links it to caste? No.
Aakar Patel on oonch and neech of political debate.Do read his column on Rediff.com here.
I certainly did not and nor do I think it is an issue of the size in Gujarat that people think outside it is.
When I heard about the scandalous remark, I checked my Gujarati dictionary, which translates 'neech' as 'dusht'. The English translations are 'wicked', 'vile' and 'mean'.
Should Aiyar have used the word? No: Political debate, and all debate must be civil. But does it have a meaning that links it to caste? No.
Aakar Patel on oonch and neech of political debate.Do read his column on Rediff.com here.
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