Most Indians are unaware that Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump’s chief strategist and member of his national security council, is not only the most powerful person in the White House today but he is also a great admirer of the Bhagavad Gita. Bannon is militarily inclined and believes in waging a holy war against Islam “to establish dharma in the world”. His long-time collaborator Julia Jones says, “He used to talk a lot about dharma — he felt very strongly about dharma… one of the strongest principles throughout the Gita.”

We are in the midst of another election season in India, and each time a poll rolls around, I get depressed at the thought that we are about to elect criminals, corrupt populists, and members of political dynasties rather than upright, independent, reform-minded liberals.

2016 was a dreadful year and it is a relief that it's over. The values I cherish most took a profound battering. As a classic liberal, I want equal rights for all; I reject racial and caste discrimination; I revere religious freedom; I seek a free economy based on competition; and I uphold dissent. These beliefs have been undermined by Donald Trump's election in America, Britain's exit from Europe, and rising racism, intolerance and nationalism in the world, including in India where Narendra Modi has made his first big mistake with ill-considered notebandi.

नोटबंदी के तीन हफ्ते बाद आम आदमी की जिंदगी में तकलीफ, आर्थिक गतिविधियों में सुस्ती और कई क्षेत्रों में नौकरियां जाने की खबरें दिखने लगी हैं। अगली दो तिमाही में अर्थव्यवस्था दो प्रतिशत अंक से सिकुड़ जाएगी- राष्ट्रीय संपदा का यह बहुत बड़ा नुकसान है। लेकिन अब पीछे हटने की कोई गुंजाइश नहीं है। आइए, देखें कि नरेंद्र मोदी नोटबंदी को बचाकर कैसे कालेधन वाले भ्रष्टाचार के स्रोत खत्म कर सकते हैं।