The Oh, Hello and welcome to Behind the News. My name is Doug Henwood. Order is restored.

Two guests today. We'll hear from Siddhar to Deb, author of a new book in The Rise of the

Hindu Right in India, talking among other things

about Norendra Modi's poor showing in the recent elections, and then we'll hear from New

School Professor Sean Jacobs on the ANC's poor showing in the recent South African elections.

Both of today's interviews contain some authentic New York City

ambience.

Sean's from Fort Green, Brooklyn,

Siddhartha's from Harlem, horns and sirens. Nothing like a little authenticity. India held elections

over the six weeks ending on June 1st. It is no simple thing to accommodate 642 million

voters. The country has a parliamentary system, meaning there's no direct election of the head of the government, the prime minister.

In normal times under a parliamentary system, the leader of the party with the majority of seats in the legislative branch becomes the head of government, but this was no normal election.

The ruling party, the BHP, is a frankly fascist formation, committed to Hindu supremacy in the repression of the country's 200 million Muslims.

But the B.J.P. failed to secure a parliamentary majority, much to the surprise of many,

meaning that Modi will have to put together a coalition to remain as Prime Minister.

That will happen, but the resulting government's coherence and strength remain to be seen.

My first guest, Siddhar to Debb, is just out with a timely book,

a collection of essays called Twilight Prisoners,

The Rise of the Hindu Rite in the Fall of India, published by Haymarket Books.

Where did Modi come from?

What are the politics of the B.J.P.

What are he and his party doing to Indian society?

...