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Regular version of the site

Public lecture of Indian Ambassador Pankaj Saran at HSE

Ambassador of India to Russia Pankaj Saran gave a public lecture at Higher School of Economics on 6th of March.  His speech was dedicated to “ New Trends in National Politics of India”. Students and professors of HSE, including Public Policy department representatives, attended the meeting.

Among major trends in modern Indian politics, Saran mentioned new non-dynastic political forces coming on stage, consolidation of democratic institutions, and the growing political role of youth in India. H.E. Ambassador stressed the importance of strength of federation in India, rise of regional parties and the developing role of the center 'integrating the country according to the Constitution'. 

Pankaj Saran touched the question of changing of national elites as a result of 'the last big social revolution of the early 1990-s, when the whole caste system was thrown up to political discourse'. He also spoke of the regional languages in India becoming stronger, the rise of Indian middle class and politics of entitlement to economic emancipation for different castes. 'Whatever you see in political space is simply a reflection of ground realities, and the reality on the ground is that India is highly plural, highly diverse society,' Saran concluded. 

During Q&A session Public Policy department students asked Indian Ambassador questions related to their research interests. Public lecture was followed by group photo with H.E. Pankaj Saran.