We both took EPIIC this past year, which looked at “Order and Chaos” around the globe, with an emphasis second semester on the rise of populism. We became interested in understanding what this meant in India, and in looking what accounted for the rise of the BJP.
We started the morning, like we have every day this week, with a steaming cup of chai and a bun makhan from the local street stall. Fifty rupees, or 78 cents, is enough for a Lucknow breakfast. Often, we are asked where we are from. When we answer “America”, some people’s eyes light up as they reply “ah, America!” and extend a hand to shake, some tell us they wish to go someday, and some simply ask “Donald Trump?”
