Obama win

This letter was published in Deccan Chronicle on 11 Nov 2008

OBAMA'S WIN

The win of Barack Obama in the US has spurred Dalit leaders like Ms.Mayawati to think aloud that India is ready for a Dalit Prime Minister. Mr.Obama won the election not because he played the race card but because Americans considered him the right man for the job. His campaign was inclusive which was why even the whites voted for him.
It will be naive to expect Indian politicians, who thrive on divisive politics to take a stand that they are Indians first and not members of a particular caste. One hopes our politicians learn a lesson from Mr.Obama's victory.
Srikanth Shankar Matrubai