India is the world’s largest democracy with a population of over 1.21 billion people, and growing. With an impressive population it faces constant challenges of poverty, development and most critically, environmentalism.
But India, as a country in transition, has a positive and optimistic attitude about its own future. With a burgeoning middle class and a wealth of entrepreneurs, India is set to be at the forefront of the international system.
However, what is really driving change in this vast country and what sort of ‘New India’ will emerge in the years to come?
Join us at the Frontline Club to discuss the rise of India and where it might be heading.
Moderated by Shahzeb Jillani, South Asia Editor at BBC World Service News. He was previously Editor of BBC Urdu service leading the radio coverage to Urdu listeners in India after which he was based in Washington as South Asia reporter covering the US-India nuclear deal.
With:
Oliver Balch, travel writer and author of India Rising: Tales from a Changing Nation.
Dr Ruth Kattumuri, Co-Director of the India Observatory and Asia Research Centre at LSE. A centre for research and programmes related to India’s economy, society and politics. Her research interests include growth, inclusion and development. She is also involved in research on climate change and environmental sustainability.
Abhik Sen, Managing Editor for business and management research at The Economist Group. He was previously editor of multimedia and interactive content at Bloomberg and has also edited an international daily newspaper headquartered in India.
Robert Wallis, a member of the Panos photo agency, he has documented countries undergoing rapid social and economic change, from the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union to developments in 21st century China and India. His recent work focuses on the dark side of “Shining India”- a term coined by the Indian government to project the positive side of India’s rapid industrialisation.
Picture credit: Oliver Balch
