Is West following Eastern Trends?

The ascendence of Barak H. Obama to power in the US is being hailed globally as a political and sociological landmark. A person from the depressed and deprived section of American society has "cracked the code". A great historic moment.

But similar social breakthroughs have occurred in the last 2 decades on the smaller and less signicant and hence less noticeable canvas of states in North India. About half a dozen Chief Ministers from parallel deprived sections of a caste-ridden India society have upset political history and predictions from 1989 onwards. Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati, Kalyan Singh,Nitish Kumar are the personae ruling a large and important part of India since 1989.

But there are many other similarities. An explosive burst of enthusiasm greeted each of these winners. Their social class celebrated long and vigourously. Huge rallies attended the swearing in ("inauguration"). Significantly, money power played a critical role in the change of fortunes. Donations in the US broke all records. Cash collections through dubious means provided the same money-muscle in India. While Obama is trying a non-bipartisan experiment in the US, Mayawati tries out her "sarvjan hitai"(welfare for all) in North India. There are many differences too, but these similarities could be holding a warning for the dangers that could be lurking around the corner.

In India,the emergence of these new power centers led to creation of caucuses isolating the leaders from public opinion. It also led to a reactionary consolidation in opposing social segments. Both caused a quick erosion of the original goodwill and support for the leader. In India, they generally lost the next elections but later again returned to power due to similar mistakes by those who had defeated them.

Is there a lesson for the Obama Team in these events on little known parts of India?