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Monday’s newspapers presented the readers two snapshots – one from Patna, and other from Ahmedabad – of Old India, now renamed Naya Bharat. India is growing and progressing, but only at the ‘Hindu’ rate of change.

Dispatches from Patna give details of the democratic coronation of Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant, as the new rising star of the Janata Dal (United). Informed speculation indicates that the not so young Nishant could be tapped on the shoulder to join the new Bihar cabinet, may be even as Deputy Chief Minister. The coronation ceremony was replete with elephants, camels, horses, drums and dancing; senior JD(U) leaders were reported as having detected in the hitherto unknown, untested and unwilling son the qualities of a potential king. Nishant will give company to Tejashwi Yadav and Chirag Paswan in Bihar’s family-centric political stage. Family politics in dynastic grammar, so very familiar in Old India, persists.

From Ahmedabad, we had images of Union home minister Amit Shah giving a congratulatory hug to his son, Jay Shah, after India won the T20 final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium. We cannot be sure if this was just a father-son duo rejoicing at India’s ‘historic’ win, or a powerful public figure basking in the glory of his son’s “achievement.” Jay Shah is counted as among the most powerful movers and shakers of Indian cricket, the only game we are rather good at, and, the........

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