- The speaker discusses the recent Indian election and describes it as exciting.
- The election was between Narendra Modi, a tea seller with humble origins, and Rahul Gandhi, from a political dynasty.
- In previous elections, there were no common themes, but this time the focus was on growth and good governance.
- Modi appealed to the aspirational middle class who wanted infrastructure and economic growth rather than government subsidies.
- The Indian dream is similar to the American dream, which is the idea of upward mobility.
- The speaker suggests watching an extended version of the interview online.

John Oliver and Fareed Zakaria discuss Narendra Modi's recent victory in India's record-breaking election.

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APPLAUSE Fareed, thank you so much for being here.

We felt we were kind of inherently invited in some way.

LAUGHTER That's basically the excuse of the British Empire.

This was an amazing election, and it's been described, the result, as either an exciting or a frightening time for Indians.

Here's this guy, Modi, the son of a tea seller, himself, you know, sold tea, really humble origins, extraordinary, disciplined politician, running against a political dynasty really like no other in the world.

I mean, this is Rahul Gandhi, the guy he was sort of running against, as, for prime minister.

His great-grandfather was prime minister.

It would be like Chelsea Clinton's fetus having a child and then running

LAUGHTER But everything about this election was different from normal.

There's a great bit in 1 of your old books where you point out about Indian elections, Indian elections are not really national elections at all.

They are rather simultaneous regional and local elections that have no common theme.

This changed, and in a fascinating way, sir.

Rather than regional elections, what you ended up with was 1 big national issue.

And the Congress Party, the old ruling party, ran on really the default message that every third world ruling party runs on, which is we're going to give you subsidies.

And we're going to give you subsidies because you're poor, you're entitled to them.

This guy said, I'm going to run on growth and good governance.

I'm not going to give you anything for free.

I'm going to try to get good roads, good electricity.

And what he banked on, what he bet on, was that in India now, which is still a very poor country, there is an aspirational middle class that doesn't want to be handed government subsidies, but wants, you know, the infrastructure and the good governance that just produces economic growth.

That's interesting you say that, because the Times of India had a really interesting editorial yesterday where they referred to him selling the Indian dream packaging the Indian dream to people and We know the American dream is clear.

It's catching something from a t-shirt cannon What what exactly What exactly is the Indian dream?

Is it just the concept of upward mobility?

Yeah, you know, the truth is that when you hear about this, whether it's the Indian dream or the Chinese dream, they're all really just the American dream.

The American dream was the idea that you will do better than your parents.

Just as it's catching on everywhere else, it's imploding here at home.

Why does every analogy you use have to be so appallingly negative?

Because This is a much bigger discussion we have time to get into here.

As long as there are a couple more photographs you're going to post.

LAUGHTER The worst thing is, I actually have 1 worse than that, and I chickened out.

If you want to watch an extended version of this interview online, go here.

We are off next week, but we will return the following Sunday.


Speaker 0: APPLAUSE Fareed, thank you so much for being here. Let's talk India. You were born there. My people were temporary custodians.

Speaker 1: LAUGHTER This is... Temporary self-appointed custodians. Let's just be

Speaker 0: clear. We felt we were kind of inherently invited in some way. LAUGHTER That's basically the excuse of the British Empire. I'm sure you were... It was lost in the post.

Yeah, exactly. This was an amazing election, and it's been described, the result, as either an exciting or a frightening time for Indians. Which is it?

Speaker 1: It's mostly exciting. It is. I think you're absolutely right. It's an amazing election. Here's this guy, Modi, the son of a tea seller, himself, you know, sold tea, really humble origins, extraordinary, disciplined politician, running against a political dynasty really like no other in the world.

I mean, this is Rahul Gandhi, the guy he was sort of running against, as, for prime minister. His father was prime minister. His grandmother was prime minister. His great-grandfather was prime minister. It would be like Chelsea Clinton's fetus having a child and then running

Speaker 0: for president. Oh, my God! Does it have to be like that? Could it not be a different image? LAUGHTER But everything about this election was different from normal.

There's a great bit in 1 of your old books where you point out about Indian elections, Indian elections are not really national elections at all. They are rather simultaneous regional and local elections that have no common theme. But this changed this time, doesn't it? He has a huge mandate.

Speaker 1: This changed, and in a fascinating way, sir. Rather than regional elections, what you ended up with was 1 big national issue. And the Congress Party, the old ruling party, ran on really the default message that every third world ruling party runs on, which is we're going to give you subsidies. It's a kind of socialism in action. And we're going to give you subsidies because you're poor, you're entitled to them.

This guy said, I'm going to run on growth and good governance. I'm not going to give you anything for free. I'm going to try to get good roads, good electricity. And what he banked on, what he bet on, was that in India now, which is still a very poor country, there is an aspirational middle class that doesn't want to be handed government subsidies, but wants, you know, the infrastructure and the good governance that just produces economic growth.

Speaker 0: Right. That's interesting you say that, because the Times of India had a really interesting editorial yesterday where they referred to him selling the Indian dream packaging the Indian dream to people and We know the American dream is clear. It's catching something from a t-shirt cannon What what exactly What exactly is the Indian dream? Is it just the concept of upward mobility?

Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, the truth is that when you hear about this, whether it's the Indian dream or the Chinese dream, they're all really just the American dream. The American dream was the idea that you will do better than your parents.

Speaker 0: We franchised it. Exactly.

Speaker 1: That's it. But it's like a supernova. Just as it's catching on everywhere else, it's imploding here at home.

Speaker 0: Right? It's like... Why do you... Why does every analogy you use have to be so appallingly negative?

Speaker 1: This is HBO.

Speaker 0: That's true. That's true.

Speaker 1: We're testing the limits.

Speaker 0: That's right. It's not TV. It's appallingly negative. That's basically... Do you...

Do you... Can you stick around to talk online? Because This is a much bigger discussion we have time to get into here.

Speaker 1: As long as there are a couple more photographs you're going to post.

Speaker 0: LAUGHTER The worst thing is, I actually have 1 worse than that, and I chickened out. But, er... If you want to watch an extended version of this interview online, go here. Fareed Zakaria, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining us.

We are off next week, but we will return the following Sunday. Have a fantastic 2 weeks. Good night. Good night. Good night.

Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Thank you.

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Fareed Zakaria Interview Pt. 1: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)