‘Departure from slavery of Western thought’: India’s finance minister ditches ‘colonial’ briefcase

[CHN Bamboo]

While presenting her maiden budget to parliament, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made an important symbolic gesture, ditching the usual English-style briefcase in favor of a traditional Indian bright-red ledger.

Sitharaman arrived at parliament on Friday with the country’s yearly budget in a four-fold red cloth ledger called a ‘bahi-khata’, in honor of the book-keeping practices of traditional Indian businessmen. While the change in carrying cases may seem minuscule, for many it represents a shift toward self-reliance in Indian society, ongoing since the country officially achieved independence in 1947.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1147023748110798848

Sitharaman’s chief economic adviser, Krishnamurthy Subramanian, said the ledger is an “Indian tradition,” and “symbolises our departure from the slavery of Western thought.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1147005266199638016

The now discarded briefcase had been adorned with the queen’s moniker even post-independence, whereas Sitharaman’s ledger sports the national emblem of India.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1147015794313723904

The symbolic swap caused a lot of stir on social media, with many supporting the gesture, while others mocked her for not going all the way in her rejection of “symbols” of British rule.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1147027319971876865

The budget proposal is the first of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term in office after sweeping elections in May. It includes several much-needed reforms to India’s troubled economy, including housing measures for the middle class, incentives for new businesses, and resources for infrastructure projects.

The ledger wasn’t the only sign of progress during the presentation of the budget on Friday. Sitharaman is also the country’s first full-time female finance minister, only sharing the position in any regard with Indira Gandhi, who doubled as finance minister while serving as prime minister in the early 1970s.

https://www.rt.com/news/463474-india-finance-minister-ditches-briefcase/

---

Good news for India.

 

[Lincoln]

Out of literally all the things that the British have left behind, most importantly the systems and structures which are a symbol of their power in the past... you ditched a briefcase.

 

[Zhukov]

Cant you put a carrying handle or strap to this Bahi-Khata thingy? Thats pretty Impracticable to hold if it contains a lot of things compared to a briefcase.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Bekar ki bakchodi. Nothing else to show for themselves, so change a damn briefcase. And yes, it needs a damn handle.

 

[d00od00o]

Is democracy not a western thought too?

 

[Kaniska]

Cant you put a carrying handle or strap to this Bahi-Khata thingy? Thats pretty Impracticable to hold if it contains a lot of things compared to a briefcase.

These are just useless show up by our Gov..It is not like everything of british era is bad...

 

[Nilgiri]

Bekar ki bakchodi. Nothing else to show for themselves, so change a damn briefcase. And yes, it needs a damn handle.

All said and done, the recapitalisation of banks was overdue (FM said this times well with NPA crisis bottoming out), the credit cycle should improve now and that is biggest takeaway of the budget.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

All said and done, the recapitalisation of banks was overdue (FM said this times well with NPA crisis bottoming out), the credit cycle should improve now and that is biggest takeaway of the budget.

That is fine man. But this briefcase stuff is really just for unnecessary show.

 

[SQ8]

Out of literally all the things that the British have left behind, most importantly the systems and structures which are a symbol of their power in the past... you ditched a briefcase.

Its a simple demonstration of how much degradation of intellect misplaced religious extremism takes a progressive nation.

 

[Microsoft]

Good progress by Indian standards seeing that Modi was copying royal family at SCO just days ago.

 

[Chhatrapati]

These are just useless show up by our Gov..It is not like everything of british era is bad...

Just symbolism. No need to make a big deal out of it from either sides.

 

[Nilgiri]

That is fine man. But this briefcase stuff is really just for unnecessary show.

Its fine, I am neutral to it. Can just wrap the budget papers in some twine next time too, idc. But I thought it was nice touch this time to do something little different given FM is also first lady to have as sole portfolio. Found her Tamil verses quite nice too in the presentation.

Ppl can focus on criticizing such small show-stuff things instead of wtf is going on with congress party if they want to though. Then you just get 2019 full repeat in 2024 too.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Ppl can focus on criticizing such small show-stuff things instead of wtf is going on with congress party if they want to though. Then you just get 2019 full repeat in 2024 too.

I am more keen on focusing on the party in power rather than a party which is nowhere at this stage. Even Congress itself can't figure out WTF is going on with them. They are irrelevent right now. The party in power and its actions are relevant.

 

[lightoftruth]

First budget gives you an opportunity to do tough reforms.

This govt is going more socialist than communist themselves.

Disappointing budget.

If you have to ditch something ditch the socialist crap.

 

[Chhatrapati]

First budget gives you an opportunity to do tough reforms.

This govt is going more socialist than communist themselves.

Disappointing budget.

If you have to ditch something ditch the socialist crap.

Kindly elaborate the Socialism in the Budget. I went through the entire Budget and I didn't see anything that has something to do with Socialism. Not many freebies to anyone.