India, Nov. 10 -- The Mamdani moment is real! New York, the hub of capitalism, has chosen a democratic socialist! Though his win is local, its echo is very much global. As a young Muslim and the first South Asian mayor of New York, his victory has broken several moulds that were thought to be immutable. He ran on a clear platform - rent relief, free buses, universal childcare, and higher taxes on the wealthy. That program energised urban voters and a broad coalition of volunteers.

Across the world, cynical progressives now have evidence that change is possible. Grassroots organising still moves politics, not only the corporates. Parties on the left feel a new latitude. They can press for bolder social policy and still win. Nonetheless, t...