To President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission, they are "these populist, nationalists, stupid nationalists… in love with their own countries."

Well, "stupid" they may be, and, yes, they do love their countries, but last week they gave Juncker a thrashing, as they shook up the West and the world.

Elections in the world's largest electoral blocs — the 28-nation EU, and an India of 1.3 billion people — showed that the tide of nationalism continues to rise and spread across Europe and Asia.

In India, the Hindu Nationalist BJP party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a smashing victory. So strong was Modi's showing that he rushed to reassure non-Hindus, especially India's 200 million Muslims, that they remain equal citizens. But in India the Hindu hour is at hand.