Category Archives: politics
Modi Sarkar: Time to Stand Up and Speak!
Modi campaigning in April 2014
May 2014 – During my last trip to India, Modi had swept through the country like a tsunami emerging as the strong, new leader for the country. Optimism and excitement infused the country, virtually everywhere you looked. Dominating the landscape were supporters saying, I told you so combined with euphoric celebrations and cheering against a silenced, worried and depressed minority.
“Modi Sarkar”* was clearly the new buzz. The country’s problems, major and minor, were all but resolved.
Three months later, I expected that things would not have changed much. Three months is after all no time at all!
I was wrong.
August 2104 – The occasion was a round table of a few high-level executives, luminaries and industry leaders from across India. Prior to a formal meeting, we were sitting at lunch when I asked what I thought was a fairly innocent question – “So, how do you think Modi is doing?”
To a person, all the people around the table were Modi supporters, some of them fervent ones. When I asked the question, I did not really expect anything contentious, just a solid update from intelligent people with informed opinions.
Here are some of the responses I received in the active debate and discussion that ensued:
“Some people are calling Modi another Manmohan Singh. He doesn’t say anything!”
“He’s just not talking, people are losing faith.”
“He needs to have monthly or at least bi-monthly meetings to update everyone”
“Yet, he’s such a good orater, a strong speaker”.
“I think he’s a bit uncomfortable with his English”
…….
“The media is completely left out of the loop; they have nothing to report so the people hear nothing”
“Oh no, but he will making some BIG announcements on August 15th.”
“Yes, he will.”
“He has to!”
…….
“Do you know that just like in Gujarat he has no Press Secretary? That’s not good. He is not ruling one state now.”
“He has made two international trips so far and the Press Corps was not allowed to accompany him. That has never happened before in any government.”
“The Press is how people get information. If they don’t get anything, they will start making up stuff in the name of opinion and it won’t be good.”
…….
“His own Cabinet is too afraid to say anything. Even a trusted adviser like Rajnath Singh!”
“They have been warned not to speak by Modi.”
…….
“Well, I think this is part of his overall strategy and it’s a good one. He’s just biding his time. You just watch, he will make some BIG announcements on August 15**”
“That’s fine, but he can’t keep silent for so long. People need to hear about plans and progress.”
“He needs to give regular briefings – like State of the Nation addresses.”
…….
“Remember, to the common man, the government has changed but in his life, nothing has changed.”
“Modi needs to set (or reset) expectations. People need to know…”
…….
Wow. I was stunned. Remember, it’s been a mere three months! Yet what I heard this time was so different from the euphoria of the last trip.
Isn’t it incredible how impatient people are? And these words were not coming from your everyday “common man” either but from executive level Modi supporters.
At the end of the day, this is all about expectations. There was such optimism and so many huge game-changing, almost God-like expectations from Modi Sarkar. Three months later, people think, hope and feel that “good things” are coming. But they don’t know. They know nothing.
Modi “won” arguably one of the most difficult jobs in the world – to govern a highly complex nation with its own set of unique and massive challenges. He won on the strength of his promises for change, and people’s hope for progress. Hopefully, he will do all that people have expected from him.
But he could sure set a lot of minds at ease with something so small yet completely (deliberately?) overlooked. A little thing called communication.
Ah well, perhaps on August 15, 2014 – just around the corner now (a few hours!) – everything will be A-okay.
Ache din ane wale hai .***
*Modi Sarkar – Modi’s Government, the common moniker in India for this ruling government.
**August 15th is India’s Independence Day and Modi is indeed planning a major speech.
*** Ache din ane wale hai is Hindi for “good days are ahead”, one of Modi’s most popular campaign slogans.
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Photo Credit: By Narendra Modi [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
It’s Modi Sarkar. Get Over It.
I distinctly remember the bumper sticker that I saw quite a few times (living in the South, of course) when George W Bush won his second election. Well, technically that was the first one he won, but it was his second term, remember? It said: W is President, Get Over It! It was aimed squarely at Democrats and liberals. Like moi.
More recently when President Obama was elected (both times!), you could see a bumper sticker that said – “Obama is President, Get Over It, Republicans!“. Memories of this are a bit hazy. My premise is that a painful taunt sticks with you longer than the others. I know this was there, but I don’t remember giving it much thought. After all, it wasn’t meant for me. 🙂
Switch to the Eastern hemisphere.
Still in India, I watched as the dramatic election results unfolded and the expectations of the new Modi government (“Sarkar”) rose. And kept rising. The markets are bullish, the world awaits “India Shining” (again), and most people are behaving like they have won the lottery.
No one can accuse me of being a Modi supporter. He was about the most scary character who had the potential to become the new leader of India. The only one scarier, unfortunately, was his chief opposition, the dynastic heir-in-waiting. Perhaps that accounts for why Modi won such a resounding, no holds barred victory?
Modi campaigning
So, I sit here and contemplate the situation and the future of India (sometimes I wonder why, but that’s a question for another time). My first thought to myself is, get over it. But that’s easier said than done. So, then I wonder – really, what could and what will likely happen under a Modi government?
About the best way to get over something unpleasant is to think of all the positives that could be associated with said situation. At least, that’s what I believe. Either that or hide your head in the sand. Somehow, that prospect doesn’t appeal too much to me.
So, I’ve delved deep into my psyche to unearth the positives of Mr. Modi as the new PM. Actually, not really. I simply reasoned through the situation and his personality, and came up with enough fodder to help my thinking in a different way. See what you think.
The issue with Modi was never whether he could deliver the goods on economic growth or development of India. There was always a good chance that he could – with his unique brand of governance, determination and resolve. His marketing machine certainly gave that impression.
The issues were about whether he believed in secularism and pluralism. It was whether he would ever overcome the reality and perception of his responsibility in the Godhra tragedy, about whether he truly believed in the idea of India’s democracy, and freedom of speech, and whether his agenda was ultimately about Hindu fundamentalism – yes, even this religion based so heavily on the principles of tolerance can apparently be fundamentalist.
But. And it’s a big one! Modi comes across as one of the smartest and most savvy of leaders. How else could he get where he has reached? In addition, he has made his aggressive ambitions clear to everyone. He wanted to be the Prime Minister, leading India into her glorious future, and he got that. But he also does not want anything to stand in the way of many terms of leadership. The only way to guarantee that is to succeed and to succeed rather well.
Therefore. Isn’t he much too smart to fall into any trap? Isn’t his ego much too large to be anything close to what his detractors expect? Doesn’t he want to thumb his nose at all of them and make them simply shut up and eat their words? I say, yes!
Think about it. I believe he is out to prove to everyone how good and great he is and will be for the country. He knows that there is a spotlight shining squarely on him, and that that spotlight is not going anywhere anytime soon. He wants everyone to forget about Godhra and the past, put it behind and move forward.
My postulation therefore is that he will focus on the things that matter to most of the country. That means the agendas for economic progress and development of India, at the cost of any other. He’s got a lot to prove and major expectations to meet.
Case in point. By inviting the Pakistani PM to his swearing-in ceremony, hasn’t he in effect thumbed his nose (rather vigorously) at his detractors (yours truly included)? There’s no denying that it was a remarkably bold, calculating and smooth move on his part.
Get this. Now that Sharif has accepted the invitation, this will be an absolute first in the long and hostile history of India and Pakistan. Methinks that Modi is making a very significant and crucial point to everyone that is watching. He intends to be bold. He intends to be unpredictable. And he intends no missteps that will take anyone back to regurgitate his messy history.
To all the people whose opinions of Modi closely match mine, I say to them – watch, wait, listen and wait some more but ultimately, in India, it is Modi Sarkar, so a wise move would be to really get over it. Even at this early stage, I actually do believe there are some very good reasons we can.
Opinions are free, right? So, here’s mine. Like him or not, there are many qualities of Modi that have the potential to help/save India – he’s just a bit too smart, too proud, too much of a narcissist and too ambitious to fail. And that’s good for the country.
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Finally, I’m certain of one thing – I’d rather be wrong (about all my previous gloomy expectations) than have him fail now. You?
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Updated two days later: There was an article in the papers in India today that was rather disturbing. It didn’t take a lot of newspaper real estate because that was taken over by the Modi swearing-in ceremony planned for this evening. The news was about the arrest of a couple of people in different parts of India for either posting a Modi criticism on social media or receiving one as a message on their phone. Really? This is democracy?
So, sad to say, while I wish for everything that is positive for the country and postulate that Modi’s ambitions will overcome his weaknesses, the flip side of the discussion is that his arrogance and totalitarianism could very well upset the apple cart. And it’s a big apple cart, some 1.2 billion+ big!
So, once again, it’s watch and wait time. Fingers crossed.
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The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 