by
Naagesh Padmanaban
on
03 Jan 2014
The
electronic and print media in India have consistently projected a perverse and
dismal image of the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, notwithstanding the
fact that he has been unequivocally cleared of any wrongdoing by a special
investigating team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court of India. Its findings
have now been accepted by the metropolitan magistrate’s court in Ahmedabad on
December 26, 2013.
In
the midst of this polarization, manufactured by a very powerful section of the electronic
and print media, a well informed and intelligent discussion has become next to impossible.
Nevertheless, this writer wishes to highlight some key issues that have not
been widely discussed by mainstream political pundits.
India
is witness to a huge transformation that is sweeping the country as a result of
three simultaneously occurring and evolving phenomena. This transformation will
influence the future course of events in India and will in due course determine
who the next prime minister will be, and also impact decisions beyond 2014.
Narendra
Modi has fully understood these forces and has used them to his advantage. This
has paid him handsome dividends already - as seen from the massive following that
his rallies evoke, and the stunning success in the recently concluded regional
elections (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and partially Delhi). These
three forces are the peoples’ expectations to deliver on development, India’s ‘demographic
dividend’, and the skillful deployment of technology and internet -
specifically social media, in governance and mobilizing the people. Let us
elaborate.
Many
so called pundits have us believe that invoking development as an election
plank is a new phenomenon. They accuse Narendra Modi of starting a new
expectation cycle from the people on economic development. This is far from the
truth.
For
six long decades, Nehruvian-socialist shibboleths have been peddled as the panacea
for removing poverty. But keen observers have always been aware that political
parties – all of them – have been guilty of keeping large sections of society
poor and underprivileged. Their logic was that these sections were susceptible
to enticements and could be won over with trinkets, gifts and cash disbursals
that came in handy to win elections. This, arguably though, is one of the
reasons why we find slums dwellers in every city across India. That this has
become an uncontrollable eye-sore is another matter.
To
cover up incompetent governance and rank corruption, they raised a host of
phony issues engendering what Nehru would have called ‘fissiparous’ policies,
such as appeasement politics that do not have real mass approval and ultimately
end up against India’s interests. Today there is widespread anger and demand
for governance from every section of society.
Narendra Modi has shown the courage to change the narrative from
rigmarole sloganeering to execution and good governance at the grassroots. What
Modi has done in Gujarat is not unique; he delivered what a reasonable leader
in a democracy is expected to deliver and his government performed the duties
expected of it. The time has come where anyone with a good record of governance
can win the heart of India. This expectation has taken deep roots and the
Gujarat chief minister has positioned himself at the right place at the right
time to encash his good work.
Secondly,
the Indian political class today mainly comprises a group of senior citizens
desperately clinging to office and privilege. With over 65% of Indians below
the age of 35, this gerontocracy has long lost its’ connect with people.
Overwhelming incompetence and corruption have accentuated this disconnect. However,
the youthful demographic segment has played a very significant role in
independent India in rousing and influencing public opinion on a range of
issues that have shaped the national discourse in recent times, from the gang-rape
in Delhi in 2012, to exposing a media personality’s sexual indiscretions, to drumming
up support for a transparent administration.
Narendra
Modi has smartly influenced this segment by showcasing his record of governance
in Gujarat and offering the ‘India First’ theme to transcend sectarian
allegiances. The Gujarat government’s efficient delivery of basic service to
the people of the state and the attendant transparency has attracted millions
to his fold. From there on, he has shown superb leadership in keeping this burgeoning
following by reporting to them at huge rallies the accomplishments in Gujarat
and his dreams for India. This has captivated the under-35’s as well as larger
sections of the middle class.
Thirdly,
Modi is tech savvy and has not shied away from using IT to enable development.
He has an overwhelming following on Twitter – over 3 million followers. His
YouTube videos are a big hit. He is creatively engaging this group by
crowd-sourcing new ideas for the 2014 election. The India272 website is an
outstanding example where he has requested his fans to suggest campaign
slogans, new ideas for development and electioneering. On the contrary, the UPA
regime and other parties have not only not courted them, but angered them by
censoring social media. Winning the hearts of this massive segment is the
biggest win for Modi and his party.
Modi
has definitely won the hearts of the people in his fight to capture Delhi. He
is the hot favorite to become prime minister. However, it would be naïve to
conclude that the battle is won. There are any number of inimical forces
determined to keep him from taking charge of India. These are both internal and
external forces that are working in tandem to stop him in his tracks. These
forces will mount as many challenges as possible – legal, constitutional,
political etc to block him. So his path to Delhi is not exactly a bed of roses
and he is fully aware of it.
What
is most heartening, however, is that he has awakened an India that was long suppressed
and emasculated by a perverted political model that defied logic for over six
decades. If the British divided and conquered India, the Nehruvian socialists
perfected the art of appeasement to further splinter India. Both have greatly
damaged the soul of India, but have not succeeded in destroying India. Narendra
Modi will have his hands full in cleaning up the mess in 2014.
The author is a finance industry professional; he
lives in Philadelphia
Source: http://www.vijayvaani.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=3064
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