Modi versus Gandhi

Over two years into his prime ministership, to say that Modi is still riding high may be a bit of a stretch

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, is in the eye of a storm yet again. 

 Controversy and  Modi are synonymous. Even before Modi took over as the country’s Prime Minister he hit headlines. 
 As Gujarat Chief Minister, his role in the Godhra carnage was suspect. Even though there was no evidence to implicate him, fingers were pointed at him. He not only survived that but took a major stride when the country voted in the BJP to power two years ago. Clearly it was a vote for Modi as Prime Minister than BJP as a party. The numbers were surprising because BJP surpassed its own expectations in bagging seats that gave it a comfortable majority. 
 To say that Modi was the hero would be an understatement. He was seen as an icon that the youth identified him. They saw him as one who was progressive and modern: the one stop shop to India’s development. 
 Critics who hit out at his being communal were outnumbered by those who wanted to put the past behind and move on. For the young Indian, Modi was a leader who not only understood their aspirations but was also seen as one who had the capacity, will and ability to fulfill them. He was a thinking leader who would use his mind and skill to do for the country what was needed. In other words, a doer. 
 The last was an important factor then given that the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, though widely respected, was seen as one who had surrendered his power to his political benefactor: in this case Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 
 It may be recalled that Singh owes his Prime Ministership to Rajiv Gandhi’s widow who while declining the post had propped up Singh. This was quite similar to her handpicking Narasimha Rao and naming him Prime Minister in the nineties. That Rao came out on his own is another matter. Singh’s decency forbade him to do that. He often sacrificed the interests of the country for Sonia Gandhi’s sake: ever willing to do her bidding. This somewhat paralyzed the government and many saw both government and the country come to a virtual standstill. Worse still, Singh simply did not have it in him to inspire the hundreds and thousands of Indians who looked upto him. In fact he was dubbed as a silent Prime Minister. 
 As against this Modi was like a whiff of fresh air. His oratory skills, tall promises and image of being one who means business worked wonders. Once he ignited the imagination of the people there was no looking back. 
 Over two years into his Prime Ministership, to say that Modi is still riding high may be a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, to say that his popularity has nosedived would also be untrue. He is somewhere between the two. 
 His decisions, like the recent move to demonetize, have thrown up mixed reactions. But in governance, to move and do is more important than being static, however controversial the step may be. So on that score one could differ with some of the decisions Modi has taken but no one can write him off as a no-show, as it were. 
 As for Modi he could do with being a little less controversial. Ofcourse there cannot and should not be any compromises in decisions in governance but on issues outside that, he could tread with caution: like he should have on the recent issues of calendars where his picture replaced Mahatma Gandhi’s. 
 The khadi and village industries commission (KVIC) have in the 2017 calendars and table diaries  published  Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo on its 2017 calendar. In one single stroke they edged out Mahatma Gandhi whose picture was routinely used year after year. 
The KVIC defended the move  saying there is “no rule or tradition” that only Mahatma Gandhi’s picture can be published on these items.
In the picture Modi is seen weaving 'khadi' (a handspun cotton cloth) in a 'charkha' (a traditional spinning wheel) in the classic Gandhi pose, which was a symbol of the nationalist movement in pre-independent India. 
Apart from political opposition, khadi workers have revolted and are vocal in their protests. Many are demanding that the calendars be reprinted and the Mahatma brought back to where he belongs. Others have called the act as shameful.   Some have gone as far as saying that Gandhi mug shot on Indian currency notes soon  be replaced by Modi: “It is only a matter of time” is the political refrain. 
Dismissing the controversy as “unnecessary”, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that diaries and calendars had not carried Mahatma Gandhi’s picture on several occasions. “In the calendars and diaries of 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, there was no picture of Gandhi. So there is no question of Modi replacing Gandhiji’s picture.”
It is here that one must stop and question the necessity of the unwarranted act. That this could not be done without the sanction at the highest level is a given. Therefore, to absolve Modi, of the “crime” is not possible. 
Hence the question: why and what prompted the move? 
 That Modi is a megalomaniac is well known. 
When US President Barack Obama came visiting, Modi wore a stripped suit with his name monogrammed all over. Many of his actions have dubbed him a “dictator”. That he is divisive and intolerant is also well known. As head of government his dislike for dissent is a talking point. Therefore if the image issue is worrying him, it is not misplaced; nor is the fact that a corrective is necessary. It sure is but whether it should be by way of displacing Gandhi is the issue. 
Modi needs an image makeover. He needs to talk to the people rather than at them. He needs  to be a leader rather than a dictator. Probably the issues are staring at this face and the gap between tolerance and intolerance widening by the minute. Perhaps Modi the Prime Minister is losing time and therefore the need to quickly send out a message that he is the new Mahatma of  modern India.

The writer is a senior Indian 
journalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: [email protected]

Modi versus Gandhi

Over two years into his prime ministership, to say that Modi is still riding high may be a bit of a stretch

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, is in the eye of a storm yet again. Controversy and Modi are synonymous. Even before Modi took over as the countrys Prime Minister he hit headlines. As Gujarat Chief Minister, his role in the Godhra carnage was suspect. Even though there was no evidence to implicate him, fingers were pointed at him. He not only survived that but took a major stride when the country voted in the BJP to power two years ago. Clearly it was a vote for Modi as Prime Minister than BJP as a party. The numbers were surprising because BJP surpassed its own expectations in bagging seats that gave it a comfortable majority. To say that Modi was the hero would be an understatement. He was seen as an icon that the youth identified him. They saw him as one who was progressive and modern: the one stop shop to Indias development. Critics who hit out at his being communal were outnumbered by those who wanted to put the past behind and move on. For the young Indian, Modi was a leader who not only understood their aspirations but was also seen as one who had the capacity, will and ability to fulfill them. He was a thinking leader who would use his mind and skill to do for the country what was needed. In other words, a doer. The last was an important factor then given that the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, though widely respected, was seen as one who had surrendered his power to his political benefactor: in this case Congress President Sonia Gandhi. It may be recalled that Singh owes his Prime Ministership to Rajiv Gandhis widow who while declining the post had propped up Singh. This was quite similar to her handpicking Narasimha Rao and naming him Prime Minister in the nineties. That Rao came out on his own is another matter. Singhs decency forbade him to do that. He often sacrificed the interests of the country for Sonia Gandhis sake: ever willing to do her bidding. This somewhat paralyzed the government and many saw both government and the country come to a virtual standstill. Worse still, Singh simply did not have it in him to inspire the hundreds and thousands of Indians who looked upto him. In fact he was dubbed as a silent Prime Minister. As against this Modi was like a whiff of fresh air. His oratory skills, tall promises and image of being one who means business worked wonders. Once he ignited the imagination of the people there was no looking back. Over two years into his Prime Ministership, to say that Modi is still riding high may be a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, to say that his popularity has nosedived would also be untrue. He is somewhere between the two. His decisions, like the recent move to demonetize, have thrown up mixed reactions. But in governance, to move and do is more important than being static, however controversial the step may be. So on that score one could differ with some of the decisions Modi has taken but no one can write him off as a no-show, as it were. As for Modi he could do with being a little less controversial. Ofcourse there cannot and should not be any compromises in decisions in governance but on issues outside that, he could tread with caution: like he should have on the recent issues of calendars where his picture replaced Mahatma Gandhis. The khadi and village industries commission (KVIC) have in the 2017 calendars and table diaries published Prime Minister Narendra Modis photo on its 2017 calendar. In one single stroke they edged out Mahatma Gandhi whose picture was routinely used year after year. The KVIC defended the move saying there is no rule or tradition that only Mahatma Gandhis picture can be published on these items. In the picture Modi is seen weaving khadi (a handspun cotton cloth) in a charkha (a traditional spinning wheel) in the classic Gandhi pose, which was a symbol of the nationalist movement in pre-independent India. Apart from political opposition, khadi workers have revolted and are vocal in their protests. Many are demanding that the calendars be reprinted and the Mahatma brought back to where he belongs. Others have called the act as shameful. Some have gone as far as saying that Gandhi mug shot on Indian currency notes soon be replaced by Modi: It is only a matter of time is the political refrain. Dismissing the controversy as unnecessary, sources in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said that diaries and calendars had not carried Mahatma Gandhis picture on several occasions. In the calendars and diaries of 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, there was no picture of Gandhi. So there is no question of Modi replacing Gandhijis picture. It is here that one must stop and question the necessity of the unwarranted act. That this could not be done without the sanction at the highest level is a given. Therefore, to absolve Modi, of the crime is not possible. Hence the question: why and what prompted the move? That Modi is a megalomaniac is well known. When US President Barack Obama came visiting, Modi wore a stripped suit with his name monogrammed all over. Many of his actions have dubbed him a dictator. That he is divisive and intolerant is also well known. As head of government his dislike for dissent is a talking point. Therefore if the image issue is worrying him, it is not misplaced; nor is the fact that a corrective is necessary. It sure is but whether it should be by way of displacing Gandhi is the issue. Modi needs an image makeover. He needs to talk to the people rather than at them. He needs to be a leader rather than a dictator. Probably the issues are staring at this face and the gap between tolerance and intolerance widening by the minute. Perhaps Modi the Prime Minister is losing time and therefore the need to quickly send out a message that he is the new Mahatma of modern India. The writer is a senior Indian journalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: [email protected]