The legacy of Narendra bhai Modi
Aditi Kumaria Hingu
At the onset, it appears odd that we are talking about the legacy of Narendra Modi when he has not even completed 6 months as the Prime Minister of India.
After all, the word legacy means, 'something handed down by a predecessor'.
Then how is it that one can debate Modi's legacy when he has just started out on his prime ministerial tenure? Isn't talking about Modi's legacy extremely premature?
No, it is not.
Narendra Modi's legacy has gone beyond what he and his government may have done in the few months that they have been at the helm.
The legacy that he has created (as of now) has been more in terms of the 4 Ps: the power of democracy, the political discourse, the process of governance and the presence of the invisibles, as discussed ahead:
The power of democracy:
To quote Modi himself (he mentioned this in his interview in Janta ki Adalat), 'it is the power of a democracy that a tea vendor can aspire to work as the prime minister of a country'.
India is often called a democracy in chaos, a country that works despite its flawed policies, a sleeping giant etc. But not many countries in the world can claim to elect a tea vendor as the Prime Minister of the nation.
By choosing to elect Narendra Modi, Indians have shown that they do have the ability to rise above birth and caste considerations.
Democracy is not the domain of the jhola wearing, khadi-clad intellengsia who like to frequent the hallowed corridors of India Habitat Centre. Democracy is as much about the neighborhood dhobi wanting a pucca roof on his head as it is about Shantabai wanting affordable English medium education for her child.
To quote Modi himself (he mentioned this in his interview in Janta ki Adalat), 'it is the power of a democracy that a tea vendor can aspire to work as the prime minister of a country'.
India is often called a democracy in chaos, a country that works despite its flawed policies, a sleeping giant etc. But not many countries in the world can claim to elect a tea vendor as the Prime Minister of the nation.
By choosing to elect Narendra Modi, Indians have shown that they do have the ability to rise above birth and caste considerations.
Democracy is not the domain of the jhola wearing, khadi-clad intellengsia who like to frequent the hallowed corridors of India Habitat Centre. Democracy is as much about the neighborhood dhobi wanting a pucca roof on his head as it is about Shantabai wanting affordable English medium education for her child.
For a tea vendor to become a PM is a beacon of hope for the dhobi and the maid...the accident of birth is no longer a constraint for achievement.
The political discourse:
Politics in India had become synonymous with a few dynasties and the political discourse had hitherto been dominated by the Gandhis, Abdullahs, Scindias, Yadavs, and Pawars.
For the jaded Indian population, there was little to choose from and this was reflected in the voting percentages that were recorded till the 2009 Lok Sabha elections (~ sub 60%).
Narendra Modi has changed that totally – never before had we seen a 'rank outsider' come to the forefront of the political scenario the way he did.
Love Narendra Modi or hate him; agree or disagree with him; deify him as the solution to India's problems or vilify him as the symbol of the worst that is India – you just cannot be indifferent to him.
His interviews, his kurtas, his beliefs – everything has been a subject of intense discussions. He captured popular imagination the way no politician has been able to do in the not-so recent past.
This translated into a higher percentage of people coming out to vote in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections (66%), with aspirations of a better life becoming a stronger motivator than caste/creed considerations.
Politics in India had become synonymous with a few dynasties and the political discourse had hitherto been dominated by the Gandhis, Abdullahs, Scindias, Yadavs, and Pawars.
For the jaded Indian population, there was little to choose from and this was reflected in the voting percentages that were recorded till the 2009 Lok Sabha elections (~ sub 60%).
Narendra Modi has changed that totally – never before had we seen a 'rank outsider' come to the forefront of the political scenario the way he did.
Love Narendra Modi or hate him; agree or disagree with him; deify him as the solution to India's problems or vilify him as the symbol of the worst that is India – you just cannot be indifferent to him.
His interviews, his kurtas, his beliefs – everything has been a subject of intense discussions. He captured popular imagination the way no politician has been able to do in the not-so recent past.
This translated into a higher percentage of people coming out to vote in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections (66%), with aspirations of a better life becoming a stronger motivator than caste/creed considerations.
The process of governance:
Narendra Modi has forever changed the way the Indian population relates with the elected representatives. Indians no longer view the government as the all-mighty, dole handing-out 'Sarkar'.
Instead, there is recognition of the fact that the elected representatives have to be accountable to the people and work for the larger good.
By using new age means of communication – like social media and interactive websites – Modi has attempted to make governance a more inclusive process, in which the government is not divorced from the people it governs.
Instead, nation building is viewed as an all encompassing activity in which everybody has a stake and a responsibility to fulfill.
While the success of initiatives like 'Make in India' has yet to be seen, the initiative to invite the larger population to participate in nation building has been a positive one.
Highly encouraging public response to programs like sharing ideas on www.mygov.nic.in or participation in 'Swach Bharat Abhiyan' has demonstrated the people's eagerness to proactively work towards taking the country a few steps forward.
Narendra Modi has forever changed the way the Indian population relates with the elected representatives. Indians no longer view the government as the all-mighty, dole handing-out 'Sarkar'.
Instead, there is recognition of the fact that the elected representatives have to be accountable to the people and work for the larger good.
By using new age means of communication – like social media and interactive websites – Modi has attempted to make governance a more inclusive process, in which the government is not divorced from the people it governs.
Instead, nation building is viewed as an all encompassing activity in which everybody has a stake and a responsibility to fulfill.
While the success of initiatives like 'Make in India' has yet to be seen, the initiative to invite the larger population to participate in nation building has been a positive one.
Highly encouraging public response to programs like sharing ideas on www.mygov.nic.in or participation in 'Swach Bharat Abhiyan' has demonstrated the people's eagerness to proactively work towards taking the country a few steps forward.
Presenting the invisibles:
As a community, Indians must be among the most hypocritical in the world. We sleep soundly in our homes, unaware of the harsh realities endured by our soldiers and yet have the impudence to make 'art' films bashing the same armed forces.
We pray to the goddess and yet practice female foeticide. We ensure our homes are spotlessly clean but litter public places.
Narendra Modi has single-handedly exposed our duplicitous nature. When during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he talks about the lack of toilets for girl-students, he shames us all.
While exhorting the countrymen to make India clean, he forces them to recognize the contribution of the numerous, faceless sweepers who make our cities live-able.
When he asks us to question our sons about their activities, he reminds us of our abominably deep-rooted bias for the male child.
When he spends Diwali at the glacial Siachen heights with the soldiers, he ensures that we spare a thought for the men battling it out in the most inhospitable battlefield of the world where the enemy is not only another army, but also the inhospitable terrain and the sheer loneliness.
As a community, Indians must be among the most hypocritical in the world. We sleep soundly in our homes, unaware of the harsh realities endured by our soldiers and yet have the impudence to make 'art' films bashing the same armed forces.
We pray to the goddess and yet practice female foeticide. We ensure our homes are spotlessly clean but litter public places.
Narendra Modi has single-handedly exposed our duplicitous nature. When during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he talks about the lack of toilets for girl-students, he shames us all.
While exhorting the countrymen to make India clean, he forces them to recognize the contribution of the numerous, faceless sweepers who make our cities live-able.
When he asks us to question our sons about their activities, he reminds us of our abominably deep-rooted bias for the male child.
When he spends Diwali at the glacial Siachen heights with the soldiers, he ensures that we spare a thought for the men battling it out in the most inhospitable battlefield of the world where the enemy is not only another army, but also the inhospitable terrain and the sheer loneliness.
It may be argued that these actions are symbolic; but symbolism, if backed by concrete action, has often proven be a powerful trigger for behavior change.
To sum up, irrespective of how the next five years span out, Narendra Modi has changed the rules of politics and governance in this country for ever.
He has done this by simply recognizing (and making us recognize) a fundamental fact – ultimately it is we, the citizens, who matter the most in a democracy.
To sum up, irrespective of how the next five years span out, Narendra Modi has changed the rules of politics and governance in this country for ever.
He has done this by simply recognizing (and making us recognize) a fundamental fact – ultimately it is we, the citizens, who matter the most in a democracy.
(Aditi Kumaria Hingu is a marketing graduate from IIM Calcutta, currently working in an MNC. She comes from an army background.)
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