Many people have seen the long (listening to a politician for 2 hrs is indeed long) speech and Q&A by Narendra Modi ("NaMo") at the India Today Conclave recently. No, this is not a propaganda blog - I am not a NaMo supporter, though not a NaMo basher either.
This blog came because the event strongly reminded me of the soapbox that used to happen during college elections - how he was trying to gather credit for results that may not be solely attributed to him (Gujarat development is due to the spirit and efforts of millions of Gujaratis and their undying spirit of entrepreneurship), how he was evasive about "sensitive" issues (after 10+ years, still evading the 2002 riots - no SIT / Supreme Court can fight the perception deep-rooted in media and minds), but also how the person makes you sincerely believe that he can really bring a change and better governance.
He may not be the sole driver behind Gujarat's growing GDP but he has indeed great ideas which bring wide-ranging impact touching the lives of everyone. Not many politicians would have the heart to admit that they need to give security of tenure to civil servants and need to let go the tool of "Transfer" for controlling the administrative machinery.
As far as personal corruption is concerned, he does give the impression of Mr. Clean else Madam Gandhi and her sycophants must have dug out hundreds of cases against him over last decade. Also, he is indeed approachable for people who want to bring the real change. I have personally seen him helping Nirmal Kumar who founded G-Auto to bring a change in the whole auto rickshaw ecosystem in Gujarat. Nirmal is not a rich industrialist, not a politician's son - he is a smart and industrious MBA graduate from IIMA who has fought hard to bring a change despite all physical and economic adversities. He is a true example of what NaMo referred to as finding opportunity in adversity.
I personally loved his specific ideas on solar power, waste management, brain storming sessions with civil servants, building self sufficiency and export capability in defense manufacturing, etc. At least, we have a leader who does get into specific ideas, who has the courage to speak up and make efforts to implement - No one succeeds in every effort but we desperately need to get out of the current policy paralysis and a PM who does not speak. He does raise hope in a manner the way Obama did in his first campaign (how much he delivered is a matter of a separate debate).
But, I do not think the path ahead is so easy for NaMo. NaMo does not have any mantra and the so-called Gujarat model is not an easy one to replicate throughout the country - specially in a coalition government. The situation in rest of the country is different and no one trick can cure all malaise.
I think he would have a tough path to Gaddi but once he gets it and in case he delivers even a small portion of his grand dream, he is set for a long innings. Look at what happened with Nitish govt. in Bihar ( A state where it was earlier told in Lalu / Rabri days that people did not cast their vote but they voted their caste). The equations can change at a faster pace on the ground level than what the so-called intelligentsia and media predict.
I just so strongly wish that we could get to hear the other candidates in a similar soapbox - not only "Maun"mohan Singh but also the other aspirants such as Rahul Baba (it must be sad for a 42 year old to be called "Baba"), Mulayam, Nitish, Arvind Kejriwal as well. But, I know that is not going to happen - the country will still vote not for a leader but for a region, for a caste, for a separate statehood.....another fractured mandate, another round of back room politics for buying "support" and getting "portfolios" - remember Barkha Dutt and Nira Radia tapes.
Will NaMo become a PM? Well, he himself said no astrologer had told that he will become a CM - so we need to keep guessing and waiting.
This blog came because the event strongly reminded me of the soapbox that used to happen during college elections - how he was trying to gather credit for results that may not be solely attributed to him (Gujarat development is due to the spirit and efforts of millions of Gujaratis and their undying spirit of entrepreneurship), how he was evasive about "sensitive" issues (after 10+ years, still evading the 2002 riots - no SIT / Supreme Court can fight the perception deep-rooted in media and minds), but also how the person makes you sincerely believe that he can really bring a change and better governance.
He may not be the sole driver behind Gujarat's growing GDP but he has indeed great ideas which bring wide-ranging impact touching the lives of everyone. Not many politicians would have the heart to admit that they need to give security of tenure to civil servants and need to let go the tool of "Transfer" for controlling the administrative machinery.
As far as personal corruption is concerned, he does give the impression of Mr. Clean else Madam Gandhi and her sycophants must have dug out hundreds of cases against him over last decade. Also, he is indeed approachable for people who want to bring the real change. I have personally seen him helping Nirmal Kumar who founded G-Auto to bring a change in the whole auto rickshaw ecosystem in Gujarat. Nirmal is not a rich industrialist, not a politician's son - he is a smart and industrious MBA graduate from IIMA who has fought hard to bring a change despite all physical and economic adversities. He is a true example of what NaMo referred to as finding opportunity in adversity.
I personally loved his specific ideas on solar power, waste management, brain storming sessions with civil servants, building self sufficiency and export capability in defense manufacturing, etc. At least, we have a leader who does get into specific ideas, who has the courage to speak up and make efforts to implement - No one succeeds in every effort but we desperately need to get out of the current policy paralysis and a PM who does not speak. He does raise hope in a manner the way Obama did in his first campaign (how much he delivered is a matter of a separate debate).
But, I do not think the path ahead is so easy for NaMo. NaMo does not have any mantra and the so-called Gujarat model is not an easy one to replicate throughout the country - specially in a coalition government. The situation in rest of the country is different and no one trick can cure all malaise.
I think he would have a tough path to Gaddi but once he gets it and in case he delivers even a small portion of his grand dream, he is set for a long innings. Look at what happened with Nitish govt. in Bihar ( A state where it was earlier told in Lalu / Rabri days that people did not cast their vote but they voted their caste). The equations can change at a faster pace on the ground level than what the so-called intelligentsia and media predict.
I just so strongly wish that we could get to hear the other candidates in a similar soapbox - not only "Maun"mohan Singh but also the other aspirants such as Rahul Baba (it must be sad for a 42 year old to be called "Baba"), Mulayam, Nitish, Arvind Kejriwal as well. But, I know that is not going to happen - the country will still vote not for a leader but for a region, for a caste, for a separate statehood.....another fractured mandate, another round of back room politics for buying "support" and getting "portfolios" - remember Barkha Dutt and Nira Radia tapes.
Will NaMo become a PM? Well, he himself said no astrologer had told that he will become a CM - so we need to keep guessing and waiting.
