The decisive mandate notwithstanding, Elections 2014 had more than its fair share of Modi-baiters especially in the upper-middle class populace with post-graduate degrees. Tirades against Modi often seemed based on incomplete information and a deep-rooted desire to identify with western "liberalism". The anti-Modi brigade invariably had 2 traits in common: an utopian desire for a perfect leader and a near unholy tendency to cling onto one period of Gujarat history as if it was deigned to make it to history books with the same impact as world wars.
Let us examine the choices Indian voters had. A clownish Rahul Gandhi, a maverick Kejriwal and a well-intentioned but politically impotent Manmohan Singh. You could add a Chidambaram to the list. His capability comes severely laced with uppity intellectual pompousness and one could argue, inadequate experience of administrative nuts and bolts.
Lets shift focus to the long-serving chief ministers. Naveen Patnaik is a disaster. Period. His model comprises populist half-measures with zero regard for development. For those who point to the general rule of law in Odisha compared to previous regimes one just has to look at the 12-13 districts in the state that are now in Maoist control. Jayalalitha is certainly an above-average administrator albeit with the standard tailwinds that governance in developed states confer. Nitish Kumar tried the development plank only because the barometer of comparison was Lalu. In absolute terms he came a cropper. His Quixote like bid to play the minority card to build broader coalition consensus was the political blooper of the last half-century. He therefore loses votes for both, administrative track-record as well as political savvy. There are BJP CMs like Raman Singh and Shivraj Chauhan too. However, with the charisma of a turtle, they are unlikely to inspire confidence.
Lets move to the previous few Prime Ministers. Manmohan Singh was a wily technocrat turned economist who got a lucky break as PM. His linear pre-PM experience did not equip him for the role especially with a parallel power centre. Before becoming PM, Vajpayee was best known for rhetorical flourish as opposed to administrative capability. His best known achievement was a speech delivered in Hindi at the UN. Again a case of misplaced machismo rather than a significant contribution. IK Gujral, Deve Gowda and Chandrashekhar were accidents who do not deserve footnotes in history. The exception is PV Narasimha Rao. He outdid himself as PM and many owe their current prosperity to his foresight. He shall be the benchmark for Modi on the progress front.
The English-speaking elite seemed more than okay with each of these non-choices. Lets specifically look at areas that seemingly erudite people insist on ignoring. Firstly that old-world value of hard -work. Love him or hate him you cant take away his sweat quotient. Critics argue Modi is merciless and I agree. I haven't known too many successful professionals who are given to soppy emotion while making decisions. Focussed objectivity breeds mercilessness because there is singularity of purpose. Modi gets the rough end of the stick because his profession is the one everyone loves to hate. The Gujarat development model is a lot of hype. But the methodical campaign, the prepared gambits and the calculated throws of dice, point toward a methodical and decisive thought process. There is nothing the country needs more.
And then the delicate issue of Hindutva. It is unrealistic to expect religion to be a non-issue in a country that was divided on that basis. Every single political party plays with it (or a sub-component of it). It is admittedly cooler to be pro-minority and hence "secular". Modi chose to ignore that sentiment during these polls with rich electoral dividends. (ref "throw of dice" above). In the past, Modi has irked the RSS no end by demolishing numerous temples during highway construction, urbanisation drives and development projects. The liberals are astonishingly ignorant on the subject. (Or are they?)
There are indeed a set of Hindus who lobby to send their progeny to missionary schools. Christmas Carols seem infinitely more desirable than Sanskrit Shlokas. If a bunch of them end up with a kick in the rear now, I may not complain (not that I have anything against missionary schools). Till then, lets give Modi a chance IMHO.
Let us examine the choices Indian voters had. A clownish Rahul Gandhi, a maverick Kejriwal and a well-intentioned but politically impotent Manmohan Singh. You could add a Chidambaram to the list. His capability comes severely laced with uppity intellectual pompousness and one could argue, inadequate experience of administrative nuts and bolts.
Lets shift focus to the long-serving chief ministers. Naveen Patnaik is a disaster. Period. His model comprises populist half-measures with zero regard for development. For those who point to the general rule of law in Odisha compared to previous regimes one just has to look at the 12-13 districts in the state that are now in Maoist control. Jayalalitha is certainly an above-average administrator albeit with the standard tailwinds that governance in developed states confer. Nitish Kumar tried the development plank only because the barometer of comparison was Lalu. In absolute terms he came a cropper. His Quixote like bid to play the minority card to build broader coalition consensus was the political blooper of the last half-century. He therefore loses votes for both, administrative track-record as well as political savvy. There are BJP CMs like Raman Singh and Shivraj Chauhan too. However, with the charisma of a turtle, they are unlikely to inspire confidence.
Lets move to the previous few Prime Ministers. Manmohan Singh was a wily technocrat turned economist who got a lucky break as PM. His linear pre-PM experience did not equip him for the role especially with a parallel power centre. Before becoming PM, Vajpayee was best known for rhetorical flourish as opposed to administrative capability. His best known achievement was a speech delivered in Hindi at the UN. Again a case of misplaced machismo rather than a significant contribution. IK Gujral, Deve Gowda and Chandrashekhar were accidents who do not deserve footnotes in history. The exception is PV Narasimha Rao. He outdid himself as PM and many owe their current prosperity to his foresight. He shall be the benchmark for Modi on the progress front.
The English-speaking elite seemed more than okay with each of these non-choices. Lets specifically look at areas that seemingly erudite people insist on ignoring. Firstly that old-world value of hard -work. Love him or hate him you cant take away his sweat quotient. Critics argue Modi is merciless and I agree. I haven't known too many successful professionals who are given to soppy emotion while making decisions. Focussed objectivity breeds mercilessness because there is singularity of purpose. Modi gets the rough end of the stick because his profession is the one everyone loves to hate. The Gujarat development model is a lot of hype. But the methodical campaign, the prepared gambits and the calculated throws of dice, point toward a methodical and decisive thought process. There is nothing the country needs more.
And then the delicate issue of Hindutva. It is unrealistic to expect religion to be a non-issue in a country that was divided on that basis. Every single political party plays with it (or a sub-component of it). It is admittedly cooler to be pro-minority and hence "secular". Modi chose to ignore that sentiment during these polls with rich electoral dividends. (ref "throw of dice" above). In the past, Modi has irked the RSS no end by demolishing numerous temples during highway construction, urbanisation drives and development projects. The liberals are astonishingly ignorant on the subject. (Or are they?)
There are indeed a set of Hindus who lobby to send their progeny to missionary schools. Christmas Carols seem infinitely more desirable than Sanskrit Shlokas. If a bunch of them end up with a kick in the rear now, I may not complain (not that I have anything against missionary schools). Till then, lets give Modi a chance IMHO.
