prasad1
Active member
Hindutva politics is a composite that has moved from the fringe to the centre of Indian politics. Though Narendra Modi is not the sole reason, he has been a strong catalyst in this change
“Myths are more important,” a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary told this writer when asked about the veracity of rumours about Prime Minister Narendra Modi that are making the rounds in the national capital.
What matters is the fact that everyone is careful about their conduct as they think the PM may be watching,” the BJP leader said.
It is not bad if the myths about the omnipotence of Mr. Modi scare bureaucrats into reporting to work at 9 a.m. or deter a potentially corrupt minister or a bureaucrat. Myths have always been a component in the building of leaders. We have heard stories about how trains ran on time when Indira Gandhi declared internal emergency; the greatest of all mass leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, was understood as a saint with mystical powers by the people, as elaborated in “Gandhi as Mahatma,” an essay by historian Shahid Amin. If the myths about Mr. Modi get investments in the economy, deter the corrupt, prompt the lazy and enthuse the government, they aren’t particularly bad.
While the construct of Mr. Modi has been unambiguous in many ways, a particular aspect of his persona seems to have confused many observers — his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and affiliated bodies.
Though many rumours about Mr. Modi are unsubstantiated, this writer could verify one — that he has made it clear to all colleagues that they must speak sparingly and never out of turn. As a result, BJP leaders hardly and barely speak. That being so, how does one explain the speech of BJP member Yogi Adityanath in Parliament recently on communal tension in the country? “There is a conspiracy against the Hindu way of life and the people are uniting against this. Hindutva is a symbol of Indian nationalism,” Mr. Adityanath had said. Can we have a case that Mr. Modi’s myth compels everyone to behave, including in his or her appearance and attire, but fails completely when it is a question of Hindutva?
A pull away from the periphery - The Hindu
Sorry TKSji it is from The Hindu.
“Myths are more important,” a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary told this writer when asked about the veracity of rumours about Prime Minister Narendra Modi that are making the rounds in the national capital.
What matters is the fact that everyone is careful about their conduct as they think the PM may be watching,” the BJP leader said.
It is not bad if the myths about the omnipotence of Mr. Modi scare bureaucrats into reporting to work at 9 a.m. or deter a potentially corrupt minister or a bureaucrat. Myths have always been a component in the building of leaders. We have heard stories about how trains ran on time when Indira Gandhi declared internal emergency; the greatest of all mass leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, was understood as a saint with mystical powers by the people, as elaborated in “Gandhi as Mahatma,” an essay by historian Shahid Amin. If the myths about Mr. Modi get investments in the economy, deter the corrupt, prompt the lazy and enthuse the government, they aren’t particularly bad.
While the construct of Mr. Modi has been unambiguous in many ways, a particular aspect of his persona seems to have confused many observers — his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and affiliated bodies.
Though many rumours about Mr. Modi are unsubstantiated, this writer could verify one — that he has made it clear to all colleagues that they must speak sparingly and never out of turn. As a result, BJP leaders hardly and barely speak. That being so, how does one explain the speech of BJP member Yogi Adityanath in Parliament recently on communal tension in the country? “There is a conspiracy against the Hindu way of life and the people are uniting against this. Hindutva is a symbol of Indian nationalism,” Mr. Adityanath had said. Can we have a case that Mr. Modi’s myth compels everyone to behave, including in his or her appearance and attire, but fails completely when it is a question of Hindutva?
A pull away from the periphery - The Hindu
Sorry TKSji it is from The Hindu.
