We need Modi’s brand of shock and awe

[prasad1]

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Like the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland, India had slowly faded away from the scene, leaving behind images of the wordless, self-effacing uniformly clad prime minister at the end of UPA 2. It was an image which was easy to ignore, easy to dismiss as unimportant, even sneer at. And now like a thunderclap comes the new kid on the block, sartorially spiffy, quick with the acronyms and one-liners, wearing his humble origins on his designer kurta sleeve.


Ah, said the Cassandras, why does he need to be so vocal, why does he not get to work? Why does he need to go trotting all over the world, when people are not getting two square meals a day at home? Who is he trying to impress with the glib sales pitch, no one believes in India as an investment destination anymore? And so on. Yes, on the face of it, all these criticisms are valid. Indeed, perhaps Narendra Modi has been a little too much in your face for the comfort of some people. But the majority both here and abroad are relieved that they can see and hear the man at the helm of the ship of State.

Of course, the US visit has been the most high-profile but he has been relentlessly pursuing his agenda of making India visible once again and lay out the welcome mat whether to businessmen or tourists. The tales of food deprivation add to the Modi story. On a diet of little more than water, with not even a 15-minute vacation since he took over, he was selling the India story.
We need Modi?s brand of shock and awe - Hindustan Times

 

[krish44]

What you say is true.

There is the modi brand of shock and awe.

His misfortune is ,he is loaded with a non performing team to deliver anything.

he might suffer from over exposure .

on his return , again ,he is electioneering in haryana and maharashtra.

he is the only vote catcher in BJP.

he can very well be a single term PM if he does not deliver fast

 

[Iyyarooraan]

It is too early to conclude about Modi. There has been a telling cosmetic change in him. But before we become tired of seeing the cosmetic change, he should or his government should give a sea-change in delivering to people what they want. The reaction of stock market, S&P ratings and reps of FIIs notwithstanding.

 

[sarang]

In his election rallies he wanted sixty months to transform; people are ready to give him that period. People have faith in him, and his distractors will not succeed in derailing his mission. He has earned a huge amount of good will and promises in the manifesto will be delivered.

It is too early to conclude about Modi. There has been a telling cosmetic change in him. But before we become tired of seeing the cosmetic change, he should or his government should give a sea-change in delivering to people what they want. The reaction of stock market, S&P ratings and reps of FIIs notwithstanding.

 

[sarang]

Lee Kuan Yew First Prime Minister of Singapore initiated Clean Drive in the year 1960

Congress has delayed this by 60 years!

 

[sangom]

Congress has delayed this by 60 years!

Lee Kuvan Yew could rule Singapore, slightly larger than the size of Mumbai today, and with an iron fist at that. Modi's India is > 4500 times the area of Singapore and we have no group of people like the Chinese in Singapore, who will take up Modi's exhortations like "Vedavaakya".

Already, there have been spoofs about Modi's "Make in India" slogan in mainstrem TV channels (what to make? make water? or, make out, simply? people are asking).

Personally, I find Modi lacks the genuineness and (if I may say so) sincerity & honesty of purpose which Gandhi is reported to have had in his many exhortations to the people of India. Modi is more for photo- and TV-ops, as they say, and our people have a sixth sense to understand this, although the vast majority of them are uneducated and uncivilized natives.

Hence I would suggest that Modi changes tack and does whatever, with 100% sincerity of purpose and utmost devotion.

 

[sarang]

Why modi must listen to eternal pessimists who have least respect for bharat and its past - the band of secularists and pro non-hindus. He respects india's past values, vibrancy and is able to motivate and instill confidence in a large section of people. An year or two will indicate whether his policies and methods are taking india in the right direction.

 

[mkrishna100]

I am not worried much about Modi and I feel he is doing his best but I have some concern about some of his cabinet ministers notably
1)Arun Jaitely who holds 2 serious portfolios of Defence / Finance . No doubt Arunj Jaitely is a great lawyer and speaker but off late he is in ill health and hospitalized and I do not know how can he manage 2 very powerful and important portfolios of Defence and Finance .He is hardly visible now due to his ill health and I doubt how soon he can be back to manage the hectic work associated with these 2 powerful portfolios .

2) Smriti Irani - I have nothing personal against her and her educational qualifications .But I fear whether she will be able to bring great transformations in the Indian Academic Environment which are dominated by powerful leftist & congress intellectuals .

I wish to be proved wrong by the above 2 people . I wish Arun Jaitley speedy recovery and hope Smriti Jaitley is able to prove all her critics wrong including me .

 

[sangom]

I am not worried much about Modi and I feel he is doing his best but I have some concern about some of his cabinet ministers notably
1)Arun Jaitely who holds 2 serious portfolios of Defence / Finance . No doubt Arunj Jaitely is a great lawyer and speaker but off late he is in ill health and hospitalized and I do not know how can he manage 2 very powerful and important portfolios of Defence and Finance .He is hardly visible now due to his ill health and I doubt how soon he can be back to manage the hectic work associated with these 2 powerful portfolios .

2) Smriti Irani - I have nothing personal against her and her educational qualifications .But I fear whether she will be able to bring great transformations in the Indian Academic Environment which are dominated by powerful leftist & congress intellectuals .

I wish to be proved wrong by the above 2 people . I wish Arun Jaitley speedy recovery and hope Smriti Jaitley is able to prove all her critics wrong including me .

In the context of Modi's style of functioning, as seen in Gujarat, his "team" is immaterial for him (his best performance comes out probably when his team consists of just nameless entities) and for all of his blind followers who look upon him as some kind of a Superman. But this country and its "sawaa sou karod" janatha is not all Modi's blind followers and that is the real challenge posed to Modi and his ideas becoming successful.

Modi respecting india's past values (What have past values to do with future!), vibrancy (?) and merely gloating that he has the ability to motivate and instill confidence in a large section of people, are not sufficient to successfully run the affairs of the country; the voices and concerns of 'the eternal pessimists' will also have to be taken into account in their full weight. If, as our friend here is confident, "an year or two will indicate whether his policies and methods are taking india in the right direction", it will be a long experiment; however two years is not big time in the history of a country, and so, we can wait. If someone diarises and rechecks after two years it will be good.

 

[drb]

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[TR]
[TD]This is what some may think....

What you need is action from politicians and not talks.

People may appreciate the initiative but....

Seriously, if some politician takes over a dirty street (well, all are like that in india, so shouldn't be tough to search) and cleans/maintains it by sweeping personally, then public can take that as a model for improvement.

Until then, all these brooms and photoshoots will be viewed as cliche and will not change the country.

Speaking of that, why Gandhi's name had to be used. I saw slogans - 'Money is not necessary to live clean and with dignity' in some areas of my city? Is Gandhi the authority of cleanliness? I though it was basic human decency that everybody is capable of following themselves and no need to copy or listen to others.

Strange!.

Disclaimer: I have nothing against any politician and least interested in them. So, I am not favoring one party over another. Its all the same to me.
[/TD]
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[krish44]

Newyork Times welcomed Modi with a cartoon depicting an indian with half dhoti , knocking on a door called elite club with two whites reading about indias' space

success.They issued an apology after indignation on facebook and twitter

The image of an indian is taking a beating with Modi wearing outlandish apparels [yellow, dark red and white together] and fasting also projecting an unreal image of a

normal indian. his following there was mostly gujarathi and punjabis . Others [ foreigners] may not have been much impressed.

just opening the way for kailash pilgrimage or cleanliness campaign does not make up for no economic management initiatives.

indian people are smart . minute he fumbles, they will look for alternatives.

if by chance he does not do well in state elections, he will go downhill .

the opposition is slowly getting its act together.

let us see

 

[sravna]

Modi has vision. I think he has the ability to see the big picture and that ability will serve him well. In that way he is different not only from politicians in India but also from other countries including the U.S. If at present there is one person who can make India a strong superpower say in a decade, it is Modi.

 

[sarang]

Sanatana dharma insists and imposes balanced life - dharmarthakamamoksha. Modi follows that.

Newyork Times welcomed Modi with a cartoon depicting an indian with half dhoti , knocking on a door called elite club with two whites reading about indias' space

success.They issued an apology after indignation on facebook and twitter

The image of an indian is taking a beating with Modi wearing outlandish apparels [yellow, dark red and white together] and fasting also projecting an unreal image of a

normal indian. his following there was mostly gujarathi and punjabis . Others [ foreigners] may not have been much impressed.

just opening the way for kailash pilgrimage or cleanliness campaign does not make up for no economic management initiatives.

indian people are smart . minute he fumbles, they will look for alternatives.

if by chance he does not do well in state elections, he will go downhill .

the opposition is slowly getting its act together.

let us see

 

[sarang]

There is no shortage of optimists and pessimists. As long as social media is alive and kicking, achievements and failures, done and not done, confidence and complexes, will all be laid bare for all to see. Despite enormous effort from intellectuals, statisticians and economists, no one has been able to convince the discriminating public that gujarat has not progressed under modi.

If, as our friend here is confident, "an year or two will indicate whether his policies and methods are taking india in the right direction", it will be a long experiment; however two years is not big time in the history of a country, and so, we can wait. If someone diarises and rechecks after two years it will be good.

 

[krish44]

have you read about yesterday riots in shahpur area of ahmedabad.?

 

[krish44]

have you read about yesterday riots in shahpur area of ahmedabad.?

 

[sarang]

You have missed the riots in vadodra a few days ago. Going on for a fortnight. Wondered why media ignores it. Becuae truth is not palatable to the sickular media. Gujarat papers give a daily update on the cause, damaages, names of people involved, names of people arrested, who stabbed whom, which policeman was injured, whose revolver was stolen, who was lynched. Wish all media follows gujarat example and publish all news without bias and suppression.

have you read about yesterday riots in shahpur area of ahmedabad.?

 

[krish44]

I have spent a lot of time in baroda to consider it even my second home in my bachelor days.

I have excellent gujarati friends .

I loved their vegetarian fare, kamand dhokla and milk products.

there was a lot of communal amity.

who spoilt it?

what really happened was both communities prospered .

once money started rolling in ,

minority community bought real estate in many areas which were predominently hindu and started competing with hindu business community in every thing. They also started

flexing their muscle with some criminals in their community adding their bit.

Hindu militants joined the race.It wasall building up

All it required was a flash point which was Godhra.

the spark could have have been any other issue

the end result is for all to see.

A state I loved a lot has become a place where I hate to go anymore

 

[sarang]

Better not; your illusions and false views will evaporate, and you may reform. Think of shifting to calcutta where the ideas and way of life may suit better than any other city.

I have spent a lot of time in baroda to consider it even my second home in my bachelor days.

I have excellent gujarati friends .

I loved their vegetarian fare, kamand dhokla and milk products.

there was a lot of communal amity.

who spoilt it?

what really happened was both communities prospered .

once money started rolling in ,

minority community bought real estate in many areas which were predominently hindu and started competing with hindu business community in every thing. They also started

flexing their muscle with some criminals in their community adding their bit.

Hindu militants joined the race.It wasall building up

All it required was a flash point which was Godhra.

the spark could have have been any other issue

the end result is for all to see.

A state I loved a lot has become a place where I hate to go anymore

 

[sarang]

No wonder romila thaper is the chosen guru! Close the eyes and dish out jnu version. List all the riots in gujarat from from 1950 till 2014 and decide on your own or read the reports of respective commissions formed.

I have spent a lot of time in baroda to consider it even my second home in my bachelor days.

I have excellent gujarati friends .

I loved their vegetarian fare, kamand dhokla and milk products.

there was a lot of communal amity.

who spoilt it?

what really happened was both communities prospered .

once money started rolling in ,

minority community bought real estate in many areas which were predominently hindu and started competing with hindu business community in every thing. They also started

flexing their muscle with some criminals in their community adding their bit.

Hindu militants joined the race.It wasall building up

All it required was a flash point which was Godhra.

the spark could have have been any other issue

the end result is for all to see.

A state I loved a lot has become a place where I hate to go anymore

 

[sarang]

Is this a racist comment?

although the vast majority of them are uneducated and uncivilized natives.

 

[sangom]

Modi has vision. I think he has the ability to see the big picture and that ability will serve him well. In that way he is different not only from politicians in India but also from other countries including the U.S. If at present there is one person who can make India a strong superpower say in a decade, it is Modi.

Dear Shri Sravna,

While I will agree that Modi has vision, as per the optician, as also the kind which RSS imbibes into its members' minds, I don't think Modi has the capacity to "move the minds" of the majority of India. This is so because, for nearly 68 years (that works out to two or three generations) India & Indians have followed, or have been made to follow, a path which is very much divergent from, and antagonistic to, the one visioned by the RSS (and possibly, by Modi). (As a Hindu, and a brahmin, however, I agree that the RSS' Bharat will be definitely not uncomfortable to myself; but it is not a question of just one person — me, or a few lakhs like myself, it has to cover the entire 'sawaa sou karod' janta, as Modi often says.

This notion of "strong superpower" seems to be some kind of Frankenstein-monster-like dream or vision arising out of an equally mythical notion about an ultra-glorious, ultra-strong, ultra-civilized, ultra-ancient Bharat, which, unfortunately did not exist even perhaps in our Puranas. Even if this view is wrong (I sincerely don't think so.) we should consider the present realities and base our estimates on those, instead of banking entirely on the "goodwill" of the supposedly ancient glory and strength which was pathetically absent from the days of Alexander's invasion, the invasion by the Turks, Mongols, Mughals, Europeans, etc.

If one considers the present, India is a continental-sized country, with 18% or so of the world population and a population density 12 times or more of the US (48 times that of Russia, 3 times that of China), with endemic border problems all through half of its border - from the south-east corner with Myanmar, to the north-west with Pakistan. It ranks 123rd. out of 185 countries in terms of per-capita GDP (141st. among 195 countries as per CIA). It does not figure among the top 30 countries in terms of Human Development Index.
In such a situation, it will require more than superhuman ability for one man to transform the rest of the 125 crores of people; Mao could achieve that feat in China because the conditions there were entirely different in his time, and he had an agenda to arouse the people, just as Gandhi had. Modi seems to be lacking, therefore, both in the climate and a powerful agenda to which people will naturally subscribe. Therefore, it is futile to build castles in the air and talk about India becoming a strong, superpower, etc; let us first have an India where prices are stable at affordable levels to the poor people and communal harmony is assured, where women can go out without fear of chain-snatching, molestation, rape, etc., even after sunset, within 5 months of Modi government and then let us talk about strong superpower, 5 years or 60 months and all that.

 

[sarang]

Specially for you to mull:

Navsari, 7 October 2014
As per the primary details arriving, police have fired two rounds in air and lobbed at least five teargas shells in Dabhel village in south Gujarat to control mobs of Muslims gathered after police raided a den of butchers over illegal slaughter of cows. 3 police men have suffered injuries in this one more incident in which police tried to rescue cows from illegal slaughter on Bakra-Eid in Gujarat. Police man Rameshbhai has suffered head injuries. Policemen injured in this incident are admitted in Yashfin hospital.
During the police operation of rescuing cows, local Muslims of Dabhel gathered in large number and took hold of four policemen, who were later released, but without one service revolver.
A group of butchers and local Muslims damaged number of police vehicles including the vehicles of DySP and DSP. Police fired two rounds in defense. Police recovered beef from an open plot in Navi Nagri locality.

have you read about yesterday riots in shahpur area of ahmedabad.?

 

[prasad1]

The typical rant of RSS, blame the muslims. What is the plan, no blueprint, just a castle in the sky. Just like Sangom ji says "return to glorious days", is totally false, there was no glorious days for common folks. It may have been glorious for Kings. The princely states were rich on the back of the poor. Most of the kings squandered the money on their lavish styles, and did not even spend money on defending their territory or the people. So every invader could take away piece by piece of the land.

In the op expressed that Modi might be different and after this show of strength he will get back to work on hand. I hope he does.

 

[sarang]

In the bjp agenda and in every speech by modi, the agenda for bharat is explained loud and clear. Instead of generalities, will sada log and seculars list what is objectionable and what is not wanted according to them. But majority also must have some weight, as long as the basics of constitution are followed.

Another point, constitution was formulated after extensive debate and some dissent by the elders of post independence india. It has been amended several times to suit the moods and needs of politicians. If there is an islamic majority, constitution will be simply buried. And constitution can be changed if there is a two third majority. Will the seculars vote for cancellation of all amendments to restore original constitution. Hindutva as unifying ideology or hinduism as practicing part by its very nature and tradition accepts disparity, dissent and diversity.