By
Aijaz Zaka Syed
Some time ago, I promised myself that I would stay off Modi.
BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Shri Narendra Modi in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, Nov 8, 2013-via:narendramodi.in
The decision was inspired as much by my own frequent rants against the man as much as it had been by the fatigue we have all begun to feel lately given the ubiquitous, endless adulation in the blanket coverage in Indian media.
You see the “development man” (Vikas Purush) staring back you in the face, disconcertingly, from newspaper front pages and television screens day after day. It seems there’s no escaping Modi mania whether you are in the ever-bustling Delhi or in distant Dubai. He is everywhere — literally.
Apart from his divisive politics and strong emotions the BJP’s prime ministerial hopeful generates on both sides of the divide, what has intrigued and amazed me the most is his phenomenal rise and evolution right before our eyes as a “brand.” From a hated, minor regional satrap who presided over the worst and most organized religious pogrom in the nation’s history, he has successfully been built into a messianic figure aspiring for the leadership of the world’s most populous democracy.
In the face of numerous court cases and strong resistance from civil society and a large section of Indian society that still holds on to the old-fashioned ideas about pluralism, justice and rule of law, Modi’s spinmeisters and media managers, with the active support of corporate media of course, have not just been able to take care of all the bad press and his negative image; they have accomplished something considered impossible.
They have managed to create a scenario where no eyebrows are raised anymore at the prospect of someone, who has the blood of thousands of innocents on his hands and enough incriminating evidence to nail him, leading Gandhi’s nation.
The enablers in the media, who are magnanimous enough to concede that the Gujarat leader made “some mistakes” in the summer of 2002, insist he is a reformed man today and has done a “lot” for the Muslims post pogrom. They say he has moved on and forgotten the past, urging his detractors to do the same. ‘Look to the future. Look at all the development Gujarat has seen under Modi over the past 12 years and think of all that he could do for the rest of India if elected,’ we are told.
Poll after opinion poll projects him as the darling and future of the great republic. It seems the fast multiplying middle class and the growing population of India’s young cannot wait to enthrone him. And the man seems to know and revel in the exalted state. There is a new spring in his step and a growing confidence and smugness in his speech and manner. Looks like no one can stop the son of a chai-wallah (tea vendor), in his own words, from ruling India from Delhi. The consecration of Narendra Modi is complete.
There are invaluable lessons for all students of media and politics in the mindboggling rise of Modi the politician and making of Brand Modi against all odds and received wisdom.
But to be fair, the credit for the successful making and marketing of Brand Modi cannot be entirely claimed by the media and clever communication strategists. Some credit for this success goes to the Congress too.
The country’s oldest political party in its wisdom carefully avoided taking on the Gujarat leader on his home ground for fear of upsetting Hindu sensibilities, which does no justice to the generous spirited majority of Hindus. The Congress pretended as though the Gujarat leader with all that he represented and stood for did not exist.
Despite being in power in Delhi for the past 10 years, it didn’t lift a finger to confront the man and his dreadful legacy. If justice has been done in some cases and the law caught up with a couple of Modi’s ministers, it is not because of the UPA government but in spite of it. The credit for which goes to courts and courageous voices like those of Teesta Setalvad and Mukul Sinha and police officials like Rahul Sharma.
The Congress looked the other way while Modi mocked and taunted the idea of a democratic, tolerant and plural India. And now he has come to take on the Congress in Delhi. In fact, he has emerged as the worst nightmare of the grand old party that was once led by the stalwarts of the independence movement. This is some poetic justice, isn’t it? Serves the grand old party right.
Six months before the 2014 face-off, the party hasn’t got a clue what to do with the persistent problem called Narendra Modi. As a BJP leader happily pointed out, with all these corruption scandals and scams and his now famous Hamletian indecisiveness and silences, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is proving to be the best polling agent for the man who could replace him.
No wonder India cannot wait for 2014 to bid adieu to the disaster of the UPA II. Little wonder the Congress wants all opinion polls proscribed. But you can’t keep the bad news out by killing the messenger, can you?
The Congress could have perhaps arrested its free fall if it had done some bold course correction a couple of years ago. Changing horses midstream isn’t such a bad idea after all when the alternative is going totally down under. Now it is too late to do so, I guess. Especially when the heir apparent appears so singularly reluctant and unwilling.
There is perhaps one way the Congress can still turn around its political fortunes and those of the country by declaring Sonia Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate, as Dipankar Gupta suggests. The idea isn’t perhaps as outrageous and outlandish as it sounds.
The eminent sociologist from Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University and author of “The Revolution From Above — India’s Future and Citizen Elite” argues that Sonia’s personal charisma and gravitas may still rescue the Congress.
I am not so optimistic though. Although the Italian-born president of the governing party enjoys wide respect and admiration, especially since she spurned power 10 years ago picking up Manmohan to run the show for her, I am not sure she can work her magic so late in the day. Besides, she has serious health issues and may not be capable or willing to take on the challenge.
The BJP has repeatedly made it clear that it will make her foreign origins and probably her Catholic faith an issue if she ever takes the plunge.
Anyway, all this remains in the realm of speculation, of course. But unless the governing party takes some dramatic and extraordinary measures or at least joins hands with other secular political players, Modi’s capture of Delhi looks an increasing possibility.
Aijaz Zaka Syed is a Gulf-based writer