Narendra Modi The Mahatma that India Needs Today Jan 12, 2014 by Dharmendra Hiranandani

Every saint must be judged guilty until proven innocent. While I was borrowing this opening
sentence from George Orwells famous essay on M.K. Gandhi, I couldnt help but find similarities
between Modi and Gandhi, although with entirely differently beliefs and ideologies. Coming from
land of Gujarat, two individuals so committed to nation, so nationalistic in passions yet so different,
is a compliment itself to the land of Gujarat for producing exceptional individuals and is a true mark
of its democratic values
One thing, most important, most peculiar, is that both have been the silver lining for the nation in
highly turbulent times. Gandhi came along as a revolutionary who raised the call for Swaraj and with
his simplicity, guts and determination brought the whole nation together under the umbrella of
Congress and threw the British out. Modi, today, is another similar revolutionary for a nation reeling
under the misrule of Indian National Congress, though it is not to be confused with the congress that
Gandhi nurtured (this is the Indira faction of congress). Both have faced difficult choices in their
career and have always been castrated by the people in power, elites and media for it. Gandhis
struggle culminated in independence, but at a cost, of a brutal and blood soaked partition, the
largest riot the subcontinent has ever witnessed. Modi too faced the communal riots of 2002 in the
early part of his chief ministership and is still chased by media, self proclaimed activists and rival
politicians for it ever since. Gandhi wanted a self sufficient India which doesnt have to rely upon
foreign goods or foreign aid to survive. Modi through his enterprising and entrepreneurial attitude
has actually transformed Gujarat into one such society. Quite contrary to general perception, Modi,
and not congress, is actually closer to Gandhis secularism. Never in his life Gandhi showered any
extra affection or showed any extra preference to any community of India. Time and again he had
stated that state should be indifferent towards the whole concept of religion. Modi too, on countless
occasions has stated true secularism is putting India (the union) first. Last but not least, biggest
similarity is that Gandhi faced the challenge of foreigners supported by wealthy and elitist Indians;
today Modi is also challenged by a similar band of people ruling and looting India. The foreign
mother and son duo guided by their consigliere and caporigmes have created a loyal structure which
looks to have taken a leaf from Mario Puzos famous books.
But I believe its the times we live in make us who we are and hence both followed different
approaches towards their envisioned India. But Gandhi, howsoever altruistic and spiritual he was,
made his fair share of his mistakes. One blunder was to support Nehru for prime ministership of
India. Though the british had went, the student of their fabian society remained and flourished. He
and his daughter changed the face of Congress and turned it into leftist, pseudo-secular and dynastic
organization. Today, 10 years of Sonia Gandhis rule has seen Indias economic fortunes dwindling,
back breaking inflation, corruption scandals whose scale have dwarfed even the African dictators,
worsening relations with our neighbours, loosening of social fabric and ethnic riots in north east, etc.
Etc. Etc. To sum it up, the promise and hope that India showed the world in 2000s is gone and is
replaced by gloom and despair in 2010s. In all this chaos, one state and its administration deserves
mention and that is Gujarat. Over the past one and half decade, Gujarat has shown miraculous
growth and has attracted praise from corners far and wide.
Though they are similar in passions, desires and in fact the results that have achieved/yet to achieve,
their circumstances and experiences were entirely different. Whereas Gandhi was born in a well to
do Gujarati family who sent him to study law in England, Modi had a humble beginning and had to
find his own way to earn a two time meal by working at Chai stall. While Gandhi studied Tolstoy
while experimenting with truth, Modi immersed himself in writing of Vivekanand. While Gandhi
chose a path of spirituality, Modi adopted the cloak of pragmatism. While Gandhi sat over the
bloodiest riots in the history of subcontinent towards the end of his freedom struggle, Modi got the
daunting task as soon as he became the administrator. In fact, Gujarat faced the worst ever earth
quake and one of the bloodiest riots in consecutive years. It is the will of Modi that he carried on and
played an instrumental role in resurrection of Gujarat.
Like many historians who blame Gandhi for alienating Jinnah, which along with Nehru-Mountbatten
nexus ultimately culminated in partition, a lot many blame Modi too for his alleged mistakes while
handling riots of 2002. These Modi-castrators though mostly consist of celebrity journalists (who are
dependent upon Congress for protection and monetary support) and political rivals along with a few
self proclaimed activists (read messaiahs). Though every court on every occasion has found no guilt
on his part and Gujarat has seen none, not even one, riot in past 12 years have not deterred their
attempts to ask Modi about his stand on minorities. Hes a saint wholl have to bear the brunt of
2002 inspite of being proven innocent. The media has repeatedly failed in its duties to highlight the
facts and not the emotions and has jumped the bandwagon of castrators. Sad part is when the
rational youth of this messy nation, who have access to gigantic amounts of information now,
questions medias intentions, they are in return accused of being a Modi brigade!
Modi is the messiah that India needs, that India wants. Hes the Gandhi of 21
st
century who can save
us from the mis-governance of Indias current rulers the Nehru-Gandhis and their loyalists. He is a
true nationalist who has shown how to keep Indias interests at heart. Under his democratic
government (and not monarchic/dynastic rule), employment opportunities have grown
exponentially, every village is connected by road and receives 24 hour electricity with the social
fabric is so strong that while other states witness several religious riots every year Gujarat has not
seen a single riot, not even a clash among its communities.
Hence, its my belief that its need of the hour that all Indians accept Modi as their leader and
support him in his efforts to resurrect the nation as the past generations accepted Gandhi as their
true leader. Even the congress should try to stand above petty politics and accept, one that they
have created a blunder during their 10 year rule and two, support a new government under Modi in
the interest of nation, or at the very least not resort to B games like promoting AAP and confuse the
voters with their hoopla for the sole intention to keep Gandhis in power. As Mani Aiyar rightly said a
while back Itd be good to be in opposition for a while. Yes, if you cant support Modis
government be a responsive opposition, be constructive and be supportive. The youth of this nation
stands at a cross roads and what we want right now is a decisive leadership, firm and prompt in its
action, with true national interest and intent at heart. They need another revolutionary, another
Gandhi but it is not you, Mr. R. Gandhi.