The PMs Independence speech yesterday was impressive in rhetoric and content and inspirational as an Independence day speech should be. But as always, his speeches leave me befuddled. I know many bhakts who wept at the fervor with which he spoke yesterday. But there are even more non-bhakts who weep at what many of his followers and fellow right wing thinkers have declared in media and news last few months. The confusing part is that now that he is PM, while he is careful to avoid controversial issues, he glaringly omits to address several crucials which plague and worry the general public of this pluralistic faith nation. During a discussion at lunch yesterday - a dear friend told me Modi cannot afford to antagonize the people who schemed and plotted to help him come to power. They are the necessary evil he has to contend with, now that he is occupying the countrys highest political post and hence he will have to let them burn out on their own, by letting them loose on the field - the Batras, the Swamys and the Togadias etc. Interesting Political strategy I thought. I realized that the more vociferously we liberal minded and tolerant lot protest, the better the chances are that these rabid voices will be kept at bay, with the PM having to say nothing to either us or the rabids. This is the way he chooses to manage the free radicals in the system, while appearing moderate himself. Though in actual fact he is not managing this at all. So in the interest of democracy and freedom of opinion, we have to keep protesting! But sooner or later, even the liberals will find it difficult to find fault with him as HE himself will not utter any of those extreme views... you see? Public memory is short and the vision of a neatly turned out politician in Indian national garb, a montblanc pen peeping out of his kurta pocket and a flaming red pagadi flying in the dense delhi air, is the new epitome of all Nationalistic, Political and Religious symbolism. It is a brilliant political strategy no doubt..but how it will work or wreck in the long term ...is the biggest dilemma. Inspired by Raghunandan Trs post.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 06:46:10 +0000