‘MODI THE IMMORTAL’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T HE unusualness of the epithet to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in the Chinese social media is obvious. But it also indicates how Mr. Modi has impacted public opinion internationally -- across cultures and political eco-systems that need not be friendly with India or its leader. ‘Modi Laoxian’, thus, is a nickname that highlights the Modi symbolism like nothing else -- Modi The Immortal. The Chinese netizens liken him to a fabled figure that is supposed to live forever. What a tribute! The nickname is also being interpreted as a suggestion that Mr. Modi is different and has some policies that were not in witness previously -- of course in Indian context. The fabled figure of Laoxian possibly was known to wear dresses of a particular style -- whose memory Mr. Narendra Modi’s dressing seems to evoke. That such an opinion is being expressed in the Chinese internet community, is something truly special, truly different. For, when India and China are engaged in a bitter border dispute for a long time, such tributes to Mr. Narendra Modi were not actually expected. That Mr. Narendra Modi can make such an impact on international audiences of common people, does not surprise Indian people, all right, For, just a few days ago, Italian Prime Minister Ms. Giorgia Meloni (also known as Modi of Italy) had said that Mr. Modi was one of the world’s mostloved leaders. In Japan, too, Mr. Modi had become an instant public hero when he joined the Japanese artists in beating the country’s traditional drums quite expertly. The epithet ‘immortal’ possibly came when Mr. Modi stood tall and strong against the Chinese leadership that probably thought that crushing India under Mr. Modi would be an easy task. That was far from happening, to say the least. In the process, Mr. Modi earned a lot of appreciation on the Chinese internet. For, in eastern Ladakh, the Indian forces stood in an eye-ball-to-eyeball confrontation with the Chinese troops and also killed many Chinese soldiers in a physical fight in the Galwan sector. That very action of the Indians showed the world what India means to the world and how India faces the world in different situations. When previous Indian leaders were known to buckle under pressure, this one Indian leader -- Mr. Narendra Modi -- proved himself strong enough and tall enough to stand against the aggressive Chinese. From the heights in the Himalaya, he also warned the world that India under him would not tolerate any expansionism by anybody. He also told the world that Indian forces were not positioned in eastern Ladakh as a cosmetic exercise, and are meant to fight any aggressor in any and every manner. So, Modi The Immortal. So, Modi the different man. So, Modi the unusual Indian leader. Such a personality lives forever -- in spirit, in thought, and also in action whose memory never fades. So, Modi Laoxian -- as the Chinese netizens now say, and which Mu Chunshan reports. Even an urchin in the street would understand the importance of such an epithet for Mr. Narendra Modi coming from the community of Chinese netizens. They are aware of the strict handling of even the social media by the Chinese authorities, all right. Yet, they do not seem to be bothered about the possible threat from the authoritative Chinese regime of the Communist Party whose top-brass has no sense of respect for India and also for those who may be praising the Indian leader. Yet, when the Chinese netizens shower some fond nickname on Mr. Modi, they actually represent not just their community, but also the community of net-users the world over. Such a praise is now habitually coming to Prime Minister Mr. Modi. The average Indian people, too, are getting used to listening about all the encomiums on their leader. They feel proud -- beyond politics.