Impressions From India

 

THE images splashing across media -- of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi moving in the woods with camera in hand, taking pictures, touching elephant trunk, riding a four-wheel-drive vehicle -- created a very positive impression on popular mind. He looked to be a leader who is completely in control. He looked to be a leader of a country in complete harmony with itself -- graceful, unhurried, meant to serve the moment fully, full ideas to share with the nation, beyond doubt a lasting impression. No matter the rough and tumble of politics, no matter the tough decisions that governance asks for, no matter the terribly biased and unfair criticism heaped upon him by Opposition, Mr. Narendra Modi often has a calm countenance. He is all the time willing to go beyond the officiate norm and present to the people the persona of a leader who has ample time for every activity he indulges in.

The wide range of activities the Prime Minister engages himself in every day gives an impression that his days have 48 hours; that for him distances do not matter; that for him no rest is required to recuperate from the day’s toil ...! So, even when he goes to the woods and spends time in the company of denizens of the forest, he also has time to give virtual addresses in several internationally important and nationally critical meetings and events. And on any day, we may find him making telephone calls to sportspersons representing India in international events -- motivating them to keep doing well. He also has enough time and mental space to remember that badminton superstar P.V. Sindhu loves ice-cream, and offers it to her. These are the images of a person who knows the small and big tasks essential to effective leadership. The people in India love all these dimensions of the Prime Minister’s personality, all right, beyond politics and ideological differences. There certainly are some people who try to find fault with everything the Prime Minister does. But the common people have already taught such ugly cherry-pickers many tough lessons.

In the neighbourhood, the Pakistanis watch Mr. Narendra Modi with awe. For them, Mr. Narendra Modi is a superlative figure. So is the condition in China as well, where he is called ‘Modi The Immortal’. They, the common people in the country’s neighbouring countries, look at the Indian Prime Minister with obvious respect. Some of them do criticise the man, all right, for some of his policies. But the overall impression is that India is doing increasingly better because it ie being led by a man of immense merit.

In every country in the neighbourhood, the general impression is that India is a happy place and a happening place -- across domains, in every field of human endeavour, from strategic defence to national economy to science and technology to trade and business to education and skill-development to sports and arts and culture ...! Whatever India touches gets turned into gold -- is the impression in the Asian neighbourhood and the world. In Pakistan, the reference to context changes . The common people, the media and intellectuals there constantly engage themselves in comparing their country with India, often appreciating the way in which Indian conducts itself -- with aplomb, with grace and style -- starting from Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.

True, India’s domestic discourse has many kinks and knots to take care of. Yet, the overall impression is one of harmony and progress, a fact even the cantankerous Opposition cannot deny. Countless numbers of Pakistanis feel hurt about their own country’s failures on multiple fronts -- particularly in comparison to what India has been achieving. They, the, curse their own ruling class -- which has everything on its agenda expect Pakistan’s ultimate good! -- as they say. The images from India give the world an impression of a harmonious society -- led by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi as one of the front-line figures across domains. These are the images we must cherish and relish. These are also the images of a society that is rediscovering itself as ‘New India’ -- where the sights are fixed on goals in the distance, and feet firmly planted on the ground of reality -- possibly, a Vishwaguru in the making.