NINE budgets in a row -- does not make her feel special. That she is a woman, also does not seem to make much difference to her. These are matters of record for others -- to feel good about, to feel proud of, to feel elated that such an accomplished woman is in their midst. For Nirmala Sitharaman, what appears most important is the opportunity she has to lead the process of shaping the country’s financial and economic destiny in crucial times -- making India the world’s fastest growing major economy for years at a stretch. Looking at her from a distance, one realises that what matters to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is being one of the scripters of the country’s growth-story. Everything else -- her nine consecutive budgets, her being a woman, for example -- fades into insignificance. The larger Indian society might not have seen such a self-effacing woman at the helm of the country’s economic management ever -- and may not see in future ever.

 

Yet, may there be no doubt that Nirmala Sitharaman has a domineering presence in whatever the place she happens to be. Her calm countenance (concealing certain fire of personality), her well-draped, wonderfully coloured sarees sporting traditional designs, her slightly accented English, her endearing engagement with Hindi -- all these personality-traits make Nirmala Sitharaman’s presence special -- no matter what the crusty Opposition leaders may feel. Even though they may criticise her budget, inwardly, the critics, too, must be building certain admiration about the lady who has proved her substance and merit through nine years at the helm of Ministry of Finance -- of a country that has been attracting global attention for its growing economic prowess. Watching her present the budget is sheer joy -- in the sense she is always in complete control of details -- each detail -- and able to give a befitting response to the Opposition’s questions or criticism.

 

As the budget debate heats up, Nirmala Sitharaman assumes a never-say-die spirit and defends her Government’s policies and decisions that would impact the country’s economic fate for decades. And as the debate intensifies and MPs start their barrage in Hindi, Nirmala Sitharaman also takes shelter in Hindi in her own style -- very endearingly, very emphatically, very enthusiastically. That spirit of hers can be seen and sensed from the eyes of her party colleagues -- including Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- on the floor of Parliament. Their eyes brighten up and their bodies appear more relaxed as Nirmala Sitharaman starts dishing out detail after detail to prove her point -- and to prove that the Government had arrived at that policy-decision with much deliberation and foresight of a future in distance. After all, the budget is part of India’s prep for the future well beyond the metaphor of 2047 ! At that point, we the common people of India feel assured that she is a right human signature of India’s outlook on future !