MODIfication

Call it a fiction or a fixation of the 1.25 billion ( out bracketing the NRI population ) people of the largest democracy, we are all affected or effected by the new coinage of the term " MODIfication " in Indian politics. Like the middle class toilet soap experiment (after trying several imported brands the desi brand appeals to us) the people having gone through the possible and plausible combinations and permutations of the adapted foreign ideologies and handshake governance ( call it issue based support of the multi-party alliance) , eventually bought the desi brand incarnate MODI . 


Grown in the same turf as Mohandas Gandhi ( the National Emblem and sustenance for the Ruling opposition ) Modi could sell as a true Gujju ( Gujrati Community known for business world-wide) his strong progressive & nationalist fervor much suited to the demand of the 21st Century power nation lineups. If Non-Violence & Non-Cooperation was a strategic ideology of the Mahatma when pre-independent Indian lacked power, now after 70 years Modi's sustained aggression and proclaimed Indianism could be ideal for India in global parlance.

Unlike his predecessors as PM, Modi has aptly addressed the youth as he is aware of the fact & figures that Indian average age is below thirty now and India will remain the youngest state in the world till 2 decades. Modi has appealed to the netizen by dint of his openness to technology and his persuasive logic coupled with the deadly combo of wit and humor  to enamor the masses. If Modi twigged it right that India is to be prepared by 2022 to beat China becoming the most populous country, the market should be ready for global competition. 

Modi has distanced from the pet agenda of his party ( Hindutwa ideology that RSS feeds ) and raised the fundamental issues of development ( Sab ka sath Sab ka Bikas), Business (Make in India), Entrepreneurship, cleanliness  (Swachch Bharat Mission), LPG Policy, anti-corruption , counter-terrorism and even hijacked the positive agenda of rival parties. Due to the lack of leadership in the opposition and constructive criticism Modi have remained unmarked in few futile tackles alleging hyped governance, hyper nationalism, foreign frequency and 56 inch thumping tyranny. 

Now poised at the middle of his term, Modi unleased the boldest of the move, Demonetization ( 500 & 1000 Rupee notes were no longer legal tenders from 8th Nov midnight ). He termed it the targeted missile to obliterate terror funding, black marketeers, hoarders of black money and all corrupt mongers. However, such decision was kept a secret and resulted in lack of proper planning that exposed the utter mayhem in the initial weeks as banking sector literally collapsed and RBI could not cope up with the demand of lower denomination notes. People in long queues in front of few ATM counters made a routine visit as only limited cash was dispensed. Amid the testing times Modi had to counter the strong opposition and protest by almost all opposition and even few ally parties. Inspite of kudos from the World Bank, Statesmen, noted economists and CEOs of World Leading companies Modi's decision is refuted and contested by the opposition as a major scam and against the well being of the poor. He is being targeted for favoring the elite businessmen and that demonetization has been a major debacle in reviving black money from circulation as well as those  in the Swiss Bank deposited by corrupt Indians.No matter what the opposition says they have been snubbed by the obstinate will of the PM, who would not mince words to ask the affluent class to surrender their LPG subsidy, or win foes among his own party. Brought up in a lower middle-class and RSS austere grooming, Modi is not a mealy mouthed leader when he demands sacrifice from his citizens. Neither issues of Adani favor nor Adbani quaver could garner public dissent enough. Even the opposition who vehemently demands for revoking the demonetization knows it full well that it is a spent arrow which will never return to its quiver, and if such decision is withdrawn ( seems impossible though ) will they take the umbrage of throwing the same citizens back to square one.

Modi has challenged his own popularity and now as he backs digital economy (a strategic ploy to encourage e-transaction and lessen cash dependence) and plans to continue with the anti-corruption drives ( Property Assessment) in his remaining terms, he defies vote bank politics and this uncompromising confidence is feared by opposition as a dictatorship. In history all leaders who have fought for a cause or ideology had been autocrats. Leftists wouldn't term Maosetung, Stalin, Lenin, or Castro as dictators though they all had to be severe while establishing their ideal undermining popular suffering. In India also Indira Gandhi is still remembered for her strong decisions and in her lifetime earned her a bad name for throttling the opposition. Historians concur the fact that even Hitler was a very able administrator and apart from the final phase of his career had contributed to the welfare of his nation. 

When Modi orchestrated the surgical attack on terrorists harbored by our rival neighbor Pakistan, we couldn't help laud the success and savored the safety under a despot!!

Time will tell if Modification favors India as a nation but without a choice we have to admit that it has impacted the mindset of the Indians. Demonetization may have failed for NRI economists but people living on the thin border of honesty and corruption now would give it a second thought before crossing the lakshman rekha. We can wait for ED, CBI, EC or IT and all the machinery of the state to do it's duty and unearth the major offenders but the message is loud and clear. Only those who attempts can be failures so if we doubt the intent of Modi we indulge ourselves to believe that "all is well". Even Modi's worst enemy could dare to doubt his political acumen and this fact alone have bewildered the opposition as to what could ensue forth ! As the adage goes... Love him, hate him but one cannot be indifferent. 

It's time to shun the British policy of divide and rule and let the meaning of religion not be misunderstood for community. If farmers get education and villages prosper without hybrid urbanization, politicians would be at a loss to implement their theories and represent the downtrodden. If temples and mosques become mutual worship destination then religious leaders might lose their job too.Let's stay fingers crossed if MODIfied India offers a modified culture where people shakes off all social differentiating attributes and coalesce into a civilized society as we once have been in our illustrious past if not an utopian classless heaven. Am I sleep-waking or still waiting for the pinch of reality!