Modi Mania

When Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014, there was a headline that populated television screens across the nation. It said “India Modi-fied”. I thought it was premature to say this then. Five years later, these elections have proven, that India has indeed been "Modi-fied". His carefully crafted cult of personality had transformed the way a large portion of the country saw him and in some cases worshipped him.

Not since the founding fathers and the first female Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had so many followed a leader with such blind adulation. India is known to be a nation where movie stars and politicians are deified. So on one level this was something not out of the ordinary.

There was never a doubt in my mind or in any other reasonable person watching politics in India keenly, that Modi would not return to power. With no national opposition candidate of equal measure or appeal, his win was all but certain.

I thought there was enough disenchantment in the country from his policies, that people would be swayed to give him a softer shoe in as opposed to a resounding victory that his party got.

His two signature policies of demonetization and tax reform had hurt people on the lower rung of society and the small business class whose livelihood was based on cash transactions. Modi's reasoning for demonetization was to wipe out the parallel black money economy and rampant corruption costing the nation tax revenue. There was an insignificant dent made on that front and many are still reeling from its swift and abrupt implementation. I thought this would have caused some collateral damage.

The agriculture sector has been under stress for a very long time and in the last five years had not seen any relief in any significant manner.

The unemployment rate at 6% was high and there was widespread agreement among economists that this number was not accurate. Many believed the government was not maintaining accurate data on this vital economic parameter. 

By bringing inflation under check, opening bank accounts for the underclass and digitizing the financial transaction system, Modi made major strides, which benefited many across the nation.

Big businesses as expected did well. Foreign investment continued to flow in. The stock market was stable and the rich got richer. The pro-business Modi agenda was very much in vogue and those who benefited once again came to his support. This gave his party deep coffers to out spend everyone in the field.

On the social front Modi's agenda was far more successful than those who disagree with him would like to believe. While he had spoken out against those who were going around lynching Muslims for supposedly consuming or selling beef, it was never loud and decisive. This gave extremist factions within his party and his supporters, tacit approval to go after those they thought were against building an India proud of its Hindu beliefs and heritage.

His signature social campaign called "Swach Bharat" (clean India) was bold. The expansive media campaign reached every corner of the country. Toilets around the country were built in large numbers to prevent open defecation and a call was made to keep India litter free. But what impact it truly had on a nation the size of India was open for debate. 

Air pollution levels in India are among the worst in the world. The river Ganges continues on its trajectory of becoming a sewer bringing huge volumes of plastic to the ocean. India still lags behind in the use of renewable energy. The nation has no clear environmental policy and no party in this election articulated one.

The situation in Kashmir has deteriorated rapidly over the five years. The bombing in Pulwana that killed Indian security personnel was an indication of how desperate things were in this most heavily militarized zone in the world. When thousands poured into the streets to mourn the death of a militant killed by Indian forces, it was clear where the allegiance of many Kashmiris lay. Much like his predecessors, it was apparent Modi had been unsuccessful in bringing peace to the valley and probably will only choose a hardline approach to a festering humanitarian crisis, in his new term.

There were many issues plaguing the nation and Modi's report card was less than perfect. The opposition had enough fuel on their hands to launch a robust attack. Modi to his credit had enough to show to ask for another term as well. But instead he succumbed to the most predictable populist route in the rulebook to win an election. The kind that has been sweeping many nations around the world bringing right wing leaders to power and decimating the left. 

Evoking a sense of nationalism and stoking fear by saying the nation's security was paramount and was under threat, he projected himself as a decisive leader who had carried out strikes against the enemy state across the border. As expected this struck an emotional chord among voters who were already primed by the rising anti-Pakistan media frenzy.

By draping the flag and blinding the people from real issues, there was enough Modi mania whipped up via crass speeches and mud slinging of the most vile nature. Everyone from Donald Trump to Duterte had used this tactic to win an election and Modi successfully followed in their footsteps.

The Indian election is a complex and complicated one. The diversity of the country is daunting and the average voter is not as well informed on issues and there is very little done to educate the public. There are no televised debates, just vile shouting matches on television. While in a parliamentary system the voters choose a member of parliament and not the prime minister, not many are aware of this process. People have very little knowledge of the track record of their MP. They vote along party lines driven and influenced by whoever is the loudest. Perception is key and emotions run high.

Nationalism and religion are two effective tools that can speak to voters clearly on an emotional level. Modi has mastered this by knowing his audience better than any leader India has ever seen. By making sure cameras are pointing at him while he visits temples and god-men, lights lamps, meditates in caves and launches into evocative sloganeering with phrases from Hindu mythology and Sanskrit texts, Modi is always campaigning and speaking to the heartland.

All politics in India has turned communal. By turning Muslims into Pakistan sympathizers, invaders, barbaric erstwhile rulers or converts, the BJP has effectively churned the Hindu pride among many middle class citizens, into a secure voting block. This has also energized the foreign Indian population to back Modi with sizable campaign donations and supportive op-eds.

The notion that Muslims in India are a real threat, despite being a minority, is something now ingrained in the population. In a living room conversation to make an argument that Muslims in India do not have any political power, I posed a question. "Do you think a Muslim can ever become the PM of India like Obama became the president of America?" The first response was well what is the urgency in that. And the second was that Muslims are having too many children and can one day become a majority in India if not careful. This sentiment might sound familiar to Americans from the last election. 14.2% of the Indian population is Muslim; speaking for them today is considered a liberal, left wing, apologetic, misguided exercise by many.

In a speech to his victorious party members, Modi asked them to work for the nation with humility without expecting special treatment. Modi has cultivated an image of a workaholic, whose only goal is to serve the nation and not his party or his family, which is non existent. He expected his ministers to follow suit. A tall order considering 50% of the candidates his party fielded had criminal records and some really dubious characters actually won and will be sitting in parliament making laws.

Politics in India is dirty business. In campaign mode Modi and his chief strategist Amit Shah are acutely aware of this and have now written the rulebook on how it should be played to secure a decisive victory. As Prime Minister, Narendra Modi projects an image of humility, piety and gratitude, bowing in front of the constitution as if to send an image that he holds it sacrosanct. This irks many who feel he is not decisive enough in the Hindu cause, beholden to a document that espouses secularism. Probably they might have their wish come true as Amit Shah becomes the second most powerful person in the land as Home Minister.

Modi's persona has garnered him a following that is faithful and obedient. The culture of sycophancy, which was emblematic of the Congress party, is now part of the BJP. The overt Hindu pedigree he projects attracts intellectuals and god-men alike to his defense. The dislike the western and the Indian liberal media projects towards him, brings him more and more supporters making him a rock star with a twitter following only topped by Donald Trump.

A democracy that does not have checks and balances is nothing but an autocracy. Today with no opposition to speak of, Indian democracy is at a dangerous precipice. Prime Minister Modi is the most powerful leader that has ever ruled the nation since Jawaharlal Nehru. Modi has pledged his allegiance to the constitution. 45% of the population casted a vote in his favor. Now he has to govern for the 100%. Even though he does not need to, he has said he would take the advise of the opposition as he leads. He even coined a new slogan "Sabka Saath", "Sabka Vikas", "Sabka Vishwas"(Together, Everyone's Progress and Everyone's Trust). Only actions and deeds will show whether he truly means this.

It is what it is.