They include almost all the symbols of pre-liberalisation India: vote banks, caste-based leaders, Gandhians, Leftists and politicians who rely on freebies.
In addition, Modi invites aesthetic disdain. When beautiful people like Mallika Sarabhai and Aditi Mangaldas sneer at the Modi dispensation, they do so with all the condescension that Old Money reserves for the nouveau. Likewise, whereas Modi is almost friendless in the Old Media, he commands aggressive support among bloggers and netizens.
For the moment Modi is a regional leader. But the phenomenon on which his politics is grafted is pan-Indian. Whatever the Gujarat verdict, India is going to be preoccupied with Modi for a long time. He is a voice of the future.
16 Dec 2007, 0032 hrs IST, SWAPAN DASGUPTA, Times of India.
This is an India that found its voice after socialism was junked in 1991 and has steadily grown in confidence with every percentage rise in the growth rate.
Gujarat is one of the principal citadels of this explosion of suppressed energy. It is a state which is hungry for more. It wants faster growth, more opportunities and more efficiency. It is impatient with the obstacles to the good life - be it bureaucratic bungling, terrorist disruption and liberal carping. It wants to be in the First World. Modi has blended these impulses into raw political energy.
With an image of being uncompromisingly tough, ruthlessly driven, politically innovative, fanatically honest and culturally rooted, Modi has evolved into the leader of the New Gujarat. Through his oratory and resolute leadership, he has captured the restlessness of the intensely nationalist we-can-do-it generation which, as a recent Pew Global Attitudes Survey discovered, believes overwhelmingly that Indian culture is superior to anything else.
The India Shining campaign anticipated the phenomenon but was politically derailed because much of India is still subsumed by Bharat. In Gujarat, New India has reached a critical mass to make it politically viable.
Yet, there is a risk and the Gujarat election is really about Modi trying to overwhelm a deeply entrenched old order with brash daring. His opponents are not merely those who, for various reasons, feel left out by this rush towards entrepreneurial modernity. They include
To the average Indian, Narendra Modi inspires tremendous curiosity. It is not every day that a chief minister is called a "mass murderer" or described as a "merchant of death" in stilted Hindi. Is Modi the monster he is made out to be? Or does he represent a new phenomenon?
When it comes to Modi, it is hazardous to swim against the tide of liberal consensus. Yet, there is a big divergence between how Modi is perceived in Gujarat and how he is painted by the intellectual and editorial classes. In Gujarat, Modi is not just a politician; he is a combination of folk hero and superstar. Many of his election rallies are akin to rock concerts, marked by spectacular exhibitions of mass frenzy. Modi is a formidable communicator and often has the crowds eating out of his hands. Few Indian politicians in living memory have been able to generate so much raw passion. His appeal is undeniably inspirational.
Modi differs markedly from mass leaders like Indira Gandhi and M G Ramachandran. These iconic leaders drew sustenance from the lowest rung of society. Their charisma was based on their patrician generosity - the ability to dole out sops to the needy and vulnerable. They were leaders of a socialist India where it was immoral to be rich and noble to be poor, and where entrepreneurship was vilified and state control celebrated.
Narendra Modi is the creation of an India that is fed up with sloth, inefficiency and the missed opportunities of the past 50 years. This is an India that found
RE:Calling for an economic boycott of Muslims...
by reena singh on Dec 16, 2007 04:09 AM Permalink
Mr. Adolf Eichmann, i feel pity for your state of mind. As long as people like your mentality are present we will surely make no progress and only cultivate communalism. You need to have a progressive thought and effort to progress boycotting muslims will only do harm to society. You should appeal for peace and brotherhood but it is a shame that you are propagating economic boycott of some legal members of our society and also roping in VHP people who are only doing political engineering and making people like you think on negative lines and threaten peace in society. I pray that god give you enough serenity to think positively and rationally and not run blindly after politcal groups like VHP. Doing so will only propagate riots dear friend. We have seen enough social and political horrors. Please lets work for wellbeing and peace for all!!! Thats and appeal......
RE:Calling for an economic boycott of Muslims...
by Perv Sharma on Dec 16, 2007 04:14 AM Permalink
good REENA SINGH now go and help HINDUS live back in KASHMIR PEACEFULLY - will you go and settle for some years in KASHMIR with the HINDU FAMILIES - thats a appeal
RE:Calling for an economic boycott of Muslims...
by Proud Brahmin on Dec 16, 2007 03:58 AM Permalink
Its ALREADY HAPPENING in GUJARAT add to the list..
KILL MUSLIMS AND THE HINDU POLICE WILL PROTECT YOU.
AFTER THAT COME AND POST ABUSIVE MESSAGES ON REDIFF.COM which is funded by the Hindu-Nazi groups that support Hindu-Hitler Narendra Modi
RE:Calling for an economic boycott of Muslims...
by RABI KANUNGO on Dec 16, 2007 07:56 AM Permalink
Dear Adolf Eichmann, I pity you at least on * counts. 1. "We have allowed Muslims to live in this country after we gave them Pakistan" - who told you or depending on which record and authority you say so? 2. How you are a better Hindu than what I am, that as a role-model every Hindu will follow you? I feel sorry that how less you know about this land (I donot say 'India'- an English name or 'Hindustan' - an Islamic name or 'Bharat' - a name that was lost in sands of time for several centuries) and how more you brag on useless assertions?
Here comes another example of Modi's team doing to keep them in power. Anandi is already facing flak from her husband, teacher community and now just to stay in power she is willing to cross the lnes to distribiut free sarees and taking vows from people zo vote for her. The worst is that she can even slap the reporter. What is happening is the ground realities and these politicians can do anything possible to stay in power, It is getting really dirty out there.
RE:Anothe example
by Val Usa on Dec 16, 2007 03:46 AM Permalink
That's how BJP will call development. They have ruined the whole cultural structure of the society. It's hard for Congress to rebuild once it take over on Dec. 23, 2007.
RE:Anothe example
by sachin shetty on Dec 16, 2007 03:58 AM Permalink
culture will be rebuilt by congress jokers? they only know to lick the feet of that Italian women. You guys talk so much about distributing sari is it not happening in Congress. Dont be silly. Its because of people like you Neharu family could dare to play with peoples mind and build dinasty and swiss bank reserve. I dont say BJP is doing right but congress is not a alternative at all. but I know how pathetic they congress govt is, and how currupt are they. No politician is bothered about the national development because if it happens they cant stay in power.
RE:Anothe example
by Satheesh on Dec 16, 2007 04:16 AM Permalink
yeah, like the same way you and other hate mongers from BJP service Advani's 'member' !!!
RE:Anothe example
by Pradip Parekh on Dec 16, 2007 03:54 AM Permalink
first better than 80pct chances that this reporter is a commie. do you guys really believe commie reporting? with bajrang balis around anandiben, she has no reason to do what the commie is accusing her of, clearly what is a dead giveaway is commie reporter making personal attacks, taking a pot shot at her "arrogance".
RE:Anothe example
by Very Amused on Dec 16, 2007 04:05 AM Permalink
Dude...if the reporter is commie..then he would be happy to see sarees being distributed !! It is a very commie thing to do. And she must have slapped the EC official out od "love" & not arrogance !! Right? :P:P
RE:I can explain but can U ?
by Perv Sharma on Dec 16, 2007 03:41 AM Permalink
Sorry - I just go and worship the Monkey standing outside - today he appears more like with a TURBAN and a Bomb on it ?
RE:I can explain but can U ?
by Perv Sharma on Dec 16, 2007 03:52 AM Permalink
Well i just went outside and saw Mohammed had divided the Moon into TWO PARTS ? I think I better that as per KORAN ?
Oh - the Mohammed is flying to the heaven on his Horse - damm it - the Horse has Wings ?
