So there he is, at last, as the chosen one. The long distance yatri of Indian politics has taken a pause. He is not panting. He is smiling in gratitude. He knows that he has a long way to go, and at 80, even by the leadership standards of the East where biological antiquity is a mark of wisdom, he is not that young and has a long way to go.
Lal Krishna Advani's anointment as BJP's prime ministerial candidate in E-2009 is steeped in poignancy. Advani has formally stepped out of the overwhelming shadow of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the highest guru of the Indian Right.
Oh, how long he, the original charioteer of Hindutva, and the warrior who had brought the aggrieved gods of the Hindu to the drawing rooms of India, languished as Number Two as Vajpayee colonized the heart and history of the nation without trying so hard.
The distance between destiny and destination made Advani's journey all the more arduous--and almost tragic. Then, out of sheer desperation, he changed course--no, crossed the border--and found himself at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. His disastrous rendezvous with the "secular" Jinnah was originally planned as a transformative moment. Advani didn't become Vajpayee in Karachi. He didn't get de-demonized as he hoped.
Advani ceased to be Advani. All that the desperate Hindu nationalist wanted was an argument history; he could have chosen a better destination. The makeover bid failed, but Advani continued to walk--he continued to w
RE:BJP in the age of Modvani
by harekrishna sahoo on Dec 19, 2007 03:35 AM Permalink
these people who were barking a lot before the election have no faith on Mr. Modi. Definitely he is going to win....with out a trace of doubt...
RE:RE:BJP in the age of Modvani
by GOPAL KRISHNA on Dec 19, 2007 06:25 AM Permalink
MODI has the fate similar to Kalayan Singh of UP- an AYODHAYA HERO- in BJP.
RE:RE:BJP in the age of Modvani
by Pashupati on Dec 19, 2007 02:48 AM Permalink
continued...
he continued to walk as Rajnath Singh remained stagnant and as Vajpayee retreated into mythology.
Now that the question--who after V?--has been answered, the House of Saffron should ideally feel fit for the next big fight. But the timing of the anointment has provoked even the Prime Minister, who happens to be the newest "politician" in the block. Why now, on the eve of the Gujarat verdict? Has Advani been frightened by Hurricane Modi? Will Modi, the rock star of Hindutva, make Advani, a fading fighter, redundant? Does Candidate Advani mean insecure Advani?
Well, I want to be positive here. An oversized Modi doesn't have to mean an abridged Advani. Even in a post-Vajpayee era, the BJP can have twin towers. Together, Advani and Modi form the brain and brio of the Indian Right. They are the wisdom and velocity of BJP tomorrow. Let it be the Modvani phase of Hindutva, robust and wise, energetic and experienced, modernizing and mobilizing.
RE:BJP in the age of Modvani
by Cynic on Dec 19, 2007 03:26 AM Permalink
I dont think Modi has the stature of ABV or even LKA. There is a theory that though Modi won Guj due to Godhra but BJP lost India due to it !! I do not think Modi can replace ABV to be the second twin tower !!
RE:BJP in the age of Modvani
by poruri rao on Dec 19, 2007 07:34 AM Permalink
arre pasupatibhai.how old is manmohan singh.he does not even win local elections.if the party decides on him why dont you wait for his performance.are sachin and ganguly not performing?
