"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," said Neil Armstrong when he landed
on the moon. Great conquests make some
people feel unduly proud, while they make others humble. Mr Narendra Modi’s speech in the Central Hall
of the Parliament yesterday showed us a totally different face of the man. He was humble and tame. Gone were the characteristic hubris and
mockery of others.
"I have seen new facets,”
said Mr Modi. New facets that prompt him
to be a leader of the poor and the downtrodden, a leader of all the people in
the country. Let me quote him in full: “A
government is one which thinks about the poor, listens to the poor and which
exists for the poor. Therefore, the new government is dedicated to the poor,
millions of youth and mothers and daughters who are striving for their respect
and honour. Villagers, farmers, Dalits and the oppressed, this government is
for them, for their aspirations and this is our responsibility. And this is our
responsibility. I have seen new facets.”
[Quoted from the version given at The
Hindu website]
Standing on the moon, Mr
Armstrong must have seen new facets. The
conquest of Everest must have revealed new facets to Edmund Hillary. I hope Mr Modi’s words come from genuine sentiments
engendered by clearer vision from the top.
I hope he will fulfil the momentous promise he has made to the nation. I’m
ready to put aside my incongruities with him on account of his past. Let bygones turn into atonements. The nation and its future are more important
than the glories of the ancient past as well as the errors of the recent past. Let there be a shining India ahead. I wish Mr Modi all success.
Yeah lets give the man some time!And the media should leave them alone and focus on so many other social issues that a vast nation like us have
ReplyDeleteYou're suggesting the impossible! How can the media leave the PM alone? Everything from the stock market to the kinara store depends on the PM :)
DeleteI dnt know who the real Modi is.. But he has build lots of hope so even I share your sentiments and just wish him all the best and pray that he really work for the common man..
ReplyDeleteI too have no clue about which his real face is; but let us hope for the miracle.
DeleteI can not wait man. I just want to have a lush green farm house in Muzzafarabad (in Pok as of now) but our dearest PM has promised to take that part of Kashmir from pak. Then, he will see China, which is acquaired 20+ km of land in eastern part of India... I am waiting, I am waiting.
ReplyDelete...shabab
Shabab, I suggest you wait. The problem with people like me and apparently you is that we are not willing to wait. I have now chosen to wait. There is no other option. 31% of voting Indians are asking us to wait. That's a good speed breaker. After all, we have put up with all kinds of rogues in the last ten years. Why not WAIT and see what the new rogues have to offer.
DeleteIf Mr Modi is learning something and not enacting a drama, I am ready to forgive him for 2002. In 12 years even a planet can learn a lesson. Or choose not to learn. I hope you understand what I mean.
your answer is something that completely echoes my sentiments at the moment... Lets wait and see and hope!
DeleteThanks for the endorsement, Maryam. Hope springs eternally in the human breast, as Alexander Pope said.
DeleteCertainly, I was about to answer you for one of your comments on Mr. Manmohan Singh. You claimed that he was not a politician. Well sir. I may agree. But what about his dumbstruck condition on several scams during the cogress rule? I may praise him keeping in view Modi's 'recent past mistakes' , but I may not very much welcome his quietness during Mumbai Taj attacks and ensuing Kasab's prolonged trial even after getting the video footage.
ReplyDeleteApart from that, I also read Modi's recent interview after Pranab Mukerjee's calling him to form a government in the center. His tone was one of humility. He seemed to sound genuine. He called himself a poor man's son as he was standing before us, the citizens. Even I was amazed whether I was wrong in my conviction about Modi or if it was just a mask worn by him. But, just like you sound being convinced here, I too wonder whether I was too much doubting.
I also keep my opinion on hold and would like to appreciate Modi, but not without a streak of fear. The article also quoted that Modi had come to this place "by his own ... cunning". I could notice the reservation of the author of that article too.
A streak of fear, you said M. And for me it's an earthquake of a fear. This post of mine is merely an attempt to overcome that fear since the only way I know of overcoming fear is writing. I know no god(s). I don't believe godly figures, like Mr Modi especially. If you Google "Matheikal Modi" you will get all the writing of mine on that man and they are all against him.
DeleteI am a romantic at heart. I believe in miracles, in other words. I believe that even a Modi can be metamorphosed by a conquest.
But
when Hillary conquered the Everest, Tenzing Norgay was sidelined. Norgay was the real guide. The guide vanishes. The conqueror gets the name in history.
In Modi's case, 2000 (approx) people paid with their lives. Imagine the trauma of the families. Imagine the problems with which raped and surviving women lived and continue to live. Don't forget that a whole lost of bastards were sired by Modi's men in Gujarat. And those people are still alive.
Well, M, it's not at all hunkydory as I've portrayed it in the blog. The blog is merely an expression of hope. A reasurance to myself that I am not a bloody cynic. That I won't die a hopeless death. That I still have faith in mankind....
On grounds of faith and heart sans cynicism.... and as a romantic at heart, I too agree with you. I'm none other than that, you may know.
DeleteI am glad to note that you have decided to be neutral--to wait & watch,That I suppose would be the right thing....
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about me, Rajeev, is I don't take sides. I should have been a bloody judge (or a god :) )
DeleteWhat will we get out of waiting and watching? I'm ready to wait and watch :)
We should give him a chance. A lot has been talked about his past and present. We have seen a lot talking about corruption. But lets really hope that he will make his words come true in the next five years and the nation prospering. Thereby creating more employment, better infrastructure, better health, better living conditions, creating sustainable environment, upliftment of poor, empowerment of women and their safety and the list goes on. Hoping that he resolves atleast few of them.
ReplyDeleteYes, Krishna, I hope and believe that Mr Modi will materialise some of these simple desires of ours. Otherwise, he is going to be a big fool before the people of India who gave him such a huge mandate.
DeleteIf he delivers even half of his promises our nation will step into a great future. Hope no one plays spoil sport.
ReplyDeleteI would raise a toast to him if he can fulfil even a quarter of his promises and a lesser fraction of what he said in the speech mentioned here.
DeleteI think we should wait for sometime before dissecting his acts and criticizing them. Let's see if he could stand tall leaving his sceptical past behind and start doing something wholesome for the country
ReplyDeleteCertainly, Maniparna. People have no option but wait. And then accept what comes :)
DeleteWell, he sure has managed to get the nation united in choosing their next leader.I see a sudden surge of patriotism ever since his nomination for the same began.
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Vinodini. Let there be a lot of good things happening in the country.
DeleteThere are certainly more things to look at. But then, I feel the circle will definitely in a proper loop.
ReplyDeleteExactly a year later I wrote a satirical piece on Mr Modi.
Delete