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Two Kings


“Treat me as a king would treat another king.”  Porus is believed to have said that to Alexander the Great when he was defeated in the war and brought as a prisoner to the latter.  Prime Minister Modi, the invincible King of Indian democracy from 2002 (the year from which the BJP won every election whose campaign was led by Mr Modi), displayed similar chivalry when he rang up the victorious Kejriwal to congratulate him and rather condescendingly offered him a cup of tea in the royal durbar of Chai pe Charcha.

Mr Kejriwal was too shocked by the election result to understand the Mr Modi’s condescension.  Not even in the remotest apogee of his imagination had Kejriwal expected to win 67 seats.  Yet he won them.  In spite of all the royal glory that Mr Modi generously lent the campaign.  In spite of the crores of rupees spent on full front page ads in national newspapers. In spite of the defections from both the Congress and the AAP.  In spite of all odds and ends.

Dean Nelson wrote in the London Telegraph, “The revelation that the fabric (of Mr Modi’s Republic Day coat) had been woven to order in London and tailored in India for 1,000,000 rupees - around £10,000 - or more than ten years' wages for many of those who voted for Mr Modi in the hope of a higher standard of living - left him a little more frayed at the seams.

“The former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was another notable fan of the personalised pinstripe,” adds Nelson before concluding his article rather prophetically, “The personal pinstripe of hubris has met its nemesis in Mr Kejriwal's rickshaw wallah chic and Delhi's liberal intelligentsia is now hoping the trend will go national.” [emphasis added mischievously on ‘dictator’]

Mr Modi is a king.  But Arvind Kejriwal will continue to be an aam aadmi.  That’s my prediction.  Not in terms of security, however; by attitude.  Hence the latter will continue to treat Mr Modi with due respect.  It is Mr Modi who is likely to flout certain rules of the game because he has too long an experience in the game.

The New York Times wrote that “The election won’t affect Mr. Modi’s hold on the prime minister’s office and the federal government. But it will increase the enormous pressure to deliver on his economic and governance promises even while making that harder.”

In other words, Mr Modi can continue wearing his royal robes but will have to deliver on the promises made nine months ago.

The Guardian wrote: “The BJP’s dismal result came less than a year after Modi’s massive 2014 national election.

“That win came on the back of a pledge to bring development and reinvigorate India’s flagging economy. But in recent months, a series of incidents involving hardline rightwing groups that are part of the same broad political and cultural family as the BJP have raised concerns, as have controversial statements by junior ministers about religious minorities.”

I hope Mr Modi will realise that the time of Kings and their whims is over.  Not only the foreign fourth estate but also the Indian third estate have seen through his royal robes – seen the nudity of the King. 

Comments

  1. It is undoubtedly true that the Delhi elections results is an eye opener for Modi jee, if he cannot take lessons from it, it will surely going to wipe him off soon. But as far as I have trusts in him, I can believe that soon he will take lessons from all this. Though yes, now in Delhi you can say that there are two kings. It depends on them if they will fight with each other or go along to take people ahead, is lies in future...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Modi will learn, Alok. He is intelligent and more shrewd than any politician alive in India today. But will he learn the right lessons? That's what I'm afraid of.

      Delete
    2. This is something which will decide the future of Modi. I am sure he will take the right lessons only from this...

      Delete
  2. Let's hope for the best that, Mr Modi will learn the right lessons from the clean sweep of AAP in Delhi...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too hope so, Maniparna. He has to learn. He cannot take the nation for rides anymore. AAP has taught him that. Rather, Delhiites did. Hats off to Delhi voters.

      Delete
  3. Reading your post I realized we are on the same page- felt so proud of fellow Delhites yesterday for choosing correctly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember reading you earlier too about your support to Kejriwal. So our dream has come true partly. The real materialisation will be when Kejriwal starts delivering. I'm sure he will.

      Delete
  4. Kejriwal will definitely remain an aam admi. I loved the way his first advice to the AAP members was, not to fall prey to arrogance. Arrogance is the reason, every king falls. A humble King has more chances of noticing the problems of the people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Kiran, this man will redefine Indian politics. There's a method to his alleged anarchy.

      Delete
  5. The best joke doing the rounds is-

    Post his 9 months of being PM, Modi finally delivered- Arvind Kejriwal :)
    www.hautekutir.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. King is chosen by the Kingmaker. If King does not do his job well, he will lose it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In democracy, yes. Not in Kingdoms. Modi made the mistake of imagining India as a Kingdom.

      Delete
  7. One of my colleagues in my office showed me a newspaper article where people had erected temples to worship Modi. When I said this is against the philosophy of democracy he denied.
    The case is even worse, sir. Not king but the politicians want to sit in the places of Gods. What saddens me the most is that our people provide them with that place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too read the report. Wonder whether the people are stupid or Modi is playing a new game. Both are possible.

      Delete
  8. The Delhi elections is a pleasant revelation of the fact that the Indian voter is now smart, no more scamming her into voting for you by spouting sectarian nonsense!!!

    Mr Modi deserved a small rocking on his high pedestal to let him know he is not infallible! Much needed jolt this was.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I came across your comment rather late :) Yes, the voter has become too smart for the politician. He/she can't be buffed any more.

      Mr Modi is learning the right lessons, I think. He has to shed much of his ego and the rest will be ok.

      Delete

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