Shiv Vishvanathan was wrong about Narendra Modi 3 years ago, and continues to be wrong today as well
- In Current Affairs
- 09:59 AM, May 27, 2017
- Vishwanath
Dear Mr. Social Science 'no'mad.
It was very interesting to read an article titled "Four ways I was wrong about Narendra Modi three years ago" by you. I quickly got off the bed to check if the sun rose from the east today. Indeed, it did and threw light on the article.
I have been working in the corporate sector for quite some time now and have always been taught that annual reports, appraisals, etc. should be data driven and objective with minimal adjectives. Contrary to your definition of a report card "There is a dualism here that we must break because a report, rather than being objective, is a dialogue between storyteller and subject.". I should have tried this with my boss in my annual appraisal last December "Let’s keep the #s aside. Let this discussion be between a storyteller and a subject." Promotion guaranteed!
1) Underestimating Modi & Misreading middle class India: While I agree to your point that all of you (opposition included, given that you dance to the tunes of congress and AAP now) did underestimate the fact that Modi was able to connect with the inferior middle class (as you very nicely describe us). The fact that this middle class (irrespective of the caste and religion) built an innate hatred towards religions/ caste appeasements and wanted to get rid of it was not visible to the Left 'Intellectuals' (will be referred respectfully as LI going forward) in our country (your highness included).
The fact that the middle class was frustrated with corruption sounded too utopian to the LIs. The fact that the middle class wanted to see development looked impossible to the LIs. Finally the fact that the middle class wanted one among them to lead the country out of the muck that congress took us into was not palatable to the LIs. Given these points, I understand why you completely underestimated Modi.
The utter contempt with which you have grouped all middle class is praiseworthy. That we normalize violence with authoritarianism and want a dictatorship is yet another beautiful figment of your communal mind (words borrowed from your article). In any case, let’s move ahead. So, here we are again, saying that the middle class wants or is inclined to normalize brutality. Let's start talking examples now.
- Dadri. Man was lynched for having beef in his house. Almost all of us condemned it. It was a deplorable act by a mob. Blame was squarely placed at Modi's door despite all the LIs knowing very well that law and order is a state subject. The LIs tend to magically remember it when talking about 2002.
b) Next one is the "Church Attacks" at Trilokpuri. I remember all of the LIs making a big fuss about this incident which obviously helped their poster boy Kejriwal to win Delhi. So much that a pastor from B'lore took out a march "Christians not safe in Hindu India". So, what came of the investigation of the violent & brutal incident that the middle class was trying to normalize? I'll spare you some dignity and not mention the outcome of the Delhi police investigation.
c) Lastly, let’s talk about the Gau rakshaks. The "middle class" again unequivocally says that violence is not the solution and we don’t support violence. Unlike the LIs, I won’t equate my statement by saying "Whether its Gau Rakshaks or the Muslims, violence is not acceptable". I have the guts to talk about the wrong on my side without equating it to anyone else. Try that the next time you are on a debate... suggestion from the inferior middle class.
2) Over-idolizing Modi: This is politics Mr. Visvanathan. And in Politics, the only way one can lead the nation is when he has the ability to take decisions unlike the economic genius who kept parroting "Coalition compulsions". So what is wrong if Modi or BJP want to get into states that they were never in? One of the key reasons for this to happen is the utter failure of Congress which finds zilch mention in your article. The fact that intellectuals aren’t able to digest one party's victory from state to state but were keeping mum when congress did the same in the past shows the diabolical thought process. Also, this is not 1939 where Hitler is conquering countries. Welcome to 2017... We are having elections and the people are voting for Modi.
3) Propaganda Guru:
a) Jump in FDI from $ 28 Bn in 2013 (UPA) to $ 46Bn in 2016 (NDA) but then, you want a report card for a story teller and not one with numbers.
b) Fiscal deficit which was at 5.7% of GDP in FY 12 is down to under 3.5% of GDP... Not good... since this is also data driven.
c) Inflation - 11.17% in 2012, 9.13% in 2013 down to 2.23% in 2016... This is just not going well Mr. Visvanathan. Data on a report card isn’t working.
d) GDP is up at 7.6% but that’s one point you will challenge on the change in computation. Chalo... you take this point. Can’t leave you empty handed.
Now let’s look at the softer points... yes... the storyteller points.
a) Jan Dhan Yojana: Sorry, this was mainly for the Lower class. So obviously, this isn’t an achievement. Getting the marginalized sector into the mainstream economy by getting them to open bank accounts seems more of a propaganda than reality. That too 27 crore accounts as of Feb 2017. Disappointing.
b) Ujjwala Yojana: Unlike your young prince, who in public coerced the then PM to increase subsidized gas thus pressurizing the economy, Modi started with the "Give up" campaign. This mass revolution lead to more than 1 crore people voluntarily giving up the subsidies as of Apr 2016 which was redirected to the poor. BTW, Mr. Vishwvanathan, this section of the poor had everyone.Thankfully the lens of Dalit, BC, SC, and ST etc wasn’t used. Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. Try saying it. It’s not bad at all.
c) Mudra Yojana: 1 lakh crores sanctioned to small entrepreneurs so they can start their business and give jobs to more people and not giving money to dig holes.
In conclusion, Mr. Visvanathan, I feel sad for ‘intellectuals’ like you. Their hatred towards Modi has made them oblivious to facts. Whether it’s the surgical strikes or Kashmir or the recently concluded case at ICJ, they want India to lose or take a heavily negative stand towards India, just so they can show the world Modi is wrong. Unfortunately for them, the story, script and the narrative has not worked and the storyteller is left writing Op-eds.
All the best.
Regards,
Vishwanath
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