10 Reasons Why Modi is Proving To Be a Gamechanger

It's been 100 days and you know it. You know that you have a Prime Minister who is not as stiff as a robot and does not wear a mask in place of regular human face. The new Prime Minister has eyes that rove, muscles that flex, hands and a head that move and most importantly a mouth that utters words. Behold India, you have just gifted yourself a rather energetic, spontaneous and 'lively' prime minister, ending a decade-long agony of drift, lethargy and uncertainty.

I am not trying to draw out a 100-days report card of Prime Minister Modi nor I am trying to say that all that plagues India has ceased to exist. I am a regular young Indian who is very impressed with what he has seen of Mr. Modi thus far. From the historic swearing-in to the just concluded Japan trip, Modi has driven home at least three vitals points - one, he is way more spontaneous and imaginative that even his admirers thought of him to be, two, he will go all out to achieve what he believes in, almost like an adamant child, three, he means business, and he will do everything possible to leave behind a remarkable legacy. To cut matter short, I am here listing 10 reasons that make PM Modi a gamechanger or at least give him a very good shot at becoming India's first great leader of the 21st century:

1. The Man is the Message: Modi is a workaholic, no-nonsense man. He labours every day in his office and he his making sure everyone else around him does the same. Ministers are more accountable and ministries are bustling with activity right at 9 in the morning. Bureaucrats are powerful but their flab has been peeled off. There is zero tolerance towards inefficiency, non-performance, sycophancy, chalta-hai attitude and corruption.

2. The blessed oratory genius: Modi speaks with his heart wherever he goes. Secretary-written speeches have been junked, nicety and typicality have been minimized, he calls a spade a spade. So, not only his speech is extempore on the Independence Day, he takes the great risk of going completely unscripted on a foreign tour as crucial as Japan's. Guess what, he is pulling it off with aplomb thus far.

3. Buidling a personal connect: Mr. Modi has the innate knack of staring into someone's heart, and not just the eyes. Right from his campaigning days to his current status of being the prime minister, Mr. Modi has managed to strike chord with a billion people. You believe him when he says he will build 100 smart cities, clean the Ganges or get us the bullet train. Politics is a game of perception and Indians largely perceive Mr. Modi as a 'doer'.

4. Love thy neighbour: Modi has managed to do what the two successive UPA governments conveniently and dangerously ignored, that is meaningful engagement with its immediate neighbours. In an unprecedented gesture, he invited eight heads of state and chose Bhutan for his first official tour after taking oath. Next in line was the much-needed brotherly (not big brotherly) gesture towards Nepal where he won over everybody's heart while addressing the Nepalese parliament. India's relations with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have dramatically improved and even Pakistan was given an olive branch till they decided to look the other way.

5. Perfect Pakistan Policy: Modi and his government has successfuly underlined a simple message- terror and talks cannot go on simultaneously. Despite opting to engage with Nawaz Sharif on day one of his office, Modi quickly realized that it is futile to 'talk' with a neighbor that is hell bent on gunning down our soldiers and civilians on the border. Add to it to the brazenness of Pakistan to hold separate talks with the so-called Kashmiri representatives, the Hurriyat, a group of largely out-of-job and out-of-favor anti-nationals. By deciding to call off the foreign secretary level talks, Modi has at least cut down on a futile decade-long exercise that yields nothing other than an inflated bill of cookies and table tennis balls.

6. Reinvigorating foreign policy: Modi has left Japan in complete awe of him. From tweeting in Japanese to jamming with drummers to playing a flute, Modi has brought in whole new level of personal involvement in India's relations with Japan. Expect more of this when Chinese come to Delhi or Modi himself visits the US. Also, not to forget the subtle nudge that Modi had for Beijing, hinting the strategic shift in India's position to not treat China with the kind of respect that it hardly deserves. India-Japan partnership may well be the most defining achievement of this 100-days old government.

7. Right noises on economy: There are no tall promises of bringing down the inflation in 100 days. Jaitley, Modi's trusted Finance Minister, is working slowly but surely to bring India's economy back on track. Green shoots are already emerging with the manufacturing and service sectors showing signs of revival, GDP clocking its best ever performance in the last two and half years and a renewed push for reforms and economic management. The fact that Modi has eloquently asked the world to come and 'make in India' shows the kind of interest the PM has in reviving the India story.

8. Rebuilding and reselling the India story: The last five years have seen India plummeting in the eyes of global investors and marketers. Policy paralysis, indecisiveness of the leadership and red-tapism threatened to cut the India story short, but Modi, like a true-blue Gujarati is selling the India model to the world again. He promises to reduce bureaucratic hurdle for foreign investors and offers them a red carpet while underlining the uniqueness and opportunities of the Indian market.

9. Focus on little things that will go a long way: Bank account for all Indians, drive to make India a clean country, cutting down on multiple ministries, scrapping of the planning commission etc. are just some of the examples of small but significant corrective measures that Modi has focused upon. While the big pet projects may take some time to materialize, these tiny jewels may well help India shrug off some of its dirt and troublesome flab.

10. Dodging a thousand provocations: From day one, parties and intellectuals with vested interests have been trying to flare up unnecessary controversies around the new government. From Smriti Irani's educational qualification to random communal statements by fringe elements, an attempt has been made to incite Modi into speaking something silly or out of turn. Dodging all these efforts, Modi has been focused on governance and promise delivery, and has refrained from playing into the hands of his critics.

These are great signs coming from India's new Prime Minister. 100 days is too less a time to judge the performance of a Prime Minister or a government, but it is the kind of mandate, resounding and historic, that Mr. Modi has got from the people, which makes his each day in office an acid test. The man, so far, has delivered more often than not, a feat that has further risen the already towering expectations of this nation of a billion hopefuls.

1 Dead Man, 10 Uncomfortable Questions

So the United States has finally hunted down world’s most dreaded terrorist. In a swift operation that lasted merely 40 minutes, US forces killed Osama bin-Laden in Abbottabad area of Pakistan. Contrary to earlier reports which suggested that Osama might be hiding in some inaccessible hilly area near Pak-Afghan border, the Al-Qaeda leader was found hidden in a posh mansion merely 90 kilometers away from Pakistani capital. As reports filter from Pakistan about what led to eventual fall of the man who shook the world nearly 10 years ago, several questions pop up in mind.

Disturbing Picture

• How on earth the world’s most wanted terrorist stayed in a residential area near Pakistani capital and nobody had a clue? Were the inhabitants of Abbotabad aware of Laden’s stay in the area? Was there a moral support given to Laden, if not logistical, by the people of Abottabad?

• Abbottabad is the hub of the Pakistani Military. There is a Military Training Academy at a stone’s throw from where Osama lived. Regular security drill and stringent checks are common near a military base. How come Pakistani Army missed out on the biggest mansion in the area that stood like an invincible fortress? It is next to impossible to imagine that an army as shrewd as Pakistan’s would not have the knowledge of such a great phenomenon. Did the Pakistani Military provide safe haven to Osama? Was he hiding there under the aegis of Pak Army?

• It’s a known fact that Pakistan is a divided state. Almost like various slices of bread in a packet. Was Pakistan’s civilian government totally unaware of Osama’s whereabouts? Is the Pakistani army so independent and powerful that it can hide world’s most wanted terrorist, without letting the government know?

• What was the role of Pakistan’s Intelligence agency (ISI) in the entire setup? Did they mastermind Osama’s stay inside Pakistan? Were they involved, in any capacity, with the US operation that led to Osama’s downfall?

• Who provided Osama with financial and logistical help in all these years of his stay at Abbottabad? If there was no internet and telephone in the mansion, how did he communicate with rest of his mujaheedins? Did Pakistan Army act as a carrier and courier?

• If the US treats Pakistan as its ally in the War against Terror, why it did not share information with them? Is there any lack of trust between US and Pakistan? If yes, Why is US still hanging on with a bunch of liars?

• If the US authorities were sure about Osama’s location 10 months ago, what made them wait for so long? Was President Obama seeking a ‘right time’ to launch the operation? Has this entire thing  some connection with Obama’s re-election bid?

• Why did not US come out publicly with Osama’s identity? Was he given a chance to surrender inside the mansion? Was not he shot in his eyes at point-blank range? Where is the justice? What is the difference between Obama and Osama? Why everything was such a hush-hush affair? Why bury Osama in the Sea?

• What is the US stand on Pakistan now? Has not India’s claim that, all terror groups find shelter in Pakistan, been proven correct? Pakistan lied for years. What action can US take against Pakistan’s double game?

• What next? Where does US’ war on terror go from here on? Is the job done? What are US’ future plans in Afghanistan?

Osama is dead. But his fear psychosis lives on. He promised to produce a million Osamas before he died. Time will tell how successful has he been. Some hail him as the champion of oppressed Muslims across the world, most loathe him as a cynic Jihadist who brought disgrace to his religion and was responsible for killing of thousands of innocent civilians. I remember him for the way he screwed a US president, who was equally villainous, if not more.

P.S.: The Writer welcomes death of Osama Bin-Laden. He is not a conspiracy theorist. He just seeks a bit of clarity..and justice (President Obama's favorite word). 

Cup of Joy: An Alternate Reality

April 2, 2011 must be feeling like an over-milked cow. The day was anticipated, much before its eventual arrival, thanks to the media frenzy and those 'Kings of Cricket' sitting, high and handsome, in the studios. When the fateful day finally arrived, the world seemed to have come to a halt. India and Indians were singing, dancing and hugging each other, from Bhagalpur to Birmimgham. It was perhaps the most emotional moment for Modern India.

But is this triumph only about painted faces, hoarse voices and SMS rhetoric? Does a World Cup victory stand prominent only because it happened after 28 years? Mauling the Lankans, Taming the Aussies and overcoming the Pakistanis, is that all what we sought? Perhaps not.

• The World Cup victory confirms, once again, that cricket is the greatest binding force in this country. Two of its nearest rivals, politics and cinema, seem to be fading away in comparison. While politicos are getting neck-deep in dirt day by day, cinema seems to be developing and defining its own varied target audience. The universal appeal seems to have waned from films, barring a few like Dabangg. However, cricket seems to be nullifying the 'niche' phenomenon. I, myself, do not remember how may people hugged me and did a high-five at India Gate on that fateful night.
• This triumph comes as a relief for the common Indian man, who was reeling under a series of shocking scams, raging inflation and a certain degree of gloominess. This victory makes us believe that we have finally arrived, and are a force to reckon with. We have always been there and thereabout, talent sans finesse, roads sans destinations; this win is set to change all that. India has always craved for idols, those inspirational figures or role models, this world cup gifted us a squad of heroes.
• The proceedings at the world cup final also confirm the notion that life is never perfect. The only perfect thing in this world is the word 'perfect' itself. Sachin Tendulkar realized his dream of kissing that coveted trophy but could not notch-up that 100^th ton in the final. The cake was there to relish, but the cherry on the top was missing. MS Dhoni scored a brilliant 91 not out, Gambhir scored most vital 97 runs of his career, but their names would never feature in that list of century makers in a world cup final. Life gives us a lot of happiness, but attaches a small little moral at the end. We, as individuals, and Team India, as a cricketing side, have a lot to achieve in life. Sachin Tendulkar, perhaps, did the right thing by not retiring from ODIs.
• According to me, this historic victory carried a very significant message 'for the youth and from the youth'. The sight of a Virat Kohli handing over the 'stump' to Sachin and showering praises on him in the post match interview, was truly exceptional. Young Indians are non-conventional, like to freak out, break a few rules, but are sensitive and responsible when the situation demands. So, Yuvarj Singh is not only a part hopper, he also happens to be Man of the Tournament in the cricket world cup 2011. MS Dhoni not only can sport long locks, but can also shave off his hair to fulfill a religious vow. This is a tempting blend of modernity and tradition, and in this very blend, rests India's future recipe. 

• This world cup also proves that victory is the prerogative of a certain breed only. The victor must have control over his words, mannerisms and behavior. MS Dhoni fits this bill perfectly, while someone like a Shahid Afridi comes across as a complaining kid. His outburst against India, after arriving in Pakistan, was not at all outrageous. Rather it was extremely funny and makes me pity the atmosphere of fear and insecurity in Pakistan. It was a last ditch effort by the captain to retain his post, after being trounced by India in the semis.

A Dream Come True

TO BE CONTINUED

P.S.: The writer thinks that having evening tea in that 'cup' is a more fulfilling experience now.