Dear Mr. Modi,
Heartiest congratulations on receiving
a clear and emphatic mandate from the people across India!
I always believed great
leadership is what India needs at the current juncture and in your relatively
successful demonstration of a development based governance model in Gujarat and
in your super-effective execution of the poll blitzkrieg unleashed by BJP, I see
a definite promise of this leadership need getting fulfilled.
Cynicism however being the
hallmark of an oft-let-down individual/ population, I am a tad cynical despite
nurturing a predominant hope of seeing a promise materialize. Upon
introspection, I realize that my current bout of cynicism has been triggered by
what I repeatedly hear about this verdict of Indian population being a mandate
against corruption; a mandate for a long overdue Indian-spring, no less &
finally a mandate for development.
Mandate for development? Probably
yes. But is it against corruption & pro-clean governance too? The cynic in
me doesn’t agree….
I’m cynical largely since a small
but a startling fact I’ve stumbled upon
pretty much trashes the claim of this election being a mandate against
corruption; the fact being that AAP that contested on a national scale on an
anti-corruption platform manages a mere 2% vote share and trails behind the
2.5% of an upstart regional party that symbolizes everything corrupt in Indian
polity.
Even if I discount this as owing
to the tell-tale impact of an escapist-legacy that AAP couldn’t shrug-off, this
for sure underscores the fact that corruption wasn’t the top-of-the-mind issue
for the average Indian citizen headed for the polling booth & there was
every sign out there to say that money flowed like water in this general
election and a significant proportion of the voting junta had had a field time letting
one party out-bid the other.
I am cynical also because in the
revamped scheme of things within your party, the past blemished have sauntered
back right-in and have been duly resurrected and reinstated honourably, all in
the larger context of coming to power and providing an alternative to the chronically
fatigued dynasty that grappled with corruption at all levels.
Finally, I am cynical because there
is this improvised practical theory gaining ground among the Indian citizens
that corruption isn’t a big issue as long as development happens & within
the narrower realm of visible development.
I absolutely loved it Narendra bhai,
when during the victory speech at Vadodara, you reiterated the importance of inclusiveness
in development. Unlike many liberals who raised an eyebrow on what you didn’t
state explicitly, I indeed understand you meant to include all segments of
population in the development process without malice towards any one in
particular. I know for sure anyone who has come to power on such a unique
mandate, much less you, would waste such an opportunity by indulging in antics
that result in polarization & marginalization of a specific segment. Only, I’m
worried that all this inferred disengagement between development &
corruption in the Indian psyche shouldn’t end up making inclusion merely a term
to denote equitable sharing of spoils among a corrupt polity and a corruptible
populace, irrespective of region, community or caste.
Notwithstanding the oft-employed reproach
that Indian growth rate over the past few years has been way above the rate of
most advanced countries’, I know you understand well that we aren’t exactly
comparing apples to apples here & in reality India lags behind these nations
in infrastructure and civic amenities by a decade at the least. I trust that
you fully realize that development at this scale isn’t possible merely by launching
or going after symbolic, disjointed developmental initiatives that neither impact
the quality of life nor help improve the perception of an ever-doubting
international community on India’s capability to operate as a transparent &
corruption-free business nation.
Cynicism apart, I am thrilled by
the fact that the clear mandate will help you avoid the oh-so-typical arm-twisting,
blackmailing politics of the coalition/ alliance governments and this in-turn
will allow you to focus on executing your vision that much more smoothly and without
hindrance. Given this and given your own leadership potential this is the
closest, I suspect, India would ever get to an Indian spring.
I’m positive Mr. Prime Minister-Designate
that you’ll seize this moment to redefine the paradigm & give me a reason
or a score to feel more proud of being an Indian wherever I go.
I wish you, your cabinet and all Indian
citizens the very best in the days to come!
Acchey din…, bas ab aane hee
chaahiye!!
Respectfully yours,
A fellow Indian
