Modi comes as a discomfort for a generation that is steeped into a culture of convenienced opinion-makers. This, in-turn, causes catastrophisation in narratives
This is in defence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea and philosophy of a New India. lest this be branded a reaction “that is so typical” of Modi brigade, it must be clarified at the outset that it is a logical and factual repudiation of what’s been termed the “rhetoric” of ‘New India’ or an alluring distant dream being spun by a skilled political communicator. A noted commentator and one of country’s tallest television journalists, in a recent article, lambasted the Prime Minister, incriminating him of “artful messaging” and “cleverly changing the goalposts by embarking on another feel good journey to woo the gen-next voter.” Aaron T Beck, father of cognitive therapy, would have called this either arbitrary inference or selective abstraction. It is well known, Beck propounded six types of faulty thinking.
It would be naive to look at the Prime Minister’s idea of ‘New India’ as a yearly ritual in sloganeering, as the respected writer says in the beginning of his piece in Hindustan Times. Instead, the idea of ‘New India’ subsumes all preceding concepts, including achche din, Swachh Bharat, Start-up India, Stand Up India, Digital India. Not only this, the vision of ‘New India’ also encompasses ideas like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao; Jan Dhan Yojana; and, of course, Sabka saath, sabka vikas.
‘New India’ is a new philosophy of resurrecting a vibrant India. It is a call to rescue the country of the scourge of filth, poverty, misery, lethargy, apathy and corruption. ‘New India’ is goal setting — of building a healthy and hygienic nation where open defecation is a curse. ‘New India’ is about new values which put supreme premium on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Jan Dhan or access to banking of all. ‘New India’ is a dream of an India where entrepreneurship shall thrive, and where digital technologies shall bridge the divide between the rich and the poor. ‘New India’ is a call to all to contribute vigorously in the process of nation-building. ‘New India’ propounds the spirit of Sankalp se Siddhi or achievement through resolve.
Much like the Mahatma dreamt of a gram swaraj, Modi, today, savours the idea ushering us into a ‘New India’ by 2022, 75 years after the Mahatma’s trysts gave birth to an independent India. Even the worst critiques confer that among others, one of Modi’s finest contribution has been infusing a new spirit among the people by establishing a rare bond with them through leveraging all possible communication platforms. Be it his tweets, public speeches or Mann ki Baat, people relate with Modi intensely, and, therefore, the call for a ‘New India’ is no rhetoric. It’s a call of action.
Dismissing the dreams of a ‘New India’ that Modi has passionately dreamt of in three years, based on the ills that has creeped into the system over 67 years, is crass rhetorics and an act in chicanery. For it ignores vital facts and magnifies generic systemic disorders, which Modi has been trying desperately to address. That we are very much on the path of building a ‘New India’ rather than savoring it as a mere “futuristic alluring dream” is borne out by straight facts, devoid of any artful spin.
Doesn't the benefits of over Rs 170 crore to patients, who get affordable medicines through 84 Affordable Medicine and Reliable Implants for Treatment outlets qualify as change for a ‘New India’IJ Don't 29.5 crore new bank accounts for the poor and the marginalised with Rs 65,844 crore as balance indicate empowerment of a new kind, in a ‘New India’IJ Isn’t providing access to safe cooking facility by way of free lPG connection to over 27 million poor qualify as building blocks of a New IndiaIJ Isn't over eight crore loan sanctions to different categories of entrepreneurs in a record time a new wave of change, a certain making of a New IndiaIJ Isn't the silent revolution which has resulted in over two lakh villages turning open defecation free a definitive indicator of making of a new India, which breathes freedom for its teeming millionsIJ Isn't a reaffirmation of shanti, ekta, sadbhav by the Prime Minister from the ramparts of the Red Fort and his stern warning that violence in the name of Astha will not be accepted — reason enough for the “fearful” minorities to rest assured of the intent of the GovernmentIJ Isn't this a new call for a ‘New India’IJ
For a generation steeped into a culture of carefully crafted convenience of opinion-makers, Modi does come as a discomfort. This in turn causes, what psychologists term, catastrophisation in the narratives in which the world appears as doomed, and Modi the mammoth tormentor. Beck’s theory of faulty thinking stands vindicated.
(The writer is a strategic communications professional)