A think tank named after PM Narendra Modi has been established to conduct research on his leadership, governance style and international diplomacy. Named as the Centre for Narendra Modi Studies (CNMS) or NaMo Kendra, it has been set up as a public trust by professor Jasim Mohammad near the Law Faculty of Aligarh Muslim University.
Mohammad, who teaches Comparative Literature at Arunachal University of Studies, says that the centre will initially operate from Aligarh and will then be shifted to New Delhi. He adds that the centre can also be called ‘NaMo Kendra’. To kickstart the activities of the centre and introduce it to the intelligentsia in the country and abroad, the CNMS has published more than 10 books on various themes of Modi’s leadership like International Relations: Harbinger of Change, International Relations: Heralding A New World Order, International Relations: A New Awakening, Collection of PM’s Mann Ki Baat, etc.
Elaborating further on the activities of the centre, Mohammad says that apart from holding seminars and conferences, from the next academic year, the CNMS plans to hold short-term workshops for college students and teachers on themes like Atmanirbhar Bharat, India’s Freedom Movement, Democracy and the Constitution of India. Among other academic activities to be undertaken by it include the Narendra Modi Model of Nation-building, Defining Parameters of Concept of Secularism, Liberal Democracy, Non-alignment and Social Justice as spelt by Narendra Modi to enable and facilitate policymakers. “The centre will also create inter-linkages with NGOs and academic institutions to prepare and provide authentic data,” he adds.
Mohammad says that the idea to establish the CNMS struck him last year when the nation celebrated the 70th birthday of PM Modi. “It came to my mind that when personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Deendayal Upadhyay, Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru has institutions named after him, why shouldn’t we start an institution to celebrate the leadership of Narendra Modi and other aspects of nation-building,” he adds.
A website namostudies.in has also been created to provide a gateway into the CNMS for readers. Apart from doing research on the leadership of Narendra Modi, the CNMS is out to explore ideas relating to National Security and Strategic Studies, International Relations/Diplomacy, Neighbourhood Studies, Governance and Political Studies, Economic Studies, Technological and Scientific Studies, Mother tongue studies and Historical and Civilisational Studies. Mohammad is also trying to approach former bureaucrats, diplomats, academics, editors, researchers and other experts to join the CNMS and contribute as researchers. “I am sure we’ll soon have a dedicated and robust team,” says he.