Narendra Modi's New Nationalism

Despite the grim challenges of an economic downturn, farm distress and job losses, public faith in PM Modi’s ability to solve problems remains steadfast

- Ajit Kumar Jha

Speaking at the launch of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar’s biography in the Parliament library last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began with an anecdote about how he first met the late leader in the presence of former vice-president B.S. Shekhawat at an airport. Spotting Chandra Shekhar, Shekhawat had emptied the contents of his pockets into Modi’s kurta. The reason was soon evident as Chandra Shekhar searched Shekhawat’s pockets. It turned out Shekhawat was fond of pan masala and the former PM always dissuaded him from consuming it. “Imagine a socialist leader so concerned about a Jan Sangh leader,” Modi remarked at the book launch, not only drawing applause but even chants of “Modi! Modi!”

Contrast this Modi with the one addressing election rallies. In his typical baritone, the prime minister invariably begins with his trademark ‘Bhaiyon, Behnon’ and ends his speech chanting ‘Vande...’ repeatedly, hands stretched up in the air, and the frenzied crowd responding with ‘Mataram’ each time. As an effective campaigner and communicator, Modi is known to use rhetoric, sarcasm, polemics and theatrics, cutting his opponents to size. The way he turned the Congress’s ‘Chowkidar chor hai’ jibe during the Lok Sabha election campaign on its head into the ‘Mein bhi chowkidar’ campaign, was remarkable.

Compare this with Modi’s August 8 televised address to the nation on why his government withdrew Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370. It was a sober and direct message meant to reach out to ordinary Kashmiris who, in the prime minister’s words, “have suffered and struggled”. Modi promised Kashmir early elections, prosperity and the restoration of statehood in the future.