5 things that will make you fall in love with Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete a year in office on May 26. His historic win, riding high on the promises of “achhe din” a year back, was one that gave hope, even to his detractors. For once, every Indian wanted to believe in those poll promises, uttered and repeated a million times over in the months of campaigning that preceded his final coronation as the prime minister.
What followed has not been short of a revelation about a man we have learned to love or hate but never really ignore. Trying to decode Mr Modi’s inimitable style is, I am sure a herculean task, but I consider myself bold and want to at least give it an honest try.
So here I list down five things I absolutely love about this man:
1. A self-assured man
The world is his stage and Mr Modi knows how to put up a great show. Well from, Bhutan to Hong Kong, the Modi chants are just deafening. By his own admission, he is the sole reason, why we Indians have developed a deeper sense of pride and patriotism in our nationality.
If not for him, we would be cursing our fate for being born an Indian.
It takes hell lot of self-confidence to believe that you are the one who changed the image of India for more than one billion Indians across the world! And yes, after 68 years of our democratic existence! I am sure sighs of relief being let out by Indians across the globe are worth the wait.
2. A publicist’s dream client
He is every publicist’s dream client. Yes, I mean every word of that.
If you have ever been a publicist or managed public relations for a celebrity or a corporate client, you will know, what I mean. I mean working with him would be a cakewalk, vis-a-vis the minefield every PR person treads in their professional life. Mr Modi knows his camera angles, he is a great orator, he is able to arouse emotions in his audience while he speaks, he is extremely patient with “foreign media” giving them enough time to click him, profile him and make their magazine covers worth their while. He is aware of the image he wants to project and is never shy of praising himself and rather convincingly at that. I mean, what more can you expect from a client? He is just perfect.
Everything from his suits, to his jackets, to his glares make for front-page news, worldwide! It doesn’t matter what the reality is back home, the way he portrays shining India, with conviction is no short of an Oscar-winning performance. Who the hell wants to read about farmer suicides, communal disharmony and other not so PR-able news, on the home front?
3. A travel buff
If I had my way I would take Mr Modi home, seriously! I mean, anyone who loves to travel, would. He must be the coolest travel companion, ever ready to pack bags and explore the world. I often imagine him sitting in his spacious office in South Block, his chair turned to face a huge world map hanging on the wall and he aiming a dart: where it lands is the next place on his itinerary. Nineteen countries in a year, when you are the prime minister of a nation, which in your own words is in bad shape because of a decade of poor governance, is a big number and takes a lot of passion to cover! Now that’s the kind of man I dream of traveling with. No restrains, when it comes to touring the globe.
4. A generous man
I have not seen another politician who is as generous as Mr Modi. He gives other lesser mortals also an opportunity to bask in his blessed halo. I think after the ice bucket challenge, if any other cause really broke the internet, it was the Swachh Bharat campaign! Broom-wielding celebrities became a norm and were everywhere. Who cares if Bharat finally saw some swachhata! Many got to shine bright in that moment of borrowed glory.
5. A true friend
A real man is one who stands by his friend, no matter what. Mr Modi and his friendship with business tycoon Gautam Adani, is a thing folklores are made of. A vivid imagination can do wonders, you see, I always imagine them in Jai-Veeru from Sholay film mode. Through thick and thin. Adani backed Mr Modi in his bid for the highest post and now the 152 per cent jump in his wealth in less than a year, his entry into the list of 10 richest Indians, show that his faith in his friend paid off handsomely. I wish we all had such friends, the forever kinds.
Sometimes when I look at Mr Modi, I wonder, he does make it all seem so damn easy. He is like the statesman, the showman, the suave politician all rolled into one. It must take a lot to be Narendra Damodardas Modi and even more to wake up every morning, believing that he is the saviour of a billion destinies.