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OPINION MAY 31, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

How does Indian Prime

Minister Narendra Modi Connect

with the Masses of India?

nary Indians for getting government
jobs for their children was addressed
through transformation of examina-
tions for even the higher level UPSC
exams. English, the language of a min-
iscule section of society, was no longer
necessary to pocket the plum jobs. Re-
gional languages got equal berth here.
The induction of skills in education
as a gateway to securing degrees and
establishment of skills universities was
a revolutionary change as were others
in the National Education Policy 2020
now being implemented all over the
BY JAGDISH BATRA
country. These changes immensely
impact the lives of the poor people in
ow does democracy work in the country.
India and how does the Indi-
Modi has not left out the spiritual
Han Prime Minister influence side of human personality. Himself a
more than 1.4 billion people from devout Hindu, he has upheld the Hin-
different socio-cultural backgrounds? length and breadth of the country. primary concern. Here again, Mo- du traditions which has had immense
This has been a matter of some curi- Radio is still a medium that works in di’s track record is envious, to say potential in connecting with the or-
osity among people as also the leaders remote areas here. His broadcasts, the least. Immediately upon taking dinary people, majority of whom are
in other countries. Indian Prime Min- also available on television, were up the reins of power in 2014, Modi Hindus. This trait is unlike the elec-
ister Narendra Modi is a valuable case watched by individuals as also groups. launched the Jan-Dhan scheme and tion-time protestations of subscribing
study of the equation between a leader Arrangements were also made by got almost all poor people open their to Hindu religion mouthed by leaders
and the masses whom he leads. Pres- government agencies to facilitate it. bank accounts into which periodic of other parties. The Hindu popula-
ently, during the elections happen- This has gone on until the present financial help from the government tion at large has come to recognize in
ing for the Indian parliament, Modi elections were announced. People side was deposited as assistance, sub- him a rare Hindu icon, to say the least.
is well-acknowledged as leading the waited keenly for the event as there sidy or even the cost of crops, etc. It This does not mean sidelining other
race for prime ministership by a big would be surprises when one among helped particularly during the Coro- communities like the Muslims. His
margin. It won’t be an overstatement them was feted by the Prime Minister na time. The scheme coupled with only objection has been giving special
to say that his is a rare personality and for the exemplary work he or she had digitalization of transactions proved status to any community at the cost of
his connect with the people hardly done. In this, there was no consider- a boon to all thenceforth. Further, the other which had been happening
finds a parallel among world leaders. ation of caste, creed, class, gender, not only the antyodaya scheme of the under previous regimes. This argu-
Modi comes from a very humble etc. This kind of recognition uplifted BJP was given a new thrust, but even
background – a railway tea-stall own- their status within their community the MNREGA scheme started by the ment has been appreciated by all com-
munities as the 2019 elections showed.
er’s son, and so has no problem in un- but also profiled them as models of Congress under Manmohan Singh Last but not the least, one cannot
derstanding what it means to be poor self-support, innovation, farsighted- was continued. Modi or the BJP did miss reference to his unmatchable
and what are their wants and aspira- ness, determination, etc. for others. not have any notion of untouchabili- oratorial skill. His rallies draw mam-
tions. His various steps have been ef- Not only this, the bestowal of ty about it, if it served the poor well. moth crowds whom he can sway easily
fectively targeted at ameliorating the national-level awards like Padma There are hundreds of schemes like even as his words are not just empty
plight of poor and ordinary people, Sri, Padma Bhushan, etc., which so Mudra, Women self-help groups, sounds but supported by solid action
even as he has also accommodated far went only to the elite supported etc. which have continued to help on the ground. So, we have a leader
other sections, thus lending credence by bigwigs in the government or the the poor and ordinary people. unlike the ones in the past, rooted in
to his slogan ‘Sab ka saath, Sab ka ruling party, went in for a surprise Modi’s special concern for the the culture of India and mindful of
vikaas’ (Progress of all with participa- change. Under Modi government, womenfolk who are doubly marginal- modern options in science and tech-
tion of all). He knows that it is not the artisans, craftsmen, folk artists, even ized in society got expressed through nology as well.
economic subsistence only that the bricoleurs who devised contraptions providing them with free gas connec-
poor people need, it is also the recog- of great potential use were spotted tions to rid them of the unhealthy Dr Jagdish Batra is an academic, critic
nition of their other needs at the psy- in the remotest corners of the coun- wood stoves is one example. The and social activist. He is currently
chological, social and spiritual levels. try and given these prestigious awards Muslim women got reprieve from the working as a Professor of English
Only a few of the strategies adopted at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, thus cen- triple-talaq curse for which they re- & Executive Dean at the O.P. Jindal
by Modi can be considered here. tre-staging the marginalized. Indeed, warded BJP with a handsome victory Global University, India. A former
Modi’s monthly Mann ki Baat such measures gave a sense of self-es- in the Muslim-dominated areas of the Rotary Study Exchange Scholar to
on radio was the first initiative that teem to the humble people. country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. USA, Dr Batra has published eleven
he took to address people across the The economic sustenance is of The utmost concern of ordi- books. Views are personal

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