When Prime Minister Narendra Modi bent his body in a yogic pose, we saw 180-odd nations bow too. That is the power of the ‘The Boss’.
Times Now Navbharat reporter said representatives of these countries at the United Nations inhale when he inhales, exhale when he exhales – why, even China and Pakistan will do ‘Anulom Vilom’, and breathe in ‘Modi magic’, he claimed. Waah.
“PM Modi to lead yoga session at UN HQ today,” explained India Today, on International Yoga Day. “Josh-full,” said Aaj Tak looking at the crowded lawns.
And it was an Indian dawn in New York as eager NRIs, in yoga gear, arrived at the UN building. They were interviewed by Indian TV reporters in their trousers and jackets—India Today was in a kurta. Meanwhile, the Times Now correspondent was floored by an elderly gentleman who said he did 500 surya namaskars each morning.
“Why are you here, to see Modi or do yoga?” asked India Today, and NRIs promptly said “Modi” and then “Yoga”. “A day with Modi,” said one gentleman (CNN News 18). There followed much ‘gyaan’ from the reporters and anchors on yoga—do they practise it themselves?
The only exercise many TV reporters performed during the yoga session was to wag their tongues—that would be on India Today, CNN News 18, Zee News, India TV, Aaj Tak. The India Today reporter told us that the PM was “sweating profusely” after his exertion while the reporter looked cool in blue.
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Star-struck channels
Television news channels have been star-struck by PM Modi and lavish praise on him like Americans spread peanut butter on bread.
Consider: While English newspapers stuck to dry headlines like ‘PM Modi lands in the US, many events in the pipeline’ (The Hindu), TV news celebrated ‘NaMoste America’ (India Today). When Hindustan Times led with ‘Defense tech in focus…’, India TV hailed ‘America mein Boss Modi’. And if The Indian Express explained the intricacies of ‘foreign policy & strategy’ in ‘India and US: Trust and necessity’, Republic TV’s reporter gave us the ‘Modi Thaali’ at an Indian restaurant, which serves the PM’s favourite dishes—khandvi, thepla, khichri, dhokla, kadhi-bhindi, and shrikhand.
When the PM’s plane touched down in New York, Tuesday night, TV reporters — many of whom had flown out especially for the PM’s state visit to the US — were thrilled. The India Today reporter said he could hear the “excitement” in the voices of the NRIs gathered at the airport — well, we could hear his excitement too.
Back in the Mumbai’s Republic TV studio, anchor Arnab Goswami was screaming—“This is the sixth but most high-profile visit… the entire world is looking…!!!!!”
Hindi news channels were animated over something else: ‘Modi mania in US…. China ka future tragic,’ said ABP News, ‘Why is the dragon scared?’ ‘China hysterical’, claimed CNN News 18, after an article in Global Times criticised Modi’s visit.
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‘Fan’ Elon Musk
Let’s not be unfair: there were many serious and learned discussions on TV about the substance of the visit with former Indian and US ambassadors and strategic writers, across channels. A new feature was the ringing endorsement of PM Modi—and India—by US Congress representatives, state governors and even mayors. “We are very excited to welcome Prime Minister Modi… I can’t wait to see him…” said Scott Perry of Pennsylvania (CNN News 18).
Interestingly, ex-US diplomats chose their words carefully. When Atul Keshap, former US envoy to India, was asked, “How is Modi looked at?”, he replied, “I respect and admire India…” (CNN News 18).
Wednesday, however, belonged to the PM’s yoga performance — and Elon Musk.
The Tesla chief aka Twitter boss met India’s ‘boss’ Tuesday, and told TV news channels he was a “fan” of Modi. He added that the social media giant had no choice but to “obey” local laws. This was interpreted as a rebuttal to former Twitter chief Jack Dorsey, who accused the Indian government of trying to censor Twitter content. TV news channels ‘slammed’ Dorsey and showcased BJP’s criticism of Congress — ‘Musk endorses’ Modi, stated India Today,‘Musk rubbishes Dorsey…’
NRIs for Modi
And what of our dear sisters and brothers — the NRIs in the US? They were on a picnic outing: they flew in from other parts of the country, hired buses, lined the streets, waved the Indian flag, danced and chanted, and ensured Indian TV news channels featured them.
Channels said NRIs were out in large numbers — up to 1,000 gathered outside the New York Palace Hotel where the PM was staying, said CNN News 18 — but the TV camera frames were cropped so tightly that, frankly, we saw few people.
Their admiration for the Prime Minister remains undiminished: “I hope he is PM always,” said one gentleman (Republic TV). “Welcome Modi ji, no one can be greater than him,” said one to CNN News 18. “BJP should rule the whole of India,” said another.
Times Now Navbharat, Republic TV, Doordarshan News found NRIs dancing at Times Square. Aaj Tak found them jiving to ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’. “…the same scenes can be seen in 20 other cities…all due to Modi magic,” exulted the DD News correspondent. The channel discovered three NRIs in Modi T-shirts who had come to catch a glimpse of the PM and tell him, “Keep it up”.
No laughing matter
We can smile at this ‘Modi Modi’ mania, but the underlying message is no laughing matter: To see India bask in the glow of this praise and adulation for its PM and its country wherever Modi visits, makes Indians in India feel proud. To hear Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticise the government, to dwell on what ails the country, when he travels abroad, makes Indians feel bad about India and themselves.
The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)