Caught between wanting to be an ideal swayamsevak like Mohan Bhagwat, and a moderniser like Vajpayee, Prime Minister Modi could become an Indira-like statist.
In line with RSS drill, Congress is taking out prabhat pheris to mark Indira Gandhi’s birth centenary; claims its workers invoked nationalism during freedom struggle.
Over 50 years ago, Jayaprakash Narayan had advocated more autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir on many occasions, but ruled out de-accession or independence.
Pranab Mukherjee is the ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of Indian public life. The third volume of his political memoir is self-serving, hides too much and uses uncharacteristic innuendo.
On JP’s birth anniversary, reposting my trip down memory lane to 1977-78, and conspiracy theories about why his health deteriorated during the Emergency.
The Prime...
It isn’t what you think. Political winds haven’t shifted yet. But the air is thick with doubts, economic stress is hurting and for the first time since his rise in 2013, the PM is fighting back.
About 300 employees had called in sick Wednesday, allegedly in protest against mismanagement of airlines. Remaining staff given ultimatum to rejoin work by end of Thursday.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
Modi has certain qualities like ability,courage,resolve…etc. which prompted him to start swatch abhiyan etc which no other PM had started before.However his limitations include lack of adequate knowledge in statecraft which when gets added to his autocratic methods and inherent prejudices,fads… due to his background and upbringing becomes dangerous like quackery for the state.
The gap in intent and achievement is defined by the manner in which the leader builds his/her team and leads it. Modi government never made an attempt to build a solid, competent team. As for leading, it is becoming increasingly evident that narcissism rather than vision guides governance. That said, all is not lost, but then the leader should have the time and temperament to listen.
2019 is one year closer than when this prescient column was written. What goes into the Report Card presented to the electorate are results, outcomes, achievements. In cold print, demonetisation will not be easy to explain or extol. Coupled with the impact of a flawed GST, the economy will show up as an area of weakness. Whatever good, sensible work can still be done in the short time that remains should be attempted. Getting Air India out by March 2018, although I think that is not possible, should be done. The virtual world of social media will bring no strength.
There is a careful line that distinguishes between recklessness and audacity just as there is a distinction between policy analysis and policy dysfunction.
As to “war gaming” – Governance is not war and Governance is not a game. The idea that there hasn’t been adequate analytical understanding in Government policies is a product of the opacity of this Govt’s function. The lack of transparency in decision making and govt analysis (which we come to know despite the Govt) tilts the balance to give the benefit of the doubt to the opposition’s narrative.
Modi has certain qualities like ability,courage,resolve…etc. which prompted him to start swatch abhiyan etc which no other PM had started before.However his limitations include lack of adequate knowledge in statecraft which when gets added to his autocratic methods and inherent prejudices,fads… due to his background and upbringing becomes dangerous like quackery for the state.
The gap in intent and achievement is defined by the manner in which the leader builds his/her team and leads it. Modi government never made an attempt to build a solid, competent team. As for leading, it is becoming increasingly evident that narcissism rather than vision guides governance. That said, all is not lost, but then the leader should have the time and temperament to listen.
2019 is one year closer than when this prescient column was written. What goes into the Report Card presented to the electorate are results, outcomes, achievements. In cold print, demonetisation will not be easy to explain or extol. Coupled with the impact of a flawed GST, the economy will show up as an area of weakness. Whatever good, sensible work can still be done in the short time that remains should be attempted. Getting Air India out by March 2018, although I think that is not possible, should be done. The virtual world of social media will bring no strength.
There is a careful line that distinguishes between recklessness and audacity just as there is a distinction between policy analysis and policy dysfunction.
As to “war gaming” – Governance is not war and Governance is not a game. The idea that there hasn’t been adequate analytical understanding in Government policies is a product of the opacity of this Govt’s function. The lack of transparency in decision making and govt analysis (which we come to know despite the Govt) tilts the balance to give the benefit of the doubt to the opposition’s narrative.