This Article is From Aug 15, 2014

The Stand-Out Part of PM Modi's Speech

(Harish Khare is a senior journalist, commentator and a research scholar)

Last year Narendra Modi had delivered a mock Independence Day oration from Gujarat; then, for the next nine months, he hopped from one corner of the country to another, delivering vitriolic speeches all to earn the licence to speak from a very special corner - the ramparts of the Red Fort. Today, he rightfully exercised that right. And exercised it with aplomb.

During the last 12 months, he has undoubtedly established his reputation as India's most effective and accomplished public speaker in Hindi. That he spoke extempore from the Red Fort does not add up to anything, except as an interesting  contrast to the practice of the last 16 years when Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh chose to be measured in their language and formulations.

Before this morning, Narendra Modi had given two substantive speeches - in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks, and at the BJP National Council meeting a few days ago. On both the occasions, Mr. Modi's performance was deemed to be drenched in vivid partisan colors.

The primary question of interest, therefore, was whether by his performance at the Red Fort, the Prime Minister would be able to signal a desire to make the transition from a partisan politician to a national leader. The task was attempted but only half-accomplished. At times, Narendra Modi did slip into election-time rhetorical rhyme and rhythm. He did not redeem himself much when he pointedly omitted Jawaharlal Nehru while mentioning Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel as the architects of India's independence. Life-long habits of political pettiness are hard to kick.

The August 15 occasion provides the Prime Minister a national platform as well as a political excuse to showcase himself. A Prime Minister's Independence Day performance can never be totally independent of his or her political strength and popular acceptability. Mr. Modi is the first prime minister in a long time to address the nation from the Red Fort with the knowledge of a parliamentary majority behind him.         

And that confidence very much defined his performance this morning. It was an inspirational dialogue with the nation, urging citizens to turn a new leaf in our collective enterprise.

The most striking note that Narendra Modi struck has to be his invocation of nation-building as a joint-partnership between the government and the citizen. It was about time that this proposition was rediscovered and re-stated as an operational requirement. 

No Prime Minister after Nehru has been confident enough to ask the citizens to do their part in building a new social and egalitarian order. Starting with the Garibi Hatao days, the political platforms and rhetoric promised to do more and more for the citizens, without demanding of them any commensurate sacrifice, compliance or commitment.

No government, however benevolent, can look after one billion people from cradle to the grave. Collective energies have to be tapped for collective salvation. Narendra Modi made a beginning today. Considerable political courage and wisdom will be needed to take this process forward. Amen.

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