Thinking Allowed: The humble Prime Servant

In whatever he does, Narendra Modi likes to change the script. But for his maiden Independence Day speech at the Red Fort as Prime Minister he got rid of the script altogether. He spoke extempore. He spoke for more than an hour, he spoke with passion and sensitivity. And in general he talked sense. The first Independence Day speech by the first-time PM proved once again that Mr Modi was a fine orator, a smart politician and a man of extraordinary confidence.
It also proved the enormous power of the Indian Constitution. It showed how the office can change the office-bearer. Mr Modi’s speech, delivered in his rabble-rousing fashion, in truth did no rabble rousing. For all his aggressive swagger, the street-smart tone and expansive gestures, Prime Minister Modi did not make a regressive speech. He spoke of development, of fighting poverty, of protecting the girl child. He spoke against casteism and communalism. In short, he spoke like a true Prime Minister of India. He rose magnificently to meet the demands of the Constitution and of the historic Red Fort, where Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had first unfurled the Indian flag on August 15, 1947, where the walls remember the hopes and fears of time past, and the promises of every Indian PM for 67 years.
So you may be startled by the sudden humility in the man who made unabashed arrogance and visible muscle-flexing his strength. It is interesting to see how having brazenly muscled his way to power, Mr Modi is now struggling to get into the role of the leader as humble public servant.
So even as the Prime Minister  wields full control over all government decisions, including appointments of bureaucrats, even as he changes the judicial system, as he gags his ministers and administrative officers insisting that all information must come from the Prime Minister’s Office alone, the PM himself claims to be merely the pradhan sevak or the Prime Servant.
So if we are being ruled by a gaggle of hierarchical sevaks, then who on earth is doing the brainwork and the strategising — the primary task of a mantri, as anyone with any knowledge of Sanskrit would know? Is it not necessary to use the brain in the service of the nation?
Of course it is. And Mr Modi does a lot of brainwork. He is a mantra who would make Kautilya proud. But it is this annoying new chair that makes him spout such uncharacteristic stuff. He even ends up opposing caste and sectarian conflict. What a curious move from this stately man, who has for 12 years stoutly refused to apologise for the Gujarat riots that happened on his watch. He talks of unity of all Indians, ignoring the demands of religious polarisation that brought him to power. The chair has its way. And what a welcome move that is.
But even as he tries to be humble, Mr Prime Minister cannot escape showcasing himself. His speech is more about himself than about the country. He is the Prime Servant. He comes from a poor family, from a small town, he is an outsider to Delhi’s elite circles, a chaiwallah, one who works so hard that however long you may work he will work an hour longer, one who has achieved so much in so short a time, including magically changing the lazy work culture of the Indian government... Nope, being humble is not easy for Mr Modi.
Firmly, he insists that violence has to stop. He asks for a 10-year moratorium on caste and sectarian violence and asks Maoists to give up arms. Nurture, he says, don’t kill. He dreams of India and its neighbours coming together to fight poverty.
The content of Mr Modi’s speech may have changed dramatically, but his style remains the same. He fearlessly expresses rudimentary sentiments with a touch of rustic humour. He repeatedly talks of balatkar or rape (no euphemism needed), and focuses the shame light on the rapists’ parents. Parents must discipline and keep a tab on their sons. Similarly, he urges parental control for young Maoists. He talks of the need for toilets and of village women waiting until dark to go out to relieve themselves. His lack of sophistication makes you cringe, but he is not talking to you alone. He is addressing 1.2 crore Indians, most of them in villages.
It is interesting to see how
Mr Modi’s energetic extempore speech compares with President Pranab Mukherjee’s well-constructed speech the day before. Like the Prime Minister, the President had spoken of economic development, good governance, eliminating poverty, of civil society participating in the political process. He had spoken against intolerance and violence. But while the Prime Minister’s speech is that of a street fighter giving his personal opinion on matters of the state, the President’s address introspects and raises philosophical questions.
The President talks of freedom as a celebration and independence as a challenge, of “individual and collective liberties”. The PM talks of martyred freedom fighters. The President talks of education and an enlightened society, of “core civilisational values” like compassion and pluralism. The PM thunders on about what he will do. The President talks of a “constructive partnership between the state and the citizen”, calling for “collective action by all the stakeholders”. The PM tosses to the masses a benevolent offer of joining hands with the government, while clearly believing in a top-down approach to development. He also seems to hold the masses, individually and collectively, responsible for the dirt, the grime, the rapes and the violence. Which is not a bad thing — each of us needs to feel personally accountable for society to change.
The President warns of excesses and hopes that Parliament and the courts would revive intellectual debate, careful legislation and proper justice delivery, so essential for a vibrant democracy. The PM quotes “Maharshi Arvind” and Swami Vivekananda (because of his deep respect for sages, he explains) and hopes India will one day become “jagat-guru”, the spiritual master of the world.
“I sometimes wonder: has our democracy become too noisy?” says the President. “Have we lost the art of contemplation and calm thinking?” The PM warns: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty!” Stay awake with the security forces. “Jagte raho!”
It is energising to have a dynamic Prime Minister. But perhaps some quiet contemplation would be welcome too.

The writer is editor of The Little Magazine.

She can be contacted at: sen@littlemag.com