Modi the statesman speaks

INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian Diaspora at the Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday. There were twenty thousand Indians listening to him live at the venue while millions watched on television screens around the world. The 'Modi-fied' speech was a classic delivery by all standards. The aura with which Modi entered the venue was truly statesman-like. With the slow but steady walk towards the stage there was a small smirk on his face that was quite telling. He was perhaps comparing the refusal of American visa to him in the past and relishing the present feat of appearing at one of United States' most well known venues to speak to American-Indians. Humbled by his palms put together in greeting the Indian Diaspora Modi addressed his nation both at home and abroad for an hour. For many, the hour passed by amazingly quickly. He thanked the Indian Diaspora for all they had done to make India proud. He said India had moved higher on the ladder of civilisation from being snake charmers to becoming 'mouse charmers' because of the contribution made by Indians in the IT industry; Indians living abroad truly contributed to the recognition of India as a powerhouse in the 21st century.  The prime minister praised their hard work and their contribution as American Indians to their motherland, inviting them with an open arm policy to invest in India.

Prime Minster Modi made the hour long speech with very little said about his domestic or foreign policy. He spoke about his rise from the 'chaewala to the premiership' with apparent reference to Sonia Gandhi's criticism of him as a candidate during the election campaign last year. He also spoke of his small visions that included cleaning up the Ganges and cleaning up India as a country. He said he had no big vision but small visions only because he was a small man referring to his humble beginnings. He then added that his small visions would make India a big country; a better place for Indians living all around the world. Although he did not mention corruption by name it was perhaps built-in in the statement for cleanliness given in the backdrop of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms. Jayalaleetha being sent to jail for amassing wealth beyond her known sources of income. India, he said, had three valuable assets that no other country in the world had at the current time: It is the largest democracy in the world; 65% of its total population was under the age of 35, which was the largest demographic dividend in the world; and absolute majority in government for the first time in thirty years. The combination of these three things placed India in a unique position to do things differently, to make India the country in Asia to be sought after; a unique India that could be a perfect gift on  the 120th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi in 2020 when they would be celebrating 75th years of independence. Promise was made to serve the young population with skill development programmes to tap into this huge demographic dividend. He repeatedly credited Indians for choosing the right government, a government that can deliver; a government that represented all Indians wherever they may be.

Modi uttered the name of Gandhi at least half a dozen times. It was all in reference to Mahatma Gandhi; never did he utter a word about his predecessor Gandhi and that dynastic family. He did not criticise his opposition, not even once. He did not have to raise his voice for the 20,000 seated in the gallery; his voice was perfectly modulated with the right amount of sarcasm wherever he felt like adding it. It was all there in the reference to the chawewala to the big vision versus small vision and the cleaning up of the Ganges that washes off all sins with a dip in its holy waters. I listened to the speech with rapt attention as millions around the world did. At the end I could only wish that our leadership would be able to transcend all rivalry and rise to becoming true statesmen. In addressing citizens at home or abroad their intelligence must not be tested. On the contrary, they should be shown respect as the country belongs to them, which is what Prime Minister Modi did.

The writer is a former Secretary and Ambassador.