An article entitled ‘The Forthcoming Parliamentary Elections’ in the April 2014 issue of this magazine began with the following statement, “There is a general expectation in the masses that things may improve after the installation of the new government headed, most likely, by Narendra Modi. It is the sheer power of the spirit – the deeper truth of our individual and collective being – that such a hope has persisted throughout and continues to be entertained even in the face of an almost unbroken record of poor governance, – governance that has been getting progressively worse over the last sixty five years. To the ordinary material intellect which takes its stand on appearances, such a record of a direct and continued contradiction of the persistent hope is a solid argument against readily entertaining any such hope in the near future and according to it, such a phenomenon may be attributable only to the foolishness and irrationality of general human nature. However, to a deeper view of the workings of evolutionary nature, such an opposition between an unrealized but persistent ideal or hope and the realized fact appears, to use Sri Aurobindo’s words, ‘… as part of Nature’s profoundest method and the seal of her completest sanction’ – her sanction for the future realization of such an ideal or hope. So, let us remain hopeful for a glorious future for this country against all apparent denials and odds.
Although the final election results are due only around the middle of the next month, it is progressively becoming clear that the ruling party is set to get a sound drubbing – well deserved and earned – at the hands of the Indian people. The new government and leadership is not expected and even cannot reasonably be expected – given the tremendous asuric forces that, being well entrenched in this field, can impeccably use the false sense of self-preservation to turn even a decent soul into little more than a ‘political animal’ – to do anything but remain solely concerned, at least initially, with the surface material needs and concerns of the masses.”1
After a glowing and promising beginning, the new government is finding itself progressively forced into concentrating, almost exclusively, on the issues related to the surface material needs and concerns of the people. On this course, understandably, it is facing the hostility of the established egoistic forces in the political field which are now silently using the ever willing political and economical players as their tools. A bitter opposition from such forces and a sense of relative disappointment in a section of the masses impressed by the “secular” noise seems to sum up the present scenario.
In an article in the May 2014 issue of this magazine dealing with the question of what people expected from their new government, it was observed, “How far Narendra Modi as the focus of the hopes of the people is able to fulfill these hopes remains to be seen. The task before him is extremely complex and challenging as the expectations seem to be diverse and often conflicting. But common to all or to begin with, a better governance is needed. An efficient administration based on the rule of law and plugging the holes made by corruption nurtured by politicians masquerading as secular leaders of the nation. The various arms of government – particularly the government administration, judiciary and financial system – mired in corruption and negligence have to be freed to fulfill their proper roles. It may need a certain degree of authoritarianism – for the day-to-day running of government cannot be done by popular vote which is simply a crude machinery evolved by nature to ensure at least the semblance of basic democratic structure. A fundamental democratic spirit and a basic loyalty to Truth which will result in a freedom from all ill-will in thought and action is all that can, at best, be demanded from a political leader who should otherwise be left free to move towards the desired ends using whatever methods are appropriate and needed to accomplish the task at hand. It is immaterial whether they appear democratic, undemocratic or even outright authoritarian to the gaze of some. (A democratic free-for-all may not always be the best way to achieve our goals and a skillful manager – while adhering to the strictest moral imperatives – uses whatever methods are appropriate for the task in hand without binding himself to any one system.) Narendra Modi has the support of the people, they have voted for him and for his plans for India. For the first time in a long time a leader at the helm of the country has been given an overwhelming and unequivocal mandate. Drawing upon this support he should boldly but judiciously pull India out of the vicious grip of inefficient government.”2
So far, this has been achieved only to some extent but the direction is set in spite of the stiff opposition that the new government has been facing both from within and without from those who feel their self interests threatened by it. From within because the rising of the new star in the ruling party has set in a process in which the “old guard” of the party are getting increasingly sidelined – something that had become absolutely necessary because of the narrow concentration on one’s personal being and its cares that had come to characterize the leadership of the BJP (something entirely out of place in the nature of the work of national service that this party claims to have set itself to achieving) before the coming of the new wave. The opposition to Narendra Modi from without is entirely understandable because he – given his vales and utter dedication to the cause of the nation – seems to threaten the whole base of the vote-bank politics that the so called “secular” parties have been progressively indulging in during the last two decades.
It was observed in the May 2014 issue of this magazine that, “An efficient government can provide a framework in which a modicum of people’s wants and needs can be satisfied without extraordinary efforts. …A greater sense of nationalism, a certain degree of material prosperity, are the first steps on the road…”3
On this front too, overall, a right course has been set and considering the very short time that the new government has been in power, a good deal has been achieved. Indians are increasingly able to take pride – in spite of the motivated mudslinging and the unmasking and coming into open of much that is most sickening in the national psyche – in their country and hope for better days ahead.
In the June 2014 issue of this magazine it was observed that, “the unambiguous message that has been radiating from all that the new government has been saying and doing, so far, may be summed up in the following fourfold formula: Sincere Dedication to the Nation, Hard Work, Harmony and Goodwill for All. … a sincere spirit of dedication and harmony may enable the present leadership of the country to arrive at a psychological condition where it spontaneously feels and works for the true well being of the country.”4
We are happy to say that – in spite of the hostility of vested interests and a large section of the media which unabashedly serves these and labours to create the impression that people are unhappy with the present government – the above has come to pass and one can confidently look forward to better days ahead for the country.
References:
- The Resurgent India Magazine, April, 2014, Page 7
- The Resurgent India Magazine, May, 2014, Pages 6-7
- The Resurgent India Magazine, May, 2014, Pages 7-8
- The Resurgent India Magazine, June, 2014, Pages 6-7
