Modi’s Game Changing Speech

Why do I keep calling the speech a game changer? Why am I using a term often used in American politics to define people like Obama and Sarah Palin (that may have been a mistake)? You see, when a good state level leader makes the move to the national stage, he (or she) has to go through ambitious national leaders in their own party while letting their name known to the entire nation. It is not a mean feat. When Barak Obama made his now famous speech at the John Kerry’s nomination meeting (the biggest meeting for a party in the US), he essentially made his national debut and planted the seed of the first black president in peoples’ mind. In many ways, Modi's speech was like that.While the media was talking of Rahul’s Obama moment on Rahul’s speech which may have been good by Rahul’s standards but by most standards, it was a pedestrian effort. But we will not commit the crime of comparing Modi and Rahul. We will try to analyze Modi’s speech on its own merits.

1. Though not young, Modi is definitely in tune with the needs of young India. After all, how hard it is to empathize with the youth? Today’s youth may text more than write letters but they still have the same concerns as the youth of 30 years ago. The language and the way of addressing, conveys that Modi is really the first youth icon. Congress can claim Rajiv Gandhi as that but the man had limited vision and no leadership or intellect.

2. Modi’s speech amply demonstrated his vision for India. Of course even that is not difficult. We all know what is needed to repair India? Even Rajiv Gandhi showed signs of that but he did not have the leadership capability / background, or the intellect or deeper knowledge on the issues. Just appointing Sam Pitroda as the tech Czar was not enough. It was like buying a laptop for a hungry family. Modi on the other hand has led from the front, is a proven winner and clearly knows how to implement workable policies to suit his vision. No one in Congress has that or can do that.

3. The speech was a real game changer in that; it changed the rules of the debate from here on. Petty, made up and irrelevant topics like saffron terror or communalism will always get trumped by the real issues: corruption, governance, development, poverty, jobs, health to name a few. Even the UPA knows that the voters want more than trumped up issues and a good looking middle aged stuffed shirt which is why they are a worried lot today (read the article below). While Modi promises a vision with a proven ability to implement it, Congress offers Sonia’s tears.

4. Obama who is the first black president of the USA won both the elections using the support of the youth and women. Modi should use the same model because these two sections of the society are relatively impervious to age-old prejudices. The way the liberal students of a liberal college of a liberal megapolis like New Delhi connected with Modi gives you a hint of that possibility. The youth was supposed to be the constituency of Congress' middle aged Rajkumar. Modi rode into Rahul’s town and won over a hitherto unwinnable constituency (BJP has not won New Delhi is a while) by talking about what is of paramount importance to today’s youth. Modi’s economic plans and the existing safety record of women in Gujarat have to resonate with housewives.

5. The road the PM’s seat goes through UP. It also goes through states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, AP, TN, WB etc. because of their large number of Loksabha seats. Modi needs to make similar speeches in colleges in those states and tell the youth what his vision is and HOW does he plan to implement it. He needs to provide them with a working solution like the politicians do in the US. The smart Indian youth of today cannot be placated by empty rhetoric.

This was the first step that Bhai Narendra took towards New Delhi. It was like hitting a sixer on the first ball of the match. Let us hope that the march continues, unimpeded. Modi needs to ignore the cacophony and negativity out of the Congress owned media and keep harping on the message. We pray that the party and the Hindus unite behind this man and give him a chance. We all deserve a real leader for once.