The extempore performance that laid out his — and indeed, the country’s — biggest concerns for the country, the prime minister chalked up several, several victories in one go. And it will go received as a significant triumph for the newly elected leader for several reasons.
One, he addressed his critics as well as his supporters, asked India not to politicise his Independence Day speech and insisted that the huge majority he enjoys in Lok Sabha will not mean this government does not care for the views of the Opposition or will brook no opposition. Instead, he said, he would work towards consensus-building and unanimity in major decisions.
Two, it was a speech of many firsts. For example, he spoke without the bullet-proof glass cage, making himself immediately more accessible to the millions who were tuned in on television or were present at the Red Fort. Modi also spoke without a written speech in hand. This was a masterful orator and leader addressing his people directly, literally having a heart-to-heart with them.
Three, he picked topics that would be conventionally disdained by speech-writers as too humble for a Independence Day message. Sanitation has certainly found mention in Dr Manmohan Singh’s speeches, but Modi addressed the topic with unprecedented candour and directness.His five-minute beration of Indians for not keeping the country clean, for not being able to give mothers a toilet was definitely a first. “What kind of PM stands at Red Fort and talks about toilet building?” asked Modi. The answer: A PM with immense confidence and authority to break with tradition.
He made it clear that he wasn’t concerned with being classy. Foreign dignitaries were listening to an instant-translation of the speech on their headphones. That did not deter Narendra Modi.
On the issue of rape too, there was a ‘Modi’ difference. While previous Independence Day speeches have made a mention of rising crime against women, no PM has had the gumption to ask Indians everywhere why they don’t take their sons to task. Nobody speaking from Red Fort has ever called Indian parents hypocritical, and the prime minister came close to doing just that.
Some of the themes were familiar, as in the bit about being an outsider in Delhi. “I am an outsider in Delhi. I don’t belong in Delhi’s world…I am far removed from Delhi’s elite class,” he said candidly. He has called himself a chaiwallah and a chowkidar in the past, today he called himself a sevak, promising to work 13 hours if his officers worked 12.
Four, he channeled his inner world leader, referencing everyone from Gandhi to JFK.
A sanitation project to start on the Mahtma’s birthday on October 2 was a tribute to Gandhi, even as he elaborated on Kennedy’s famous, ‘ask not what your nation can do for you’ message by urging Indians to do their bit, be it simply getting to work on time or jettisoning typical ‘what’s in it for me’ attitudes.
Refreshingly missing were the usual invocations of revered nationalists, and the speech was completely devoid of meaningless tributes to individual leaders.
Five, he made a quick slew of announcements: The Jan Dhan Yojana including an insurance scheme for crores of Indians to now be brought into the banking system was the first. Next was his skill developments mission to equip Indian youth with skills ranging from technology to art, with a view to job creation. Third was a thrust for manufacturing, a direct invitation to foreign investment in manufacturing. This was his very snazzy “Make-In-India” mantra, something that is certain to catch on. Fourth was a pitch for a second digital revolution, both in terms of manufacturing hardware that is currently imported and in terms of greater use of information technology for e-governance, e-service delivery and more.
Expectedly, he also made a mention of SAARC towards the end of his speech. Having addressed India through about 58 minutes of his hour-long speech, he found time for a quick mention of joining hands with SAARC nations for the eradication of poverty.
Finally, he made one more critical announcement: That the Planning Commission would be disbanded and replaced “very soon” with an institution that will be more suited to the times.
There will be quibbles and criticisms, of course. But all in all, Prime Minister Modi today bolstered his image as a man who knows how to deliver what people in need, in this case, a rousing Independence Day speech.
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