Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public meeting, in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. (PTI)
Ayan Rand once said that ideas are the greatest and most crucial practical power on Earth. Going by the number of out-of-the-box ideas conceived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past 10 years, one is convinced about the place ideas and new forms of thinking have in his approach. As PM Modi turns, it is pertinent to look at this aspect of his personality.
Progress and development have always had a central place in PM Modi’s thinking. Conscious of the huge expectations of the people, Modi has reassured them with his simple and easy-to-understand two-point agenda: Good governance and development. However, a deeper analysis will reveal three strands in his ideas-turned-slogans-turned-programmes/schemes. The first category is that of lofty ideals, appealing to people to aim high and think big, accompanied by an appeal to work towards the mission. The second strand is basically about conveying the government’s approach to the people. The third is public education, reaching out to people with an earnest appeal.
He started with Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, a project that later became a passionately pursued national integration programme of the Ministry of Culture. The beauty of this slogan lies in the fact that it not only motivates people to work for the welfare of India, but also reminds them that national unity is a prerequisite of making India sreshtha, or supreme. All his slogans motivate people to dream big, aspire high and at the same time work hard.
Right in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Modi made a passionate appeal to his countrymen to make India self-reliant, working for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He explained the concept of atmanirbharata on several occasions. During the challenging times of the pandemic, his passionate appeal for self-reliance had an electrifying impact, resulting in advancement of the schedules for vaccine-related research. And now, aspiring India is looking forward to becoming Viksit Bharat.
Another important term, “saturation”, mirrors Modi’s vision for national development. Underlying the aim of covering all beneficiaries under a welfare scheme, the term is also reflective of the principle of antyodaya where the deprived get top priority.
In his Independence Day address in 2022. PM Modi made yet another passionate appeal outlining what can be described as his national Renaissance doctrine. He appealed to people in the country to adopt Panch-Pran — five commitments that he expected people to make to correct what he believed ails this great nation. These pledges start with a resolve to make India great, erase all traces of servitude, be proud of our legacy, realise the strength of our unity and for all citizens to abide by their duties.
This emphasis on the country’s proud legacy was evident in 2014, when he mooted the idea of International Yoga Day and again in 2023, in mooting the International Year of Millets. While IYD has established the importance of a unique wellness regime based on an indigenous knowledge system, the Year of Millets Year has promoted a more nutritious dietary regime.
PM Modi’s motivational appeals always had an operational, practical aspect. His aggressive advocacy of Swachh Bharat has helped change the habits of the people, with a large section of people taking ownership of the cause. He had repeatedly said that “a Swachh Bharat is the shared responsibility, and every effort counts”. Yet another example of his ability to help people relate to great ideas is his Life-Style for Environment, later given the shape of a global campaign. In subtle ways, PM Modi has also reminded affluent nations of the irresponsible lifestyles of their people there.
The other important strand of ideas mooted by PM Modi involves a thoughtful policy approach. His slogan of Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas was a reassuring promise of democratisation of development while extending equal support to all. He added two important parts to this slogan – Sab Ka Vishwas and later, very importantly, Sab ka Prayas. This also reflects his conviction that national development has to become a movement of the people and to that end, comes the gentle-yet-firm reminder from the Head of the Family.
Taking the development discourse beyond cliched terms, PM Modi has mooted the idea of women-led development. Modi comes across as a no-nonsense leader-educator. His approach is direct while asking fellow countrymen to change their outlook. Divyang or divyang-jan, the term coined by the PM underscores his belief in inculcating self-confidence in people with disabilities. The term aims at removing the inferiority complex, it also reminds others that disabled persons possess some special abilities, making them perform better than others, in certain aspects.
A reflection of a similar approach is found in the term Aspirational District/ Block replacing the previous term Most Backward District/Block. This mirrors PM Modi’s positive approach and deep understanding of the popular psyche. Calling a district backward not just undermines aspirations but also creates a totally negative mindset.
PM Modi had once said that he wants to work not just to score brownie points but for the larger interests of the people — for lokhit (good of the people) and not for lokpriyata (popularity). All this makes him a rare thinker-leader.
The writer is former president, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and a BJP leader
