What Does the Election of Indian PM Narendra Modi Mean for American Hindus?

August 06, 2014 by Ramesh Rao

Continued from Page 1

It is in this context that the historic win of the Bharatiya Janata Party (translated as "Indian People's Party") should be studied and understood. Sanjaya Baru, no sympathizer of the BJP or Mr. Narendra Modi, sees this win as the "birth of the second republic." Mr. Baru, media adviser to the former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, should know, for he had both a ringside view of the Delhi "durbar" and was a confidant of the "accidental" prime minister over the past decade.

Mr. Modi took the oath of office on May 26, 2014. It has been two months since he assumed charge of a teetering, chaotic nation. A lot is expected of him by his supporters, and a lot has already been thrown at him by his detractors. India has been reduced over the past seven decades into an almost ungovernable amalgam of local and regional parties, fiefdoms, and interests ridden with corruption and railroaded by criminals. And at this time, the affairs of the world are also seemingly coming apart. How Mr. Modi and the BJP will navigate these treacherous waters we don't know. The old interests, entrenched in places of power and privilege, will continue to target him and seek to destabilize his government. But, this writer, having met him and interviewed him a decade ago, believes that he is a man of conviction and steadfastness. If he gets to be Prime Minister for two terms (ten years), India may yet turn the corner and emerge as a beacon of wisdom and strength to a weary world. The slogan he has coined—"Sabka saath, sabka vikas" ("collective efforts, inclusive growth")—must get converted into action.

Page: 2 of 2

8/6/2014 4:00:00 AM

2014 Religious Trends

Modi and the BJP

Hindu

Public Square

Economics

History

India

International Relations

Narendra Modi

politics

Sacred Texts

Hinduism

more at patheos

Reach Out Chapter 8: Authors of Lives

Dorian Cole

Eminem Joins Kid Rock on New Christian Album

DeWayne Hamby

The Gospel of Matthew: The House of Yosef

Gabriel Blanchard

The Wisdom of God

Coyle Neal

About Ramesh Rao

Ramesh Rao, Professor and Chair, DN3 Program, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA, is the author of two books on Indian politics and society and has written numerous op-eds for newspapers and magazines in India, the U.S., and the U.K. Ramesh served as Human Rights Coordinator and Executive Council member at the Hindu American Foundation between 2004-2013. He spent the first twenty-eight years of his life in India where he worked as a bank officer, a school teacher, and a copy editor. He received his MS in Mass Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi, and his PhD in Communication from Michigan State University. He taught at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, and Longwood University in Farmville, VA, before he joined Columbus State University. He lives with wife Sujaya, and son Sudhanva in Columbus, GA.

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos