Why India needs Narendra Modi?

Let me begin with a set of disclosures: I have perhaps written more articles against Modi and his handling of the post-Godhra scenario than most people have; I have called him a modern-day Hitler and have always said that Godhra shall remain an enduring blemish not just on him but on India’s political class. I still believe that what happened in Gujarat during the Godhra riots is something we as a nation will pay a heavy price for. But the fact is that time has moved on. As has Narendra Modi. He is not the only politician in India who has been accused of communalism. It is strange that the whole country venerates the Congress Party as the secular messiah but it was that party that presided over the riots in 1984 in which over 3,500 Sikhs died: thrice the number killed in Gujarat.

Who is this video about?

Who is this video about?

Narendra Modi was born in 1950 in the West Indian state of Gujarat, which would be later ruled by him. He volunteered his services during disastrous times of war and floods across India. This experience at disaster management would help him handle a major disaster during his second tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister (CM). His student life was nonetheless spent in active movements and he formally entered politics in 1987, by joining the national Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Within a year, and later, he took up responsible positions with the BJP at the state and national levels. After carving a niche as a master strategist, Modi was made Gujarat’s CM in 2001. His people-centred politics won him widespread support and he could retain his CM post in the general elections next year. Even a third tenure didn’t elude him in 2007. Modi inherited a resource-rich state and helped make it richer in many ways. Gujarat could sweep many awards too like UN Sasakawa Award for disaster reduction, CAPAM award for innovation in governance, UNESCO award, etc. His state topped in industrial investment (MOUs) and major health care services. Modi has even been voted India’s top CM. Few know that he has authored three books and many essays too.