Once a sevak, always a sevak

You don’t say!
Darius Nakhoonwala

There is one day in the year when Prime Ministers can say pretty much what they like and not irritate editorial writers: 15 August. It was no different this year when Narendra Modi, speaking in his familiar campaign style, made his maiden speech from Red Fort. The editorialists spouted praise. Some may even have simpered as they typed, who knows.

But they all either missed or refrained from latching on to the double entendre when Modi referred to himself, right at the start of the speech, as the pradhan sevak. That is not very far from rashtra sevak, which of course he has been all his life.

The Indian Express said he “turned a tired nationalist ritual into a powerful communication opportunity... Clearly, Prime Minister Modi has left Candidate Modi far behind... Modi is no longer the adversarial chief minister of August 15, 2013, when he challenged Manmohan Singh to a debate... perhaps the most important signal of the prime minister’s intent to broadbase partnerships for development was a substantial commitment to federalism... While much will ultimately depend on the contours of the new body, the abolition of the Planning Commission marks a turning point in federal relations.”

The Hindu wrote a more prosaic edit. “The philosophy underpinning his speech seemed to be that small steps taken quickly and taken across the country could have a greater impact than big schemes implemented slowly and patchily... Even for those who feared his divisive agenda, Mr. Modi had some words of reassurance: he pointedly referred to the “poison” of casteism and communalism, which, he said, was a hindrance to progress. From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Mr. Modi certainly appeared more inclusive than he was on his campaign.” Coming from the Hindu, this is high praise indeed.

The Times of India said he sounded like JFK. “Modi turned that formula on its head, taking it out for a John F Kennedy spin — Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country... He also broke with the formulaic fetishising of diversity... From the grand heights of Red Fort, the PM spoke the plainest commonsense.. Speaking extempore, he’s shown an ability to meld small details... While Modi may have passed the oratorical test big questions remain: of implementation... This year, India’s Independence Day speech is sure to get some attention in the neighbourhood too.”

The Pioneer almost broke into song, as well it might being as much a BJP supporter as the National Herald was a Congress supporter. “On Friday, Mr Modi.. started a conversation with the nation.. he has promised the country a real opportunity to lift itself out of poverty... hardly ever has a Prime Minister used the ramparts of the historic Red Fort to talk about girls dropping out of school because they don't have to toilets or tell hypocritical Indian parents to raise their sons better rather than restricting their daughters... (he) steered clear of highfalutin statements and listed do-ables... The call to our neighbours to jointly fight the scourge of poverty fits into Mr Modi's South Asia-centric foreign policy...”

The Hindustan Times said Mr Modi’s “...first address from the Red Fort was a study in reconciliation and empathy...the speech could be viewed as high on sentiment and short on detail. It could also be criticised for ignoring inflation and barely touching upon corruption. But what made it refreshing was the absence of rancour that marked the discourse in the run-up to and in the immediate aftermath of the Lok Sabha elections...By the time he concluded, Modi had many among his worst critics disarmed...”

The Financial Express said “Narendra Modi’s maiden address at the Red Fort was all about inclusion... the ultimate inclusion that Modi promised was to give a big fillip to both skilling and getting manufacturing back on track... Given Modi’s oratory skills, and performance yesterday, a regular prime ministerial press conference is a good idea.”

The Hindu Business Line focussed on the disbanding of the Planning Commission and Mr Modi’s call to make India a manufacturing hub. “The sheer range and importance of the subjects covered — and the fact that it was delivered extempore — made this one of the most memorable Independence Day addresses by a Prime Minister in recent memory. But like all good speeches with substance, this one too will eventually be judged by how it translates talk into action. And action is what the New India wants.”

ET and Mint wrote very casual edits on manufacturing, the Planning Commission and women’s empowerment via toilets etc.

The Business Standard had to make way for its leading ruminator who wrote about the TRAI discussion paper on media ownership.

The Telegraph, bored by it all, very sensibly took the day off.