It seems Mr Suhel Seth has not bothered to look into history. Hitler lived
a very simple life. He neither smoked nor drank. He was an artist. He came
to power through ballot box and made his war ravaged and reparation
damaged Germany that was in the grip of hyper inflation into an
economically very powerful nation. His autobahn was later copied by the
Americans.
Yet what he did in Germany to Jews and outside Germany to the rest of the
world is known to all. His concentration camps still arouse great chill.
Almost 3 decades ago, I visited Weimar and saw the remnants of the
Buchenwald concentration camp and it horrified me so much that I could not
have a sound sleep for days.
The development of Gujarat is mostly due to enterprising zeal of NRIs
belonging to it. Even before the advent of Modi, it was developing. Me
Seth must be having some deal to be struck with this new found saviour of
humanity.
Girish Mishra
Why India needs Narendra Modi?
Suhel Seth
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. The fact of the matter is that there is no better performer than
Narendra Modi in India's political structure. Three weeks ago, I had gone
to Ahmedabad to address the YPO and I thought it would be a good
opportunity to catch up with Modi. I called him the evening before and I
was given an appointment for the very day I was getting into Ahmedabad.
And it was not some official meeting but instead one at his house. As
frugal as the man Modi is.
> And this is something that the Gandhis and Mayawatis need to learn from
Modi. There were no fawning staff members; no secretaries running
around; no hangers on…just the two of us with one servant who was there
serving tea. And what was most impressive was the passion which Modi
exuded. The passion for development; the passion for an invigorated
Gujarat; the passion for the uplifting the living standards of the people
in his state and the joy with which he recounted simple yet memorable
data-points. For instance, almost all of the milk consumed in Singapore is
supplied by Gujarat; or for that matter all the tomatoes that are eaten in
Afghanistan are produced in Gujarat or the potatoes that Canadians gorge
on are all farmed in Gujarat. But it was industry that was equally close
to his heart.
> It was almost like a child, that he rushed and got a coffee table book
on GIFT: the proposed Gujarat Industrial City that will come up on the
banks of the Sabarmarti: something that will put the Dubais and the Hong
Kongs of this world to shame. And while on the Sabarmati, it is Modi who
has created the inter-linking of rivers so that now the Sabarmati is no
longer dry.
> He then spoke about how he was very keen that Ratan Tata sets up the
Nano plant in Gujarat: he told me how he had related the story of the
Parsi Navsari priests to Ratan and how touched Ratan was: the story is,
when the Navsari priests, (the first Parsis) landed in Gujarat, the ruler
of Gujarat sent them a glass of milk, full to the brim and said, there was
no place for them: the priests added some sugar to the milk and sent it
back saying that they would integrate beautifully with the locals and
would only add value to the state.
> Narendra Modi is clearly a man in a hurry and he has every reason to be.
There is no question in any one's mind that he is the trump card for the
BJP after Advani and Modi realises that. People like Rajnath Singh are
simply weak irritants I would imagine. He also believes that the country
has no apolitical strategy to counter terrorism and in fact he told me how
he had alerted the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the NSA about the
impending bomb blasts in Delhi and they did not take him seriously. And
then the September 13 blasts happened! It was this
resolve of Modi's that I found very admirable. There is a clear
intolerance of terrorism and terrorists which is evident in the way the
man functions; now there are many cynics who call it minority-bashing but
the truth of the matter is that Modi genuinely means business as far as
law and order is concerned. I left Modi's house deeply impressed with the
man as Chief Minister: he was clearly passionate and what's more deeply
committed. When I sat in the car, I asked my driver what he thought of
Modi and his simple reply was Modi is God. Before him, there was nothing.
No roads, no power, no infrastructure. Today, Gujarat is a power surplus
state. Today, Gujarat attracts more industry than all the states put
together. Today, Gujarat is the preferred investment
destination for almost every multi-national and what's more, there is an
integrity that is missing in other states. After I finished talking to the
YPO (Young President's Organisation) members, I asked some of them very
casually, what they thought of Modi. Strangely, this was one area there
was no class differential on. They too said he was God.
> But what they also added very quickly was if India has just five
Narendra Modis, we would be a great country. I don't know if this was
typical Gujarati exaggeration or a reflection of the kind of leadership
India now needs! There is however, no question in my mind, that his flaws
apart, Narendra Modi today, is truly a transformational leader! And we
need many more like him!
> The writer is Managing Partner, Counselage ------------------------------------ Replying to this email will send an e-mail to 8500+ members of Jharkhand Forum. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ About Jharkhand Forum @ http://www.jharkhand.org.in/about-jharkhand-forum Jharkhand Forum's Posting Norms http://jharkhand.org.in/posting_norms.htm Add your ORG Name in Directory - http://directory.jharkhand.org.in Join Jharkhand Network to Make New Friends @ http://JHARKHAND.ning.com Jharkhand Forum is run by Internet Volunteer Groups, if you wish to
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