The story of India has been reduced to one man’s journey
The billion-and-a-half citizens of the ‘mother of democracy’ are mere extras in the story of Narendra Modi.
Why read this story?
Editor's note: Confident societies do not foster cults. It is despondent, unhappy, self-doubting, insecure places that submit to saviours. The animated ad released last week by the Bharatiya Janata Party—a prelude to the upcoming campaign for 2024—is designed for a nation in thrall to its rescuer. It reduces the complex story of India to one man’s journey. The citizens of the world’s most populous democracy—a billion-and-a-half people—are mere extras in his tale. He sees suffering, distributes charity, defeats sinister enemies—human and viral—is courted by Western leaders, and keeps going. India is surging forward, and we owe it all to one individual. The ad, dripping with the ruling party’s contempt for India, is an especially depressing indication of how far we have come since 2014. We cannot dodge Narendra Modi. The prime minister is everywhere. In the past eight years, he has been cast as the mascot of Indian tourism, the icon of hand-spun cloth, the unwitting promoter of digital currency and mobile networks, and the beaming face inviting members of the G20 to the “mother of democracy.” The oppressive omnipresence of one …
More in Chaos
You may also like
Adani circles nuclear power as India rethinks the rules
As India prepares to throw open its nuclear sector to private players, the conglomerate is taking position. But the technology, economics and risks look far tougher than anything it has scaled so far.
Annus horribilis: 2025 was the year India learned it wasn't indispensable
It is the logical consequence of foreign policy built on a decade of illusion rather than the realities of power. The question is whether anyone in the government has the courage to admit it.
Conglomerates, duopolies and domination hamper India
The domination of a few business groups—conglomerates—is a defining feature of the country’s economy. This has been enabled by policy, leading to stifled innovation and hindered progress. All of this, in turn, exacerbates inequalities.
