Chirdeep Malhotra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a joint session of the US Congress at the Capitol Hill during his visit to the United States last week. Speaking on a host of topics, ranging from global security to economic partnerships, defence and trade ties to upholding liberty and democratic ideals, and climate change to terrorism, he touched all the right notes, garnering applauses and standing ovations from his audience of US politicos. More than anything else, the speech celebrated Indo- US ties and encompassed the role India wants to play in the 21st century global landscape. The US Congressional address was a phenomenal success, with Paul Ryan, speaker of the House of Representatives, who had invited the PM to Capitol Hill, calling it ‘eloquent’, while media outlets calling it a ‘redefining moment’, a new high in Indo- US relations. It was widely praised by politicians, think-tanks, diplomats and the media, though there were critics too.
As such speeches go, political scrutiny was at the forefront. Political analysts and experts on foreign relations were on the job, extracting political meaning from every word uttered, decoding diplomacy between the lines and giving political takeaways. However, Indians particularly, are very concerned in matters of language, English, that is, owing to a legacy of British colonialism. A literary analysis of the speech, thus seemed legitimate and worthwhile. Presented below is its literary scrutiny, albeit with political connotations.
First and foremost, the speech was wonderfully crafted. Yes, it was. For when the PM used the line “India lives as one, India grows as one, India celebrates as one” to represent India’s age-old diversity and cultural vibrancy as its biggest strength, one instantly knew that one was in for literary bliss. Here, he used the literary device Anaphora, in which the same word is repeated at the start of a phrase for rhetorical effect. Another related stylistic device is Epistrophe, in which the same word is repeated at the end of the phrase for the same reasons. Abraham Lincoln epitomized this when he spoke of democracy as “a form of government of people, by the people and for the people”. Modi clearly gave the message that there were more commonalities in the two countries than hitherto noticed. Talking of India’s pluralism at such platforms isn’t new, talking of it in such a manner definitely is. What he implied to the world was that India is gaining a new confidence under its new global leadership. He also referred to the American National anthem “The land of the free and the home of the brave” to woo his audience, the Americans known to be proud of their military might and ideals of freedom.
When Modi remarked that “Our relationship has overcome the hesitations of history”, a subtle reference to the non- aligned Indian stance in the Cold- war era, one couldn’t help but notice him overcoming his vernacular hesitations and speaking in a suave American dialect. Everything was smooth from then on.
Modi also used alliteration to his advantage. “Comfort, candour and convergence define our conversations” and “The embrace of our partnership extends to the entirety of human endeavor” definitely adding a mellifluous touch to the recent warming of Indo- US relations under his leadership. The talk then went on to economic and strategic partnership, and defence and trade relations of the “natural allies”. Modi also referred to Abraham Lincoln, Swami Vivekananda , B.R. Ambedkar and their ideologies. That Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of non- violence inspired Martin Luther King Jr. (known for his fight against racism) was another well known fact brought to the fore.
A refreshing touch of humour also animated the address. “More Americans bend for yoga than to throw a curve ball” is an example, reiterating the effect Indian civilisational ethos has had on this modern nation. The audience was taken in splits when he took up the topic of bipartisanship and called the working of the US Congress harmonious. This shared practice in parliamentary affairs represented the realities his government has to face in the upper house in passing legislations. USA also has a Republican majority in the upper house, though the government is of the Democrats. The subtle tones of diplomatic rhetoric also emerged. Modi came hard on terrorism as “being incubated in India’s neighbourhood” and also took a stand for India’s demand of a permanent seat in the United Nations with “The effectiveness of our cooperation would increase if international institutions framed with the mindset of the 20th century were the realities of today”.
That Modi chose to quote ‘America’s greatest democratic poet’ Walt Whitman, comes as no surprise. World over, he has come to be known as signifying ‘the very idea of America” – a just and liberal nation standing on the tenets of democracy and equality. This coming from a leader of the world’s largest democracy, idolizing a great personality from its oldest, was a welcome change and is sure to have gone down well with the global audience. All in all, the address was very well constructed, with literary weight being mixed with political practicality and the role India envisaged for itself in 21st century world affairs. Add to that Modi’s panache and political might, and the US Congressional speech was certainly a winner.
Further, at that “temple of democracy”, Modi emerged as a true statesman. He came out as uninhibited, pushing for India’s rights at the global arena, that too with a contemporary outlook, everything that the modern Indian is or wishes to be. Take a bow, Mr. Modi, for when you spoke, it wasn’t you, but Indians, who won many hearts. For when you articulated your democratic views, it wasn’t you, but Indian political discourse, which captured the world’s imagination. For when you stood at that podium and delivered that spectacular speech, it wasn’t you, but India, that rose in standing at the global centrestage.
“Oratory is the highest form of music” Agona Apell once wrote. Given the positive political beats and diplomatic tempo, coupled with the appreciation garnered in national and international media alike, this one’s gonna play in the public imagination for long.
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Follow our WhatsApp channel