B L Saraf
In run up to the election, while speaking in the congregation of American Hindus who were campaigning for him, candidate Donald Trump raised the battle cry “Ab Ke Baar Trump Sarkar.” Obviously, Trump borrowed the Mantra from Narendra Modi’s book , who chanted it in 2014 national election with such an authenticity that the Indian electorate made it come true, for him. Also, for Trump the American electorate ensured that the slogan is made good. Trump was voted in by majority of the whites, school graduates, below the age of 45 and those who suffered due to the sectarian terrorism. He called his campaign ‘movement’ – whose slogan was “Make America Great Again.” And offered hope to the disillusioned angry Americans. He was successful in forging a bond of sorts with them. Trump was viewed as someone who challenged the old order.
Trump came on the American scene when the country wanted to get rid of the eight year status- quo. Visualize the Indian scenario. Narrandra Modi arrived when Indians were fed up with the UPA’s decade long corrupt rule. Trump’s campaign reminds us of how Narendra Modi’s fashioned his march to Delhi. His victory in 2014 election was largely on account of his articulation of ideas and programs that gave hope to the young and old. People saw in him a person who could challenge the old corrupt order and bring some relief to their lives. That belief found, for him, a connect with the multitude of Indians. His genuine disregard for the highly over rated principle of ‘ political – correctness’ which inhibited people to tell truth and take substantive action on the issues of terrorism and national security , his track record as a three time CM of Gujrat and jettisoning the ‘ policy of appeasement ‘ contributed to his success at the hustings.
Donald Trump promised, more or less, same to his electorate and instilled hope among the original inhabitants of America. On positive side, a similarity of sorts could , therefore , be found in campaigns of a leader of the largest democracy and the other of an oldest one, existing today on the planet Earth.
Then, Trump and Narendra Modi both had to suffer calumny of their pathological opponents, the rage boys , libertarians, pseudo-secularists, beneficiaries of official patronage , entitlements , prophets of doom , who emphasize on their non – existent and contrived features , just to belittle their achievements. They did it after Modi’s Victory in 2014 and are doing now on Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 .
Narendra Modi was demonized : the Award Wapsi brigade was let loose to hound him , in addition to creating of a fear psychosis among some sections of Indian population. Now it is the turn of Trump to have a taste of it. Hillary Clinton, his adversary in the election, called him leader and advocate of the deplorable.
Donald Trump’s victory has sent shock waves across the U S A. It is evident that mainstream liberal USA was not ready to accept him- just as the so called secularists in India felt tremors to accept Narendra Modi as the PM. The Republican candidate was projected as a maverick- a misogynist, a xenophobe, racist anti minority, ignorant who despises liberals and a man of loose morals. Some of their tribe felt that he has ripped apart the Americans and bemoan that the ripped fabric of American society will take huge time to be mended. They are fearful that with Trump in office the liberal America will face many more setbacks in the coming time for multitude of reasons. And have a advice; “unless Trump takes on a very different tone towards healing the self – inflicted wounds of his countrymen, four years might seem like an eternity to many.”
It is the copy of how so called liberals in India portrayed Modi’s rule and labored under so many contrived misconceptions to deride him. To them, India was just to fall apart on Modi’s advent.They played on the insecurities and the baseless apprehensions of the minorities. But in both cases, people in India and America showed these “worthies” value of their impaired judgment and the disconnect they have had with the ground realities. As expected, Narendra Modi has left behind the prophets of doom by the dint of his fairly good governance. It is now turn of Donald Trump to prove his detractors wrong by coming up with balanced internal and foreign policies.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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