(This piece has been written by Maharishi Dayanand University student activist and blogger, Dev Lohan. These are his personal views.)
On 26 May 2014, exactly two years ago on this day, Modi reached Delhi with a historic mandate. He was greeted in the capital, and in the whole country, the way the subjects of Troy greeted its victorious army led by Hector.
Everyone was happy with Modi’s win. Some expressed their happiness, while others were hesitant to for political and religious reasons, because the country saw in him a man with unusual energy.
People’s expectations of Modi were so high that they thought India, which was panting, would soon get up and start racing like Usain Bolt. But the irony is that the country is still preparing for that race, just as the previous government was doing. Modi, the doctor who was expected to provide the desired therapy to the ailing country, has been doing nothing but uttering words of comfort, as the following suggests:
Listen sick people, I know you are very ill. I know the cause of your illness, which is this worn-out government. Your illness is serious. But you have unlimited possibilities. You are the actors of this world. You possess the strength of several elephants. And I have the prescription for your ailment. You should not be worried.
The statement above does not prescribe any therapy. It is only sweet talk. Talk for the sake of talking.
The Peasant, the Youth, and Modi
Two episodes are famous about Haryana in this context. One relates to the farmer, and the other to the youth.
The first is linked to the state Agriculture Minister, who is close to Modi, and who while canvassing for a District Board candidate in a village in Sirsa said:
Modi has started the Jan Dhan Yojna for you. The amount of loan available against Kisan card has been increased. The amount of loan for tractors has been increased Now your children can get loans from banks.
Interrupting the Minister’s speech, an elderly District Board candidate climbed on the stage and asked the Minister, “All schemes relate to loans. Is there any scheme for generating income?” Snatching the microphone, he then began criticising the Modi government.
Haryana’s Students Should Never Forget Modi
Now lets talk about the other episode, regarding youth, which is related to my alma mater Rohtak University. While Delhi police was camping outside JNU to arrest co-accused in the Kanhaiya Kumar case, the same night at 10pm, Haryana police was exhibiting its lathi-wielding skill on the residents of two colleges, beating students mercilessly. Eighteen students suffered serious injuries and the entire country along with Rohtak came to a halt.
But in the whole uproar, Modi played a key role in one respect. These university students who had drifted apart politically and were no longer organised, soon became united in rebellion. Those who became organised the most were students from villages belonging to peasant families. They were worried both about their hearth and their farming. It soon began to dawn on them that organised students’ movements were the only answer to their problems.
Realistically speaking, the youth of Haryana are asking for jobs. Farmers are asking for prices. But feel-good speeches are all they’re getting.
Hopes are still alive. There could be a miracle in store and Modi, who came in with an image of angry young man, may yet deliver. But hopes are just hopes until realised.
(The story has been translated from the original by Shambhavi Prakash.)
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