With ‘Kem Chho?’ Modi Builds New Bridge with Indians in Africa

PM Modi has reached out to some African nations but his government must build on his efforts, writes Rajiv Bhatia.

• While connecting with the Indian diaspora, PM Narendra Modi perhaps believes himself to be its natural head.
  
• Indian communities in eastern and southern Africa are substantial in number, especially in South Africa and Kenya.
  
• They retain a strong link to their Indian heritage – religion and traditions, culture and cuisine, cricket and Bollywood.
  
• People of Indian origin can contribute much to advancing India’s relations with their host countries.
  
• Indian soft power aside, people-to-people ties need to be expanded through greater exposure to each other’s cultures.
  
• Modi has raised the level of expectations in Africa, but his government will have to work hard to fulfil them.

Currently on his five-day African safari covering four countries – Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enjoying his role as India’s brand ambassador or chief pracharak, if you will.

As he calmly surveyed a huge audience of Indians, assembled to hear him in Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg on the night of 8 July, he greeted them warmly and asked: Kem cho? They roared back with enthusiasm and joy. Once again, the old fires stood rekindled.

As a tribute to the great African hero, Modi sported an elegant Mandela shirt.

Essentially, this scene has been played before in New York, Sydney, London and elsewhere, but it was a first on Africa’s soil. The Indian diaspora, Modi believes, is “a large family” spread out in all corners of the globe. Perhaps he views himself as its natural head, armed with the decisive popular mandate he won in the 2014 elections.

Link to Indian Heritage

Indian communities in eastern and southern Africa are substantial in number, especially in South Africa and Kenya. They have integrated well after long travails, but they retain a strong link to their Indian heritage – religion and traditions, culture and cuisine, cricket and Bollywood. Modi grasped this instinctively, stressing that “our common heritage makes sure we remain connected in hearts and minds.” Besides, he utilised M K Gandhi to full effect, recalling how South Africa “transformed Mohandas into Mahatma.”

It is largely due to Indians’ presence amidst them that Africans love much of what India has to offer as soft power. The unique package of Indian dance and music, Bollywood songs, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan movies, chapatis, biryani and samosas and, more recently, yoga has continued to gain popularity. It never fails to win new fans among Africans too. From Cairo to Cape Town and Accra to Mombasa, Indian arts, entertainment and food are a hit.

Africa’s crafts, dance and music appeal to the young generation in India, but they seem to get very little of them. People-to-people ties need to be expanded through greater exposure to each other’s cultures.

The Modi Image

What does the Indian diaspora see in Modi that is so special? No doubt a strong and macho leader, an effective communicator, and a symbol of the rising India. More importantly, they are honoured to learn that the Indian prime minister wants to interact with them! This is a real novelty. In the past, prime ministers from Indira Gandhi to Manmohan Singh met Indians – but in dozens or a few hundreds, not in thousands. And none of them could match Modi’s oratory.

And why has Modi been so keen to woo the diaspora wherever he travels abroad? He is aware that long-settled communities generally do not invest much in the countries of their origin. Perhaps he expects Indians to visit India as tourists in sizeable numbers. Modi believes that India is accepted today as quite a successful model of democracy and development.

Soft Corner

People of Indian origin desire to share and savour the glory of their ancestors’ land. They can contribute much to advancing India’s relations with their host countries. Modi tends to see each of them as an ambassador of India, loyal to his own nation – yet nurturing a soft corner for the distant motherland.

Talking about the children of India settled in various parts of the world, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote that while they left India, India did not leave them.

As the Johannesburg event concluded, Modi could have departed from the venue immediately. Perhaps his security detail advised him to do so. Instead, he headed to the barrier behind which stood a multitude of people, cheering him gustily and capturing him on their mobiles. Using both hands, he shook hands, touched and connected – as rock stars do.

Composite Flag

The lingering image in the mind was of the composite flag – half Indian, half South African, displaying Modi’s photograph in the middle. This was the only adornment on the stage from where the prime minister spoke.

Earlier, Modi had a brief meeting with the Indian community in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. After visiting Durban, he is headed for Tanzania and thereafter to Kenya, where another exciting interaction with Indians awaits him in Nairobi.

Modi as the new and vibrant bridge between India and Africa has raised the level of expectations. His government will have to work hard to fulfill them. Our fellow citizens should chip in.

(The writer, a former high commissioner to Kenya and South Africa, is Distinguished Fellow, Gateway House.)