The problem with Narendra Modi is Narendra Modi himself (Tea Going Cold Fast, Jun 1). He must realise that India is not a scaled-up version of Gujarat. His addiction to addressing large gatherings in foreign lands seems an extension of his pre-election speeches back home. The wah-wahs are more for his oratory skills; not about any proven capacity to deliver. Other central ministers look irrelevant thanks to this Modicentric governance. People are getting restless.
Pradeep Mathur, on e-mail
Yes, the NY Times has written a somewhat critical review of Modi’s first year as prime minister. Of course, what a major news publication in the US writes is important, but US media is not the only media in the world. Indians tend to be attentive to basically what two countries—the UK and the US—say about India. There are 190-plus other countries in the world, if you please. What are people in Mongolia, Kenya, the Philippines, Lithuania, Peru, Cambodia and Ireland saying?
Varun Shekhar, Toronto
PM Modi might have made substantial gains in foreign relations for the country, but he has not done anything for the common man. For all the lofty dreams he showed the people, very little has come to pass.
Mahesh Kumar, Delhi
Being a victim of concerted demonisation for 12-plus years propelled a political novice to the top position in the country. I wonder what 10 more years of the same will bring.
K. Suresh, Bangalore
Modi has ticked a few boxes in the first one year of his government, including launching social security schemes, arresting inflation and trying to put India on the global map. Much more, however needs to be done, especially when it comes to farmer’s concerns.
Bal Govind, Noida
Modi represented probably the last hope for India to achieve greatness, but one year on, he has disappointed. Except for his foreign visits, he has nothing to show. No police reforms, no end to VIP raj, no improvement in the law-and-order situation. Instead, we have unnecessary controversies about historical figures and beef. Worse, he still has another four years to ruin the country. All he has to do is continue like this, and I fear we are doomed to be a mediocre nation forever.
Dinesh Kumar, Chandigarh
I cannot help but notice that 99 per cent of those who say they are disappointed with Modi never expected anything from him in the first place.
K.S.C. Nair, Indianapolis
Overheard in a tea shop in Tamil Nadu on Modi’s recent return from tour: Ulakam chuttum valiban (an MGR hit, which loosely translated refers to a world-touring gent) has come.
V.N.K. Murti, Pattambi
One year down the line, not only has Modi been disappointing, he has also let down Indian polity. Showmanship, suit-boot politics and oneupmanship have replaced governance of substance. Even the much-hyped Swachh Bharat Abhiyan turned out to be no more than a photo-op on Gandhi Jayanti, with garbage threatening to bury the nation. Ban on cow slaughter has taken precedence over manslaughter. The prime minister who has spent every eighth day abroad has revelled in projects which serve to advertise and sing his glories, like Mann ki baat. It is a huge disappointment, which Modi might do well to reverse, lest he face as spectacular a defeat as his unprecedented success in 2014.
Dr George Jacob, Kochi
One year is too short a while to judge Modi. As he would say before being elected, “You have given the Congress 60 years, now give me just 60 months.”
Pramod Srivastava, New Delhi
Yes, Modi is a ‘sapnon ka saudagar’, or a dream-catcher, as you put it. But like the legendary rat-catcher of Hamelin, whose pied pipe led the rats in the city to death, India’s middle class too might discover that the dream they invested in is actually a nightmare.
Rakesh Agrawal, Dehradun
If mere hype, slogans and catch-phrases were the mark of good governance, then Modi’s performance in the last year is spectacular. The man is, unfortunately, becoming a victim of his self-generated hype.
Vijai Pant, Hempur
Despite all the negative campaign, Modi went on to become prime minister, and has within no time become a world statesman, taken seriously and appreciated by global political and business leaders. International rating agencies and media too are positive on the Modi government’s efforts to put back India’s derailed economy on track and make doing business in India hassle-free.
M.C. Joshi, Lucknow
The higher the expectations, the bigger the disappointment. That is a thumb rule of politics. We should have known better when Modi was promising the moon. Yet, as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. And no one should know that better than Rahul Gandhi who has given Modi a zero in his first year in office.
J.S. Acharya, Hyderabad
