Independence Day - Modi's Speech - Watching from a Neighbouring Country
IT may be a little out of place for TIOL and DDT to discuss an event four days after it took place, but please allow me the indulgence.
I was in the Capital of a neighbouring country, (which was swept by Modi Wave recently) on Independence Day. It was a privilege to attend the Independence Day function at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. It was nice to see a large number of Indians gather at the Indian Embassy for the function - all of them proud to be Indians and wanting to be a part of the Indian Celebration. Many of them - businessmen didn't open their shops till afternoon.
Many of them told me that in Nepal, there is a tremendous hatred for India and Indians, but that has been considerably reduced after Modi's recent visit.
Though you must have read it and heard it several times, I would like to highlight some parts of Mr. Modi's speech here.
On this day of sacred festival of independence, the prime servant of India extends greetings to all dear countrymen. I am present amidst you not as the Prime Minister, but as the Prime Servant.
It seemed as if dozens of separate governments are running at the same time in one main government. It appeared that everyone has its own fiefdom. I could observe disunity and conflict among them. One department is taking on the other department and taking on to the extent that two departments of the same government are fighting against each other by approaching Supreme Court.
Nowadays newspapers are full of news that Modiji`s Government has come, officers are reaching office on time, offices open in time, and people get there in time. I observed that India's National newspapers, TV media were carrying these news items prominently. As the Head of the Government I could have derived pleasure in the fact that everything started going on time, cleanliness got the attention, but I was not taking pleasure, I was feeling pained. If government officers arrive to office in time, does that make news? And if that makes news, it shows how low we have fallen. It becomes a proof of that, and that's how, brothers and sisters, the governments have run. Today in the face of global competition, when we have to realize the dreams of millions of Indians, the country cannot run on the lines of "it happens", "it goes". In order to fulfil the aspirations of masses, we have to sharpen the tool called the Government machinery, we have to make it keen, more dynamic, and it is in this direction that we are working. My countrymen, it's not long since I have come from outside Delhi, but I give you an assurance that the people in the Government are very capable - from the peon to the Cabinet Secretary, everybody is capable, everybody has a power, they have experience. I want to awaken that power, I want to unite that power and want to accelerate the pace of the welfare of nation through that power and I shall definitely do it. I want to assure the countrymen that we will achieve that, we will definitely do that. I could not say this on 16th May, but today after my experience of two-two and half months, keeping the tricolour as witness, I am saying on 15th of August that it is possible, it will be achieved.
Unfortunately, we have an environment today wherein if you approach anyone with some work, he begins by saying "what does it mean for me?" He begins by saying "what does it involve for me?" and when he comes to know that it does not entail any benefit for him, immediately he says "why should I bother?" we have to rise above the feelings of "what does it mean for me" and "why should I bother”. Everything is not for self-interest only. There are certain things which are meant for the country and we have to refine this national character. We have to rise above the feelings of "why should I bother" and "what does it mean for me" and instead we have to think that "I am for nation's interest and in this field, I am going to lead". We have to inculcate this sentiment.
The Prime Minister of the Country calls himself the Prime Servant - will our babus who are called civil servants (who are actually neither civil nor servants) learn something from the PM?
The President in his address to the Nation said, "This may be the appropriate moment to recall the great Shivaji's letter to Aurangzeb when the latter imposed jizya. Shivaji told the emperor that Shah Jehan, Jehangir and Akbar could also have levied this tax "but they did not give place to bigotry in their hearts, as they considered all men, high and low, created by God to be examples of the nature of diverse creeds and temperaments". This 17th century epistle of Shivaji carries a message, which is universal. It must become a living testament that guides our behaviour today."