Air of
Varanasi – Whiff of Ganga
The air of
Varanasi smells of change and hopes. I
have been going there for years but now last four days at the city showed
strange aroma of expectancy and verve amongst citizens. Last year I took my 200
students to clean the Ganga Ghats and the Mayor who was present was surprised to
see that tones of garbage was collected by my students whereas Government
cleaners had already done their job in the morning. Moving in the lanes of the
city in the morning Kachodi and alusabzi breakfast was being served in stalls.
I heard a lot about Pan Banares wala propagated by Amitabh Bachan but did not
dare to taste it as I feared strong intoxicants in it. I spoke to Pan walas and
chaiwalas. They seem to be suddenly empowered as if Modi is elevating every
chaiwala . This was a brilliant strategy of Modi to engineer a connect with aam
aadmi as once a Chaiwala can become a Prime Minister. There could not bigger
achievement of democracy and the elite crowd who thought they only have claim
to occupy high post got a fitting reply. Meeting and talking to cross section
of people in the streets hotels and ghats one could experience near total
support for Narendr Modi.
I was
concluding an International Seminar on socio-technical frontiers of global
management and 400 participants, scholars, teachers and students, had come to
realize that a country to make significant stride in economy needs climate of
trust and decisive leadership. Every one seemed to be the campaign manager of
Modi. Young students of MBA seemed to enthusiastic to see the change. I talked
to a section of Muslim community too while some were showing restraint and
reservation yet some were very clear that if business grows they too will
benefit and above all Varanasi had no poor record of communal riots. It is a
city of harmony. Amit Shah who established party office was also going round
seeking support of all sections including Muslims.
It was
surprising that some of the boatmen who had not seen Modi did say ‘ Sahab sunte hai acha aadmi hai
usiko vote Karen ge’. What is better indication of a wind in favor of Modi. As
far as Kejriwal is concerned there seemed to be no impact as even the crowd in
his rally was reported to be from outside the area. The fact that other parties
are closing their flanks also went in favor of Modi as public saw it as a sign
of fear amongst these parties.
Back In
Delhi there is prevailing mood of disgust with the way Kejriwal left the job
and ran for fighting Lak Sabha and with his candidates reluctant to fight Salman Khurshid, Pilot and others there is
sense of demoralization and disappointment with a good party that gave up its
agenda of anti-corruption and following the path of Anna Hazare with all
compromises and telling lies even on oath. The problem is that once Kejriwal
loses his credibility, which is already at low ebb, the party will have to
recover in 2019 or vanish in thin air.
Bus Stop
First
Passenger: Many people are claiming to member of BAAP what is this party?
Second
Passenger: I heard some one is calling his party Bhartiya Aam Aadmi Party.
--------Prof
N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
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