Modis rally better than theatre show
The experience of watching the man, who is alternatively called a genius and a stunt baaz, in action is not as breathtaking as watching the crowds, particularly women, react.
By Aarthi Ramachandran, TNN |
BAPUNAGAR: Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s election rallies in Gujarat have acquired an acclaim during this assembly election that is sure to become part of political lore. The actual experience of watching the man, who is alternatively called a genius and a stunt baaz, in action is not as breathtaking as watching the crowds, particularly women, react.
Mr Modi’s speeches have, by now, settled into familiar question-answer pattern that the crowds recognise and respond to it by chanting answers in a star-struck state. They have answers ready for all his questions and even pre-empt his “punch dialogues” (a la Tamil film super star Rajnikanth) in a way that only true fans can.
It goes something like this. After a long volley of questions about “development and safety” in Gujarat, he invokes Sardar Patel and how he was ‘denied his rightful place’ at India’s helm by the Nehru-Gandhi family. Almost asking ‘redressal for that is happening’, he demands a vote from them ‘for development’ and asks if they want to see Gujarat take its rightful place as one of India’s most prosperous states.
Having taken the crowd to a high pitch, he then finishes with a line that many lip along with him: “Jo tamare dil ma che/ aaj mara dil ma che” (what is there in your hearts is there in my heart, too).
But it is not just punch dialogues that Mr Modi has borrowed from his drama background. He is a mimic and tears Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to shreds by parodying the latter’s style of talking by modulating his own baritone voice. He is also sarcastic, caustic and peppers his speech with earthy humour that has the crowds laughing and nodding. But adding up to moments like this is the festive atmosphere at the rally venue, the blaring patriotic songs, the participation of folk singers, the large TV screens stationed at regular intervals in the midst of crowds and posters made by people.
The moment Mr Modi steps out of his van painted in the BJP’s saffron and green colours and steps on to the stage, the compere, who in this case is a popular Gujarati folk singer, asks: “Dekho dekho kaun aaaya”. “Gujarat ka sher aaya,” the crowd shouts back.
The moment Mr Modi ascends the stage, the PA system produces sound effects that sound like something that would herald the arrival of new age Gujarati monarch and the sky breaks out into a multi-coloured fireworks display. The sea of saffron that extends forever goes crazy and BJP flags held aloft buildings, terraces, and telephone boxes, with kids on top, flutter with pride.
And “pride” that is a word that would describe one of Mr Modi’s themes for this election. The other is “masculinity”, which in English unfortunately cannot capture the feeling and action contained in the word “mard.” Crafted around these two themes, the persona of Narendra Modi is a phenomenal success. Political rivals like Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh and the electronic media – which he targets repeatedly in his speech – become insignificant when compared to the response that Narendra Modi, the political leader, gets from the crowds.
This cult that Mr Modi has spawned is most clearly reflected in BJP’s latest campaigning innovation – the Modi mask. These life-life Modi face masks, complete with a half-smile that some call a smirk and spectacles, are a big hit with BJP workers. Not only do workers wearing them begin to talk and gesture like Mr Modi, but they say they feel inspired to do their best.
But at the election rallies, there is only one Modi and he uses every minute of his time on stage to appeal to the voters who come from near and far that they must go out in the largest numbers to vote for him on 16 December. “Don’t do it to make me the chief minister of Gujarat but do it to teach a lesson to those who have insulted Gujarat,” he ends.
Mr Modi’s speeches have, by now, settled into familiar question-answer pattern that the crowds recognise and respond to it by chanting answers in a star-struck state. They have answers ready for all his questions and even pre-empt his “punch dialogues” (a la Tamil film super star Rajnikanth) in a way that only true fans can.
It goes something like this. After a long volley of questions about “development and safety” in Gujarat, he invokes Sardar Patel and how he was ‘denied his rightful place’ at India’s helm by the Nehru-Gandhi family. Almost asking ‘redressal for that is happening’, he demands a vote from them ‘for development’ and asks if they want to see Gujarat take its rightful place as one of India’s most prosperous states.
Having taken the crowd to a high pitch, he then finishes with a line that many lip along with him: “Jo tamare dil ma che/ aaj mara dil ma che” (what is there in your hearts is there in my heart, too).
But it is not just punch dialogues that Mr Modi has borrowed from his drama background. He is a mimic and tears Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to shreds by parodying the latter’s style of talking by modulating his own baritone voice. He is also sarcastic, caustic and peppers his speech with earthy humour that has the crowds laughing and nodding. But adding up to moments like this is the festive atmosphere at the rally venue, the blaring patriotic songs, the participation of folk singers, the large TV screens stationed at regular intervals in the midst of crowds and posters made by people.
The moment Mr Modi steps out of his van painted in the BJP’s saffron and green colours and steps on to the stage, the compere, who in this case is a popular Gujarati folk singer, asks: “Dekho dekho kaun aaaya”. “Gujarat ka sher aaya,” the crowd shouts back.
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The moment Mr Modi ascends the stage, the PA system produces sound effects that sound like something that would herald the arrival of new age Gujarati monarch and the sky breaks out into a multi-coloured fireworks display. The sea of saffron that extends forever goes crazy and BJP flags held aloft buildings, terraces, and telephone boxes, with kids on top, flutter with pride.
And “pride” that is a word that would describe one of Mr Modi’s themes for this election. The other is “masculinity”, which in English unfortunately cannot capture the feeling and action contained in the word “mard.” Crafted around these two themes, the persona of Narendra Modi is a phenomenal success. Political rivals like Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh and the electronic media – which he targets repeatedly in his speech – become insignificant when compared to the response that Narendra Modi, the political leader, gets from the crowds.
This cult that Mr Modi has spawned is most clearly reflected in BJP’s latest campaigning innovation – the Modi mask. These life-life Modi face masks, complete with a half-smile that some call a smirk and spectacles, are a big hit with BJP workers. Not only do workers wearing them begin to talk and gesture like Mr Modi, but they say they feel inspired to do their best.
But at the election rallies, there is only one Modi and he uses every minute of his time on stage to appeal to the voters who come from near and far that they must go out in the largest numbers to vote for him on 16 December. “Don’t do it to make me the chief minister of Gujarat but do it to teach a lesson to those who have insulted Gujarat,” he ends.
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