Worship, hope and a little fear: 3 faces at the Modi celebrations
May 17, 2014
Worship
Rajendra Maavi also calls himself Rajendra Modi, because he looks like him, dresses like him and plays to the gallery like his idol. He is a front-running Narendra Modi bhakt, a worshipper of the cult that has redefined Indian politics in 2014. At the BJP headquarters, still waiting for the real Mr Modi to arrive, he caught many eyes, many other bhakts were taking photos with him.
“I toured 86 constituencies to garner support for Modiji,” said Mr Maavi. “I am very fortunate that I am a lookalike of the man who is synonym of change for Indians today.” Then he moves into statesman mode. “All work which is stalled would be completed very soon, everyone wants good days and they are here.”
To get the maximum attention he kept on moving from one place to another in the party office, with maximum appearance at the media gallery.
Hope
Waving a BJP flag, the 79-year old Amar Singh, has bought into the achhe din aane wale hain (good days are upon us) slogan. He has married of eight daughters, he said, and his family still lives under a thatched roof – for him good days would mean being able to convert that into a pucca house.
“I support and voted for the BJP because of Modi,” said Mr Singh. “I have a handicapped son to look after and I am not getting my pension for the last three years, I will talk to Modiji about this, he will get it done hopefully. If he works I will be with him.”
In front of 14 Ashoka Road, the BJP headquarters in Delhi, Mr Singh was seen reaching out to all political leaders whom he identified for help. He wanted them to note his jhuggi number, take his pension details which he carried on a piece of paper.
A little fear
For Dana, a visiting research scholar from Michigan University, coming down to the BJP office was a spur of the moment decision. She had come down to Khan Market to get a feel of what’s happening around Delhi, but then someone suggested that all the action today was at the BJP office.
“The roads seemed deserted, there was nothing happening anywhere so I came here,” she said.
“Narendra Modi and the Indian elections are making headlines all over, so I thought I might as well see what’s happening.” Mr Modi’s stunning victory had also piqued her research interest. “It will be interesting to look into why Indian voted in such a manner. Is this going to be a welcome change for India?” She was diplomatic about it, but some Indians too are asking whether this tectonic rightward shift in Indian politics can lead to sectarian strife.
But Dana could not resist doing a jig with the dancing women and joining the festivities.
May 17, 2014
Worship
Rajendra Maavi also calls himself Rajendra Modi, because he looks like him, dresses like him and plays to the gallery like his idol. He is a front-running Narendra Modi bhakt, a worshipper of the cult that has redefined Indian politics in 2014. At the BJP headquarters, still waiting for the real Mr Modi to arrive, he caught many eyes, many other bhakts were taking photos with him.
“I toured 86 constituencies to garner support for Modiji,” said Mr Maavi. “I am very fortunate that I am a lookalike of the man who is synonym of change for Indians today.” Then he moves into statesman mode. “All work which is stalled would be completed very soon, everyone wants good days and they are here.”
To get the maximum attention he kept on moving from one place to another in the party office, with maximum appearance at the media gallery.
Hope
“I support and voted for the BJP because of Modi,” said Mr Singh. “I have a handicapped son to look after and I am not getting my pension for the last three years, I will talk to Modiji about this, he will get it done hopefully. If he works I will be with him.”
In front of 14 Ashoka Road, the BJP headquarters in Delhi, Mr Singh was seen reaching out to all political leaders whom he identified for help. He wanted them to note his jhuggi number, take his pension details which he carried on a piece of paper.
A little fear
For Dana, a visiting research scholar from Michigan University, coming down to the BJP office was a spur of the moment decision. She had come down to Khan Market to get a feel of what’s happening around Delhi, but then someone suggested that all the action today was at the BJP office.
“Narendra Modi and the Indian elections are making headlines all over, so I thought I might as well see what’s happening.” Mr Modi’s stunning victory had also piqued her research interest. “It will be interesting to look into why Indian voted in such a manner. Is this going to be a welcome change for India?” She was diplomatic about it, but some Indians too are asking whether this tectonic rightward shift in Indian politics can lead to sectarian strife.
But Dana could not resist doing a jig with the dancing women and joining the festivities.
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This story was first published in www.thepoliticalindian.com on May 17, 2014
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