India's Modi creates ripples globally

The largest democracy on earth concludes its five-week election cycle in which a whopping 537-million people came out to cast their votes. It was not only the voter turnout that was mind-boggling, but the results of India's 2014 elections swung in large numbers in the kitty of the political party called the BJP (Bharitya Janta Party). It already looks like the Indian voters have bid a firm goodbye to Gandhi-led political dynasties that have been governing the nation for decades now.With the 2014 election results, Narendra Modi from the BJP will be sworn in as the 15th Prime Minister of India. 

So when the majority of the 66-percent of eligible voters voted for Modi and his party, why do we have so many people – nationally and internationally - jumping the bandwagon concluding the gloomy fate of the minorities of India which accounts for 20-percent of the population. Well I belong to the minority population in India, but have never ever experienced any kind of disparity from that of the majority. It has always been a level playing field. 

Besides the inequality in India has never been about the religion that someone follows, but more between the haves and have nots. Some folks in India are counted among the billionaires of the world and they seem to only be getting richer while the majority of Indians still live in absolute poverty and this is the inequality that we need to talk about. The inequality of religion is a perception and perceptions never really change, no matter how much you try to change it. But the large divide between the people who live in glass houses and those who still live on the sidewalks need to be bridged. And “development” which is the theme of Modi’s agenda will not only create jobs but will help bridge the gap between the have-it-all and the have-nots. And right now, this is what India really wants. 

Modi has not even been sworn in as the Prime Minister of India. So why not allow this man to take charge first. Give him six-months into office and then perhaps we can shoot out our opinions and prejudices about the way he handles the second largest population on earth. And well, India is more than 60-years into its democracy and people have gotten used to being independent, are used to speaking their mind, and are used to pinning down and thrashing indecisiveness at the top, that’s even if it’s the prime minister of the country. Taking crap, was never and will never be our middle name.

The world is talking about India elections and I’m enjoying the perspectives and analysis of the world. But there was this one column that likened Modi to Putin that raised an eyebrow. But then I stopped worrying because Modi does not have that chiseled body to ride shirtless on a horse. So lets forget about it.

On a signing note I want to thank Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for being such a great guy. He must have not been an awesome orator or have a super-awesome personality but he is the guy who opened up the Indian market to the rest of the world and helped transform India. Singh is the king of liberal economics and we owe it to him. I just wish Dr. Singh a good life ahead.