Cover Story: Unprecedented

True to his global image as an expert in setting new precedents in everything he does, Narendra Modi proved his oath ceremony too unprecedented in all respects. After the landslide victory in elections, which reduced the ruling Congress to just 44 seats, he turned the swearing-in ceremony as the biggest ever event organised at Rashtrapati Bhavan with over 4000 dignitaries from India and abroad.

The change was visible not only in power but also in every aspect of the event from taking oath mostly by ministers in Hindi or regional Indian languages to the meals offered and the dresses the guests adorned. It is for the first time that the saints in such the huge number were invited at the swearing-in of any Prime Minister and were seated in the front row extending high respect.

As Modi is the second RSS swayamsevak to become Prime Minister after Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Suresh Soni and Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, VHP patron Shri Ashok Singhal and about 100 delegates from different RSS associated organisations also attended the ceremony. The presence of thousands of big personalities including business tycoons, film personalities, sportspersons and social activists was also encouraging. As Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar could not come on health grounds she sent a handwritten letter apologising for not being able to make it to the event. She also sent an idol of Lord Ganesha as a gift for Modi.

Also it is for the first that Rashtrapati Bhawan reverberated with the slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Shri Ram’. It proved to be one of the most widely watched broadcast events with the ceremony beamed live across the world through Doordarshan’s 15 channels and other news channels. It was also for the first time that diplomats, governors and Chief Ministers in such large number attended the ceremony. Other invitees included constitutional authorities like Chief Justice of India, Padma awardees, all 777 members of Parliament besides members of the outgoing UPA-II Cabinet and invitees on behalf of the BJP.

Setting new precedent, Modi also invited the heads of SAARC counties along with the Malaysian Prime Minister. As Bangladesh Prime Minister could not make it, she dispatched her Parliament Speaker to attend the ceremony. Invitation to the heads of countries in Indian Subcontinent reminded many the Akhand Bharat. The interest shown by the foreign media in the event too was unprecedented. The event became first lead in many counties including the Pakistani and Chinese media. After taking the oath, Modi thanked all his well wishers across the world by tweeting, “A big thank you to all friends who are viewing the ceremony on TV and through social media. Your constant support and blessings mean a lot.”

The new Prime Minister carries hope, aspiration and dreams of an entire nation desperate to dump the dubious legacy of the UPA Government. He was seen rising to the expectations of the people in the first decisions that he took whether it is making compulsory for all ministers and MPs not to make any of their family member or relatives as their OSDs. The ten-point agenda that he released on May 29 for development and setting priorities for first 100 days is also being seen as a concrete step towards people-centric development of the country. By and large the landslide victory of BJP under Modi, severe defeat of ruling Congress and the way Modi started functioning taking concrete decisions reflect a departure from the British legacy and Congressism.

– Pramod Kumar