Walking the Talk

India’s Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modi, or BigMo  (for Momentum), is, to all appearances, Walking the Talk. Corruption – check, Development – check, Infrastructure – check, Emancipation for Corporations – cheq…check.  There is much activity and motion in the machinery of governance. Wheels are turning, albeit with no small amount of rusty groans. Files are being closed, lubricated by fear of professional and public consequences, replacing the hitherto indispensable WD40 of file movement, money. People-, Citizen-, Mango People – oriented programs are bursting with green shoots. Newspapers are replete with portraits of well-fed, well-clothed middle-class mangoes beaming with satisfaction at Budgets that sop up their territorial fears with the refrain happy days are here again.

All to the good, no doubt; India has been governed by the Talking the Talk is More than Enough folks for far too long.

But, the things that BigMo didn’t, has not, talked about are beginning to get worrisome. For instance, Mr. Modi has not made any mention of the role of particularized morality in governance. He has not categorically stated, (as he has on corruption, et.al), that religiosity is a private matter and has no place in public administration. He has not had a quiet word with the young lions in his government A result of that is, revisionist governors of dubious intellect and incomplete information are able to thump legislative tables and demand restrictions on swim-wear. Others, in the mode of Sarah Palin, and irrespective of party affiliation, feel free to blame cell phones for rape and demand legislation to curb access and use. Still others, party loyalists and fellow travelers, are emboldened into pouring vituperation and bile on bloggers who wonder about clay, feet, and idols. Across the nation religion and religious teachings are becoming the reason (hah) and the rhyme of rules and ordinances; almost as if the whole saffron clad lot of them stride the halls of power proclaiming, “He didn’t say we couldn’t, so we’re gonna, neener, neener, neener.”

Mr. Modi, sir, wonder if I could ask to have a word with those folks when you get back from Brazil. Or, at the very least, give your very able lieutenants the okay to talk some sense into the right wing of your party. After all, I have heard you say, the welfare of all the people is your concern in your new hand at the till speech. I’m not sure your myrmidons heard you. I am also assuming that your silence on stifling the voices of dissent is an over sight and not tacit approval.