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Who is Narendra Modi? Who is Narendra Modi?
(34 minutes later)
AHMEDABAD, India – In the last 12 years, Narendra Modi has transformed his arid state into a model of what some believe India can become — a place of wide, smooth roads, electrified villages, rising incomes and brand-name foreign investment.AHMEDABAD, India – In the last 12 years, Narendra Modi has transformed his arid state into a model of what some believe India can become — a place of wide, smooth roads, electrified villages, rising incomes and brand-name foreign investment.
Now, with Modi poised to become India’s next prime minister, his supporters are hoping the chief minister can build on his successes in Gujarat and revive India’s stalled economy. India concluded its six-week election Monday, with more than 500 million votes to be counted Friday. Now, with Modi poised to become India’s next prime minister, his supporters are hoping the politician can build on his successes in Gujarat and revive India’s stalled economy. The six-week election concluded Monday, with more than 500 million votes to be counted Friday.
On the stump, Modi promised a new India, with an efficient, modern government free of corruption. He pledged to build bullet trains, hydroelectric power plants, manufacturing hubs and hundreds of cities, enabling India to rival China, the economic powerhouse next door. A lover of technology, Modi even addressed thousands as a holographic image in several rallies. On the stump, Modi promised a new India, with an efficient, modern government free of corruption. He pledged to build bullet trains, hydroelectric power plants, manufacturing hubs and dozens of cities, enabling India to rival China, the economic powerhouse next door. A lover of technology, Modi even addressed several rallies as a holographic image.
But critics and supporters alike say the leader dubbed “Development Man” may face challenges implementing his agenda nationwide. But critics and supporters alike say the state leader dubbed “Development Man” may face challenges implementing his agenda nationwide.
In Gujarat, Modi has faced little opposition, with his Bharatiya Janata Party in power since 1998. He sidelined his rivals, limited press access and tolerated little dissent, critics note. Such control will be harder to assert throughout India, with its powerful regional satraps, diverse cultures and noisy cable news culture. In Gujarat, Modi has faced little opposition, with his Bharatiya Janata Party in power since 1995. He sidelined his rivals, limited press access and tolerated little dissent, critics note. Such control will be harder to assert throughout India, with its powerful regional satraps, diverse cultures and noisy cable news culture.
And, for all his economic success in Gujarat, critics say he is a strident Hindu nationalist whose state lags behind in social indicators like child malnutrition and maternal health. And, for all Modi’s economic success, critics say Gujarat has made little progress on social problems like child malnutrition and maternal health. Meanwhile, his strident Hindu nationalism has left deep divisions between religious groups in the state of 60 million.
“It’s not going to be as easy for him as it has been in Gujarat,” said Hanif Lakdawala, a physician who works with the poor in one of the state’s biggest slums. “He is going to face a lot of difficulties if he becomes prime minister.”“It’s not going to be as easy for him as it has been in Gujarat,” said Hanif Lakdawala, a physician who works with the poor in one of the state’s biggest slums. “He is going to face a lot of difficulties if he becomes prime minister.”
BREAK A self-professed workaholic, Modi lives alone in a government-owned bungalow in the state capital of Gandhinagar. He typically rises around 5 a.m. and does yoga before beginning his workday, which usually lasts well into the evening.
A self-professed workaholic, Modi lives alone in a state-owned bungalow in the state capital of Gandhinagar.He rises around 5 a.m. and does yoga before beginning his workday, which usually lasts well into the evening.
“If he becomes prime minister he is going to be great for India,” said Dinesh Patel, an electronic services technician from the town of Anand. “He’s a self-made man who devotes a lot of time to his work. He doesn’t even live with his mother!”“If he becomes prime minister he is going to be great for India,” said Dinesh Patel, an electronic services technician from the town of Anand. “He’s a self-made man who devotes a lot of time to his work. He doesn’t even live with his mother!”
Many of Gujarat’s prosperous Hindus like Patel support Modi because he’s built roads and flyovers that ease traffic and launched beautification efforts and festivals that promote civic pride, according to Uday Mahurkar, a journalist and the author of a recent book about Modi. Many of Gujarat’s better-off Hindus like Patel support Modi because he’s built roads and flyovers that ease traffic and has launched beautification efforts and festivals that promote civic pride, according to Uday Mahurkar, a journalist and the author of a recent book about Modi.
“If India wants to get over its economic crisis and move forward a big part of it is capitalizing on our own strengths” such as the country's growing youth population and rising middle class, Mahurkar said. “Modi would do that.” “If India wants to get over its economic crisis and move forward, a big part of it is capitalizing on our own strengths” such as the country's growing youth population and skilled tech force, Mahurkar said. “Modi would do that.”
Early in his first term, Modi created a program to provide reliable power to nearly all of Gujarat’s 18,000 villages, leveraging available supply by separating domestic and agriculture feeder lines and cracking down on power thieves. Jyotigram, as it is called, is one of his signal achievements and electrifying India likely to be among his domestic priorities. More than 300 million people — about one-quarter of the population— still lack steady power. Early in his first term, Modi created a program to provide reliable power to nearly all of Gujarat’s 18,000 villages, leveraging available supply by separating domestic and agriculture feeder lines and cracking down on power thieves. Jyotigram, as it is called, is one of his signal achievements and electrifying is India likely to be among his domestic priorities. A third of the country is still not connected to the national power grid.
Sebastian Morris, a professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, who has studied the program, said that the improved power supply led to profound change – with students able to study at night and small industries increasing their output. Demand for television sets and used refrigerators soared.Sebastian Morris, a professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, who has studied the program, said that the improved power supply led to profound change – with students able to study at night and small industries increasing their output. Demand for television sets and used refrigerators soared.
“The benefits were quite significant,” he said.“The benefits were quite significant,” he said.
Modi said he made electrification a priority because of his own experience studying by a kerosene lamp during his youth. He grew up as the son of a tea-seller, from a family of the lower Ghanchi caste.Modi said he made electrification a priority because of his own experience studying by a kerosene lamp during his youth. He grew up as the son of a tea-seller, from a family of the lower Ghanchi caste.
As an adult, he volunteered for the country's hardline Hindu nationalist movement, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, whose powerbrokers tapped him to become chief minister — similar to a governor — in Gujarat in October 2001. Not long after, religious riots swept the state, leaving more than 1,000 people dead, many of them Muslims. Modi was accused of not doing enough to quell the bloodshed. While a review panel appointed by the Supreme Court found that there was not enough evidence to charge Modi with a crime, the legacy has haunted him. As an adult, he volunteered for the country's hardline Hindu nationalist movement, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, whose power brokers tapped him to become chief minister — similar to a governor — in Gujarat in October 2001. Not long after, religious riots swept the state, leaving more than 1,000 people dead, many of them Muslims. Modi was accused of not doing enough to quell the bloodshed. While a review panel appointed by the Supreme Court found that there was not enough evidence to charge Modi with a crime, the legacy has haunted him.
In a bid to remake his image, he turned his attention to development, his efforts resulting in 10 percent average growth for his state between 2004 and 2012 which outpaced the nation, although it's dipped since then. In a bid to remake his image, he turned his attention to development. His efforts resulted in 10 percent average growth for his state between 2004 and 2012, although it's dipped since then.
Along the way, he became enamored with China – making two trips there, once in 2007 and again in 2011, when he presented leaders with business cards printed in Mandarin. Along the way, he became enamored with China – traveling there in 2007 and again in 2011, when he presented leaders with business cards printed in Mandarin.
“China has been a large resource of inspiration for him,” said Sunil Parekh, a consultant who has worked with Modi on biannual business summits that have attracted foreign investors. Modi was especially influenced by that country’s large-scale infrastructure projects, Parekh said. “China has been a large resource of inspiration for him,” said Sunil Parekh, a consultant who has worked with Modi on biannual business summits. Modi was especially influenced by that country’s large-scale infrastructure projects, Parekh said.
On the campaign trail, Modi has outlined plans to build roads, airports, ports, bullet trains and some 100 brand-new cities if he becomes India’s leader. But sometimes, in his ambitious rush to develop, Modi often fails to consider market forces and other issues on the ground. On the campaign trail, Modi has outlined plans to build roads, airports, ports, bullet trains and 100 brand-new cities if he becomes India’s leader. But sometimes, in his rush to develop, Modi has failed to consider market forces and other practical issues.
In 2007, he returned from a trip to Shanghai and proposed building the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or GIFT City, which he hoped would one day rival Singapore or London’s financial district. The scale model glows with more than 100 buildings, residences, shopping malls and a man-made lake. There is even a soaring tower with a diamond-shaped peak to lure the state’s diamond industry. Yet only two of the planned buildings – 33-story towers that sprout from the sun-baked millet fields -- have been constructed. In 2007, he proposed building the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or GIFT City, which he hoped would one day rival Singapore or London’s financial district. The scale model glows with more than 100 buildings, residences, shopping malls and a man-made lake. Yet only two of the planned buildings – 30-story towers that sprout from the sun-baked millet fields -- have been constructed.
R.K. Jha, the managing director of GIFT, said it was normal for new projects to take time to catch on. “Initially anything you develop will be slow.” R.K. Jha, the managing director of GIFT, said it was normal for new projects to take time. “Initially anything you develop will be slow.”
Morris said the project was overly ambitious.Morris said the project was overly ambitious.
"If anybody knows anything about financial centers, they don’t just happen wherever you provide infrastructure,” he said. “If any city is going to be a global financial center it is Mumbai, because it's already there and that's where the skills are.""If anybody knows anything about financial centers, they don’t just happen wherever you provide infrastructure,” he said. “If any city is going to be a global financial center it is Mumbai, because it's already there and that's where the skills are."
BREAK Critics have said that the state’s wide-ranging development under Modi has put pressure on the environment, unfairly displaced farmers and fishermen and done little to address the state’s lingering social problems. A 2013 report from UNICEF found that while the state had tried to improve education and access to clean drinking water, nearly every second child under 5 was still malnourished, and its infant and child mortality rates had declined slowly over the last decade.
Critics have said that the state’s wide-ranging development under Modi has put pressure on the environment, unfairly displaced farmers and fishermen and done little to address the state’s lingering social problems. A 2013 report from Unicef found that while the state had tried to address water access and education, nearly every second child was still malnourished and its infant and child mortality rates had declined slowly over the last decade. “He’s only for big buildings, big industry,” said Sartanbhai Bharwad, 50, a farmer who lost the ability to farm and graze his animals on land cleared for a Maruti Suzuki auto manufacturing plant. There is a court case pending over the disputed property, which Bharwad said his tribe owns. “Poor people, people like us, don’t fit anywhere in his scheme of things.”
“He’s only for big buildings, big industry,” said Sartanbhai Bharwad, 50, a farmer who lost grazing rights on land cleared for The state’s Muslims, too, feel they have been left behind as the state has grown more prosperous. The tension and hostility unleashed by the 2002 riots have made it more difficult for Muslims to purchase property in Hindu-dominated areas in Gujarat. So the state’s largest Muslim neighborhood, Juhapura, in Ahmedabad, has swelled to 400,000 people, from millionaires to impoverished slum-dwellers.
a Suzuki auto manufacturing plant. His village now has ample electricity but he worries about how he’s going to feed his water buffaloes. “Poor people, people like us, don’t fit anywhere in his scheme of things.” One recent evening, the shortcomings and successes of Modi’s Gujarat were on full display. In one makeshift camp in Ahmedabad, families lingered in the heat outside shacks. They had been displaced when slums along the river were torn down to make way for one of Modi’s crowning achievements, a downtown riverwalk.
The state’s Muslims, too, feel they have been left behind, and its rural Muslims are some of the poorest in India. The tension and hostility unleashed after the 2002 riots has made it more difficult for Muslims to purchase property in Hindu-dominated areas in Gujarat. So the state’s largest Muslim neighborhood, Juhapura, in downtown Ahmedabad, has swelled to more than 400,000 people, from millionaires to impoverished slum-dwellers. The state paid for thousands of new homes for people forced to leave the slums, but some families either lacked the documents to qualify or were waiting for word on if they could move into new dwellings.
One recent evening, the shortcomings and successes of Modi’s Gujarat were on full display. In one makeshift camp in Ahmedabad, families lingered in the heat outside tarp-covered shacks. They had been displaced when slums along the river were cleared to make way for one of Modi’s crowning achievements, a downtown riverwalk. “They demolished our houses,” said Shahnawaz Malek, 13, as he played marbles. “We can’t go back there.”
The state paid for thousands of new homes for many of those forced to leave the slum, but these families either lacked the proper documents to qualify for new dwellings or are still waiting for word they can move in. Across town, as the sun went down, a speedboat cut a wake through the river. The sound of temple bells echoed along with the Muslim call to prayer. Middle-class families mingled next to the lotus pond in the Riverfront Park. Some Hindus brought picnic suppers, and Muslims unrolled their prayer mats. For a Development Man who has promised to govern all India, it was the perfect tableau.
“They demolished our houses,” said Shahnawaz Malek, 13, as he played marbles with a friend. “We can’t go back there.” “We don’t want to remember the past, old things. We think all people are equal,” said Nafisa Rangwala, a homemaker. “For the goodness of everybody, let’s go forward.”
Across town, as the sun went down, a speedboat cut a wake through the river. Lights played over the water, and the sound of temple bells echoed along with the Muslim call to prayer. Middle-class families mingled in the Riverfront Park next to its lotus pond or walked on spotless pathways. Some Hindus brought picnic suppers, and Muslims unrolled their prayer mats. For a Development Man who has promised to govern all India, it was the perfect tableau.
“We don’t want to remember the past, old things. We think all people are equal,” said Nafisa Rangwala, a homemaker. “For the goodness of everybody, let’s go forward.”
Jalees Andrabi in New Delhi and Mahesh Langa in Ahmedabad contributed to this report.Jalees Andrabi in New Delhi and Mahesh Langa in Ahmedabad contributed to this report.