If it has to be placed in the category of a political act
- what Narendra Modi did on September 5, the Teachers’ Day (or the Teacher’s Day),
was indeed a good and engaging politics, unlike the politics of the day, unlike
what ‘Indian politics’ of the day has become synonymous with.
On googling (searching) for the definitions of politics, the
first two definitions that the Google Guru (as Modi termed the online search
giant – like any online search has become synonymous with ‘googling’) comes
with are:
-- The activities associated with the governance of a
country or area, especially the debate between parties having power.
-- Activities aimed at improving someone's status or
increasing power within an organization.
Obviously, these are not exhaustive. But what these
definitions imply is the theoretical baseline in the contemporary times.
Activities associated with – Activities aimed at – the
context is defined by words like governance, power, status, parties,
organizations – and the activities can be good or bad – like ‘good politics’ or
‘bad politics’ – and we, the Indians, desperately need the ‘good politics’ –
and if it was political, it was indeed ‘good and needed politics’ by Narendra
Modi.
It is like the difference between ‘information’ and
‘knowledge’ as Narendra Modi points out – what Google gives us is mere
information – using it in a context and using it with an informed background
are what make any piece of information an event of knowledge.
Modi’s address to the students and to the nation had no
political tones the way he spoke, the way he carried it further. His body
language and his interaction with students told us it was more of a personal
choice. He spoke and interacted like an engaged elder. It was inspiring and
connecting.
Yes, there are political elements and political
interpretations that can be associated with initiative. But that is for good. There
is nothing wrong if Modi addresses students who are voters of tomorrow. There
is nothing wrong if Narendra Modi addresses the teachers who are millions
strong votebank. There is nothing wrong if Narendra Modi didn’t speak of the
problems of teachers.
If they are voters of tomorrow, what’s wrong in
establishing connect with them. Similar logic can be extended to the teachers.
Doing it sincerely and seriously is the need of the day. The sustained outreach
is the need of the day.
It was an event for students, addressing to them, talking
to them, guiding them and sharing with them. How can one expect Mr. Modi to discuss the complex issues of the problems of
the teachers and of the education system there? Wouldn’t it defy the whole
purpose? Doing so indeed would be bad politics, the ‘politics of the day’.
There is nothing wrong in all this if we see the context.
The context needed an honest display of personal reflections and Modi excelled
at that, naturally and easily. It was an engaging event full of good moments where
we smiled, where we laughed.
If it was politics - Modi's Teachers' Day address to the students
was good and acceptable politics, unlike the politics of the day.
Hope it establishes a norm and a good tradition begins and
the spirit that has been this year, sustains year after year.
©/IPR: Santosh Chaubey - http://severallyalone.blogspot.com/
