One of the many promises of Narendra Modi’s rise to power was the “restoration” of the Hindu image in the global mind. Many Hindus, who feel that their religion is not accorded the respect it deserves, buy that narrative. Modi, they suppose, would reverse this perceived decline in the status of the Hindus. Modi proclaimed himself a Hindu Nationalist prior to the 2014 general election, probably unaware of the dim view the world takes of religious nationalism.
Modi’s publicly stated idea of glory is rooted in Rama Rajya. His wish is to return to the days of the Ramayana to restore India’s greatness. Right after his election in 2014, Modi stated that India suffered under slavery for 1200 years before he took power. Implicit in this statement is the belief that he would now free India and enable Indians to rise from the shackles of the past 1200 years. Many Hindus look up to him with the expectation that they will now be proud of their religion, which they were not for many centuries before.
Unfortunately for the Hindus, Modi is on course to bring great shame to them. Modi’s plan for Rama Rajya seems to depend on suppression of dissent, state-led oppression of minorities, state support for “Hindu science,” and total focus on the division of the country to the exclusion of all other priorities – including the economy.
“Vasudhaiva kutumbakam,” a phrase from the Maha Upanishad means “the whole world is one family.” Modi used the phrase two years before the elections, in 2012, to gain support for his bid to become the Prime Minister. However, since his thunderous win in 2019, Modi has followed an unapologetically divisive agenda. It appears that according to Modi, minorities of India are not part of the Indian family.
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