 "Praising Modi...Miss India World steals from The Economist")
There’s nothing else one can presume from the amazing statement that Miss India World Koyal Rana made on Narendra Modi leading the BJP to a majority in the Lok Sabha polls. “Mr Modi’s victory has disproved an article of political faith from the past three decades: that India’s messy democracy, cursed by strong regional and caste-based parties, could produce only fragmented outcomes and weak coalition governments. This victory should mean stable, decisive and predictable rule,” Koyal Rana is reported as having said in
The Times of India
. Well, well, well. We have a Miss India World who doesn’t spout faff when asked questions that require education, knowledge and intelligence. So much for India to be proud of. Till you read these words in
The Economist
: “Mr Modi’s victory has disproved an article of political faith from the past three decades: that India’s messy democracy, cursed by strong regional and caste-based parties, could produce only fragmented outcomes and weak coalition governments. This, the clearest result since 1984, should mean stable, decisive and predictable rule.” [caption id=“attachment_1545141” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Miss Koyal Rana in this file photo. Screenshot from YouTube.[/caption] Wow. What a coincidence. Both Ms Rana and The Economist have the precise words and phrases to describe the impact of Narendra Modi winning the elections. Is it remotely possible that Ms Rana is a regular reader of The Economist and subconsciously remembered a column she read the previous day? Or is this just plain plagiarism caused by shoddy work by an unthinking and careless public relations machine? It’s the latter. Certainly.
Anant Rangaswami was, until recently, the editor of Campaign India magazine, of which Anant was also the founding editor. Campaign India is now arguably India's most respected publication in the advertising and media space. Anant has over 20 years experience in media and advertising. He began in Madras, for STAR TV, moving on as Regional Manager, South for Sony’s SET and finally as Chief Manager at BCCL’s Times Television and Times FM. He then moved to advertising, rising to the post of Associate Vice President at TBWA India. Anant then made the leap into journalism, taking over as editor of what is now Campaign India's competitive publication, Impact. Anant teaches regularly and is a prolific blogger and author of Watching from the sidelines.