Modi is both an idea and a phenomenon today: Rajnath Singh

Apparently, the BJP now officially recognises that Modi’s persona has become bigger than the party. Moditva, a term initially used by the media to describe his as distinct from or parallel to the organised structure of the BJP and the RSS, is going to be the campaign theme for the Parliamentary elections.

On Tuesday, BJP President Rajnath Singh released a book titled ‘Moditva – the Idea Behind the Man’ in three languages, English, Hindi and Gujarati at a function in New Delhi, which was also attended by several foreign diplomats. “Moditva manifests the transformation of a man into a concept. Modi today is both an idea and a phenomenon,” Singh said.

Singh said that though he had done the honours of first naming Modi as chairman of the party’s campaign committee and then as their prime ministerial candidate, he was only abiding by the wishes and sentiments of party workers at large. Modi, according to him, defied conventional wisdom and politics to reach to the top on the basis of his personal merit.

No full time RSS Pracharak ever became a Chief Minister, or was ever a prime ministerial contender. Atal Bihari Vajapee, LK Advani and other chief ministers may have all been part of the Sangh, but none lived the life of a bachelor pracharak.

What Rajnath Singh didn’t say was that never before has the party and an entire campaign been so individual-centric. Vajpayee too had emerged as a cult figure but he didn’t get this kind of hero worship from the party cadre ever. Modi has indeed effected a big change in the Sangh Parivar’s thought process, where he as an individual symbolises what they used to earlier call Hindutva and which has now taken the shape of Moditva.

The book is a collection of 14 short essays drawn from the quotes of Narendra Modi on critical challenges facing the country such as economy, governance, education etc. Each essay establishes an ancient Indian connect to each quote. Every idea presented in the book is validated by a successful international and domestic example.

In her foreword for the book, Kiran Bedi says: “India’s rich intellect, diverse resources, natural and human, require an experienced, knowledgeable, healthy and visionary patriot, if out destinies have to change. Mr Modi is seen as a doer. He has millions of supporters but he also has hidden saboteurs and detractors.”