Is Narendra Modi Strongest Leader We Have In Our Living Memories In India?

Can't agree more!!!

If you look at Indian politics after independence he is the only PM who derived his power from the people directly (One of my closest friend says he is strongest leader India had have after Chandra Gupta Maurya some 2300 years ago, I agree will that but will not go for or against it here).

Before I go into details I would like to say that all leaders/politicians/PMs have something in them to reach there, supported by circumstances and conditions.

Nehru was having strongest grip on power in India. But he owed his rise to his rich and famous father and them blessing of Mohandas Gandhi. Once the state machinery was in his hands he had formidable control. He was only PM who could have managed to be dictator but he was not strongest as the country behind him was not as strong as India of Today.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was again too much dependent on Congress party. Although he proved to be strong leader but his tenure was not very long.

Indira Gandhi owed her position to being daughter of Nehru. She managed to win elections and side-step her opposition within the party and managed to have dictatorial power after imposing emergency.

Morarji Bhai Desai was PM but he was leading a faction ridden party. He was not even the boss of his own party. Same goes for Narsimharao, V P Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Devi Gauda, Gujral etc.

Rajiv Gandhi had most formidable mandate till date but again he was there not because of his talents but because of being from family of former PMs.

Manmohan Singh was proxy at the best. Sonia Gandhi was much more powerful than him and he served at her mercy.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was there but he was too much dependent on his allies. He had to be very cautious all the time.

And then comes Narendra Modi. He rose from lowest echoleons of the society. Rising through the ranks. Understanding people at different levels. Gaining experience of governing the state before being PM, won the election for his cherishma, winning a victory which was totally his own victory. Became first non-Congress PM where party and government is under his control with popular backing by people without being son/daughter/relative of any powerful person. He is the man who has vision and necessary support to implement his vision. Thus he is the strongest leader India have in our memories or anytime after independence.

Indian Influence in Past and Future

This post was generated to an answer of a question on Quora. Innocent looking question was, "When will India rise up and rule the world like it did in the ancient times?"

First thing is India never ruled the world. We had our sphere of influence because of our trade and cultural links. Whole of Indo-China (Far East Asia including Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia etc.) had Indian culture to varying extent. Buddhism was greatest export of Indian culture. Powerful empires like Srivijaya empire in Indo-China was very close to India culturally.

Please remember India never colonised any country. Wherever our ancestors went they carried their culture of tolerance and value system base on dignity of life. Today in post colonial world everybody is talking of these things and that is good for whole humanity.

Here it is to be understood very clearly if one country is prosperous and powerful, world will be influenced automatically. We are moving in that direction slowly coming out of rut and degradation that British Raj brought to us. We have many people with low self esteem and "Gora Sahib mentality" ruling top echelons of Indian intelligentsia for almost 70 years in post independence India. But with advent of new nationalistic government in Delhi things are again moving in right direction. Evacuation in Yemen is telling example of extension of this soft power of India. And this soft power will carry positive influence of India across the world again.

So in short we never ruled the world, we never wanted to rule the world but have influenced world positively and trying to get into that position again. may be it will take 50 more years and before that we need to sort out our problem of caste system, division of society, educate our people, remove poverty in the process and then we shall be very much there again.

Nahruvian Blunders

This post was triggered by following question on Quora.

What are the possible solutions to the Nehruvian Blunder? From a UN permanent seat, to solving the Kashmir Dispute, to settling borders with China, what is the way forward for India? 

Lets take one by one. 

UN Permanent Seat:

As for UN seat let bygone be gone. We can strengthen our country economically and militarily and stake the claim to our rightful position as our PM said that it is our right and all governments let by Congress or BJP worked towards it.

Kashmir:

As for Kashmir that is biggest blunder and it is bleeding India till date. 20% of valley population was chased out by fanatics and they are living as refugees in their own country unable to stake claim to what belonged to them. In my opinion best solution will be to divide J&K into three regions (Jammu, Kashmir and Laddakh). Give autonomy to Kashmir region and settle the ousted people there in fortified colonies. Withdraw the army and seal the borders completely till the time they understand futility of hosting terrorists. At the same time put pressure on Pakistan to give autonomy to the region under their control. Help the people indirectly in PoK. Waait for the things to boil till population realize the greater evil of being under Pak control. Then remove article 370 and take required measures as per requirements of the times.

Border dispute with China:

Make our economy and army strong enough to negotiate with China on equal footings. As of now after losing war of 1962 (another Nehruvian blunder), we are not in position to negotiate from position of equality.

So basically solution lies in development of our own country and people.