All significant leaders acquire a sobriquet in the course of their political life. Indira Gandhi—dictator. Narasimha Rao—Chanakya. Atal Bihari Vajpayee—Hindu liberal. Narendra Modi—global nationalist. The hagiography of leadership is drawn from the surprise genes of rulers. Now, it’s time for Modi to spring a surprise on Raisina Hill.
Until Modi came along, surprises were not considered a BJP trait. Wrong. Behind the banyan tree personality of Vajpayee lay an enigmatic master of surprises. He ambushed the world with ‘Smiling Buddha’ aka Pokhran II—India’s second nuclear test, executed under the nose of the Western world, whose satellites patrol the sky, looking for signs of suspicious activity.
They certainly didn’t expect from an Indian prime minister, ruling at the mercy of unreliable allies, something momentous enough to make India proud again after a series of dismal premierships. The scandalous fall of Rajiv Gandhi, the violence-torn years of V P Singh, the insipid stewardship of Deve Gowda and I K Gujral had eroded national faith in 7 Race Course Road.
Narasimha Rao was not big on image as much as he was on performance. Vajpayee was a prime minister with the reputation of a dove and the determination of a hawk. A political consequence of Pokhran II sprang another surprise.
Now, Vajpayee made the mentor of his nuclear surprise—Abdul Kalam —president, thereby bringing a well-beloved icon to Rashtrapati Bhavan, a personality who floated above the dirty political smog of Delhi. And above all, a President loyal to the principles of governance the prime minister believed in.
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the chance to spring a similar surprise. You can always expect from him the unexpected. He demystified foreign policy with je ne sais quoi, inviting Nawaz Sharif to his swearing in ceremony, taking selfies with global leaders, and a riverside dinner with the Chinese president.
The surgical strikes were a departure from the ritual peaceful indignation of decades past. Demonetisation, announced with a few hours to spare, was the biggest surprise of the decade. Now, India awaits the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan after Pranab Mukjerjee says adieu.
Apart from Rajendra Prasad, S Radhakrishnan and Kalam, Indian presidents were overshadowed by the PM. The weak-willed Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed brought disgrace to the presidency as Indira’s puppet who signed off on the Emergency.
Prior to moving into Raisina Hill, Giani Zail Singh had declared his willingness to sweep the floor if Indira asked him to—an image redeemed by his later belligerence towards Rajiv. Shankar Dayal Sharma’s tenure had little to write home about. Pratibha Patil, embroiled in scandals and possessing the personality of a family retainer, brought shame to the presidency.
It was left to Pranab Mukherjee, who has a mind of his own, to restore the dignity of the office. Modi’s candidate should take it to the next level to perpetuate the presidency’s lost glory.
The Indian presidency is largely ceremonial. Modi, the prime minister of the people, can use this to his advantage, with a president of the people. He has the numbers and is not dependent on a consensus. What he can be depended on is to deliver a surprise. Let it be a pleasant one.