: Gujarat to India #IndiaNEWS #Edit Sudarshan Iyengar When Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on the ascendant in Gujarat, there was a lot of talk about the so-called ‘Gujarat model that could be applied

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Gujarat to India #IndiaNEWS #Edit
Sudarshan Iyengar

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on the ascendant in Gujarat, there was a lot of talk about the so-called ‘Gujarat model that could be applied to the entire country. This of course was talking about the economic model. But not all Indians had learned about the full package that Modi had promised the people of Gujarat. Samruddhi, in the sense of economic prosperity, was only one half of the promised story. The other half was salamati, a Hindustani word that has become a part of the Gujarati language and a way of speaking to denote safety and security.
But now, we appear to dislike anything but a Sanskirtised version. So, there are many telling us how saal-mubarak is not Indian and we must instead use nootanvarsh-abhinandan or any other Sanskritised words to wish each other – be it for Diwali or even the turn of the calendar December 31.
After almost seven years of Modi at the national helm of affairs, Bharat has arrived and has taken hold. Every person, or almost every person it may seem, is now consciously religious and the first lesson that has been internalised is that you cannot afford to be tolerant. The call and consensus are to respond violently to any provocation and go to the extent of extinguishing life by taking the law in your hands.
The story of Guru Nanak has receded from folklore and also our collective memory. He travelled with his disciple and follower Mardaana to Mecca. He retired one summer evening in a sarai, or should it be called a dharmashala in keeping with the version of ‘Indianness’ that is in vogue. A moulvi saw Guru Nanak stretching his legs towards the Kaaba. He reprimanded the Guru. The Guru requested him to lift his legs and put them in the direction that may be the right one.
But whichever direction the feet of the Guru turned, the Kaaba appeared to move in that direction. The priest then sought forgiveness from Guru Nanak, the message being that the house of the Lord is everywhere and in all directions.
From those roots, we have arrived today, when we are ready to lynch and kill the person who has defiled or misbehaved in a Gurudwara. Zero tolerance for hurt, real or imagined, to religious sentiments. Punishment is swift. Exterminate. This is how we have learned to keep ourselves salamat, or safe, secure, sound, protected!
Welcome to the Gujarat Model, Part II, as it plays out in the Akhand Bharat of today. Let us not blame Gandhi. He practiced non-violence and sarvadharama samabhava- equal respect for all religions. But we have ingrained violence into the Indian fabric. Further, the version of secularism practiced in the country gave space to intolerance and fanatic elements among certain sections, the disease eventually spreading to most sects and religions.

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