Unbound Opportunities to Act East in Modi 2.0

Book Review

Modi’s Rule and India’s Unbound Opportunities: Narrative of the Substantives and Beyond

Hard cover-2019

Author: Shibdas Bhattacharjee

Publisher: Overseas Press, New Delhi, Edition (2019)

Language: English

Length: 530 pages

Price- Rs.1995

ISBN: 978-81-939968-4-3

Description: Indian Politics

Shibdas Bhattacharjee in his Book Modi’s Rule and India’s Unbound Opportunities: Narrative of the Substantives and Beyond has tried to present a realistic documentation of Modi government’s performance from 2014 to 2019 and provided a roadmap for the government formed after 2019 general elections. The author has given special focus to the issues related to North East India along with other important issues. He has showcased how BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi has extended its support base in this region and how almost entire North-eastern region of India has come under BJP’s rule; Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland Meghalaya and Sikkim.

The author identifies this as a positive development and unique opportunity to implement development agenda for this region. India’s relations with the ASEAN countries have been pointed out as a major foreign policy push in the Book—“This is true that Prime Minister Modi made relatively successful endeavour in improving India’s relations with the ASEAN and East Asian nations. In fact, India-ASEAN ties became an important platform both in case of foreign policy and trade relations for New Delhi. This is true that the saga began back. But it is also undeniable that Prime Minister Modi’s efforts gave a forward push to this relationship….P 288.”

The author feels that insurgency related activities came down substantially during this time – “This is hardly any doubt in the fact that as far as India’s North East based insurgency is concerned, policy initiations of Prime Minister Modi proved to be successful endeavour. Here, in this region, it seems Mr. Modi’s concept of co-operative federalism really clicked. In fact, North East getting prominence in India’s national affair is in itself a major development--- P-448.”

But the author expresses utter dejection regarding the stand taken by Modi government during Rohingya crisis--- “The stand taken by Prime Minister Modi during Rohingya crisis came under severe criticism. The issue is related to India’s relations both with Myanmar and more importantly Bangladesh. The way things happened demanded a pro-active approach from Prime Minister Modi. That was a crucial time to unfold effective diplomatic agenda by the Modi government. As the issue is related to Muslim refugees, this has direct connection with Assam as well where Bangladeshi infiltration became major issue on the backdrop of upgrading National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the year 2017 and 2018---P 295.”

So also, the author has discussed with prominence the issues like National Register of Citizens (NRC), hype on Hindu Bangladeshi, greater Nagalim, ST status to six ethnic groups of Assam and formidable policy regarding adjourning nations sharing international border with North-eastern States in a pragmatic manner showcasing larger ramifications of all these both for North-eastern region and larger interests of the country. The author feels all these issues deserve special focus during Prime Minister Modi’s second term in the office.

Opportunities of India are at the centre of discussion and this Book identifies the factors that created those Opportunities. According to Bhattacharjee factors like renewed enthusiasm of Indian electorates regarding electoral process of the country and rallying behind Modi, winning more than requisite number of Parliamentary segments by the BJP after three decades-long coalition experiments, BJP forming Provincial governments in most Indian States, Modi’s undisputed authority in his government and the ruling party, support of the youth community for Modi, paradigm shift in the balance of power in South East Asia all together created unique opportunities for Modi government to deliver. Similarly, this Book is a venture to find out the answers of some relevant interrogatives; Has India succeeded in availing these huge Opportunities? What has India achieved substantially under Modi’s leadership? Could it be more through alternative and effective policies? How much probabilities left to be availed and harnessed in the days ahead? What should be the future roadmap for the present government? The Book makes detail analysis and exposes the ground reality in different sectors of Mr. Modi’s performance as the Prime Minister of India; be it India’s Social Sector, Youth Empowerment, Job, Economic issues, Price rise, Foreign policy, Strategic agenda, Security Scenario and all relevant issues of India’s national interests in separate Chapters of this Book. This Book is neither blind appraisal nor prejudiced criticism, but realistic and pragmatic analysis of India’s position within, in the region and in global forum. The author gives a paint-picture of social-sector and youth-empowerment and suggests effective measures for necessary course-corrections.

Similarly, the author has made a detailed analysis of the security scenario both in Kashmir and across the India-Pakistan border. Issue of insurgency, terror factories running in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and terror-doctrine misleading the Kashmiri youths; all have been focused and tried to provide a roadmap to end the menaces. The author rightly says that primary goal of India is: building formidable partnership to restrict China-Pakistan nexus. This is the minimum that needs to be ensured and thence comes the issue of venturing beyond. Pivotal question here is: issue of utilizing relatively better political consensus and relying on the style, trajectory and related policy of government- are functioning. This far-sighted view has been convincingly outlined in this Book. The Book is really a pragmatic analysis of Mr. Modi’s performance with a view to look forward and beyond. The author is optimistic that Prime Modi-led government in the second consecutive term will make necessary course-correction to make India into vibrant power both in letter and spirit. But the Book has an obvious drawback as well. The author has made no effort to connect his observation to the established theory. Similarly, the Book has some long quotes that distract attention of the reader. This is undeniable that this Book would have attained larger acceptability in the academic arena if the author toiled a bit referring theoretical aspect.

Sujay Debnath

The reviewer Sujay Debnath is an Assistant Professor at the Department of History, Bakshirhat Mahavidyalaya, Cooch Behar in West Bengal. He can be reached at [email protected] and 7407018862.