New Delhi: Can the Gujarat chief minister and the BJP’s prime-ministerial nominee Narendra Modi become a Jumman Sheikh?
But who is this Jumman Sheikh? And, how important is he to be equated with Modi, who is seen as the next PM by a large number of voters on one hand, and as a "CM with blood-stained hands" by his opponents on the other?
Sheikh is no politician, but the famous protagonist of Hindi’s greatest writer Munshi Premchand’s story Panch Parmeshwar. One of the doyens of Indian literature, Premchand through Jumman Sheikh told a simple yet powerful story that underscored the dictum that once a person ascends a position of responsibility and becomes accountable to the system, he has to take leave of prejudices of all sorts.
Narendra Modi. AFP
Panch Parmeshwar (five judges considered as the voice of God and forming the most basic unit of justice in a village) is one of the most celebrated stories penned by Munshi Premchand, who was not only an acclaimed writer and novelist of Hindi and Urdu, but was also a journalist, editor, publisher, translator and biographer. The story is about two close friends — Algu Chaudhary, who is a village chief (Sarpanch) and Jumman Sheikh. When it comes to dispensation of justice, Algu doesn’t spare even Jumman. As the latter doesn’t find Algu’s favour, their friendship turns into enmity and Jumman waits to take revenge.
Prior to the contemporary modern judicial system, a panchayat used to be an indigenous village court, headed by a sarpanch and a team of panchs (a jury).
In the story, tables get turned after sometime when Jumman gets nominated to head the panchayat as a sarpanch in a case related to Algu. While, on one hand Jumman thinks it to be the right opportunity to take his revenge, on the other Algu becomes skeptical about the judgment to be pronounced. But, after occupying the seat of the sarpanch, realisation dawns on Jumman and finally justice prevails. Without any prejudice or intention to take revenge, Jumman rules in favour of Algu. “My brother, today I learnt while sitting on the highest throne of justice as a sarpanch that I’m neither anybody’s friend nor anybody’s foe. A sarpanch is unbiased. I’m convinced that God speaks through a panch’s lips and I must not stray even an inch from the truth,” says Jumman while embracing Algu after the village court.
The story ends happily with a strong message, which is relevant even today — almost a century after the story was written (1916) — that any person who occupies a seat of responsibility and power cannot be vindictive or misuse it to his advantage against others.
There has been much hullabaloo, both in the political arena and in the media, since the announcement of the BJP’s manifesto and telecast of two television interviews of Modi on his sudden ‘change of heart’. Instead of continuing with his belligerent tone while attacking his opponents in his rallies, Modi has made a conscious attempt of an ‘image makeover’ — to be seen as a much wiser and tolerant personality. The new Modi avatar that has emerged out of his post-manifesto speech seems to be an attempt to dispel the widely-held perception and the allegation that his opponents never forget to level about his authoritarian streak, as somebody who can’t accept any criticism.
The image consultants and brand experts feel that there has been a paradigm shift in Modi’s communication pattern. Modi today is seen by many as the answer to all problems — a panacea for all ills — and in the last lap of campaigning he has come forward to fill that void through statements of assurance and reassurance.
"As per the poll surveys and reports, there seems a good chance for Modi to be the PM, so his tone now reflects a kind of reassurance to the public. There is a shift in his communication pattern. Through his recent interviews he has tried to sound more accessible, not shying away from taking questions,” says MD & CEO Futurebrands, Santosh Desai.
Narendra Modi’s recent interviews on India TV, ANI and TV9, reveal a subtle shift in his persona from that of an aggressive politician ready to take his opponents head-on to a more astute and focused incumbent, with an eye on the post of PM. This time it’s the man who wants a greater and wider acceptability among the cross section of electorates from north to south, and east to west.
After the launch of BJP’s manifesto, Modi had said, “The party has entrusted me with a certain responsibility. I want to make three promises personally — I will never be found wanting on hard work, I will not do anything for myself and I will not do anything with bad intent.”
Is this an attempt to alleviate the trust deficit he faces amongst the minorities and a large number of voters who earlier had never considered BJP as an alternative to Congress?
"I strongly believe it’s Narendra Modi who will become the PM this time, because if he forms the government at the Centre, development can be expected unlike during the UPA government, which gave us only corruption and scams,” says Salim Ansari, who runs a chain of take-away Tandoori food joints in New Delhi.
The antipathy that Modi had been facing from Muslim community till 2012 is gradually diminishing. Asifa Khan from Gujarat and now with the BJP’s national media committee, is a popular face on TV channels representing the party. Originally brought into the Congress politics by Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, who’s also from Gujarat, she switched over to the BJP in 2012 after meeting Modi, and believes that the Muslims would vote for the BJP.
But, Modi’s opponents, especially the Congress are viewing it as a ‘gimmick and political stunt to win over the voters’.
All India Congress Committee general secretary Shakeel Ahmed had reportedly remarked, “This is nothing but an exercise in image building and the people of this country know what Modi stands for."
“It is no gimmick but as Narendra Modi is moving ahead towards a national goal, he is imbibing a national figure and trying to be genuine to the larger electorate now. Even earlier in 2007 and 2012, he had made similar statements in Gujarat, but his opponents like Sonia Gandhi had addressed him as ‘Maut ka saudagar’. People’s perception towards Modi has been changing and now he’s more acceptable,” says Praful Ketkar, editor of the Organiser, a national weekly of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
To Modi followers, his recent statements reflect his sense of responsibility and commitment towards a higher goal.
“It seems to be a conscious attempt by Modi to address a different set of concern and position himself, as a responsible person in power,” adds Desai.
Consider a few more statements of Modi made during his recent interviews:
"This is the land of the Buddha and Mahavir. We want the world to be free of conflict. Our requirement is to be powerful but we do not want to suppress anyone with this power and want to use this only for our own defence."
"For the last 12-14 years, only one person has been targeted with all kinds of allegations. No one missed any opportunity to castigate me. Is it not a sin to target one individual for all kinds of things? I think the people, who are still stuck, will keep on doing what they are doing. But I don’t have to waste my time anymore. I have so much to do for the people of this country. So I have focussed myself on this work only."
“I may also have used harsh words against Soniaji, Rahulji and Nitishji. This is not permanent. I don’t have any bad feeling about anybody.”
And finally... “My government will not be vindictive and I’ll never act in bad faith”.
Isn’t Narendra Modi sounding somewhat similar to Jumman Sheikh? But, can he live up to the expectations of the larger population of India? Is it a realisation for Modi, while inching closer to his national goal? Only time will tell.
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