Am I a BJP bhakt or am I a proud Indian from New India?

I was traveling to Delhi from Mumbai in February 2020. We had a gang of young college boys in the same compartment. They were on a trekking trip to Himachal Pradesh.

After a quick munch in the train, I sat looking outside with my earphones plugged in. Suddenly I heard a huge commotion entering through my earphones and turned towards the gang of boys to see what was going on.

To my surprise it was an argument between two boys about Mr. Narendra Modi’s performance as the Prime Minister of India! While one boy was declaring about how great the Modi Sarkar has been and how different the last couple of years have been compared to the Congress era, the other boy kept talking about the flamboyant nature of the PM, his luxurious trips and no development in reality by Modiji.

Suddenly one of the kids looked at me and asked me if I agreed with him about Modi sarkar's incompetency to run India. 

I had to be honest. I said that I don’t know if BJP is better than Congress. I am not sure if BJP can make a better India than Congress. Neither have I lived enough to opine if Modiji’s steps will make India better. I don’t know if 'Make in India' is successful or not neither am I sure if 'Swacchh Bharat Abhiyaan' is successfully implemented across the nation. 

But, I DO know that nobody refers to India as an underdeveloped country anymore. Especially the Indians. They are busy now and busy struggling to make the most.  

I haven't heard about unemployment very often recently. Since people look busy maintaining a living these days. The graduates coming on the streets to start their tea stalls as their entrepreneurial venture wasn't there a couple of years ago. Neither did I see the huge rush of self employment in the previous government. 

Everybody then relied on employment opportunities. I am enjoying the fearlessness of the youths nowadays. I have noticed that almost all auto-rickshaw drivers have started using smart phones and all cab drivers have accepted a better lifestyle and prefer to greet customers in a warm and friendly way compared to what I experienced earlier. It could be because of the rising competition and the increase in supply in most sectors. However, I am tremendously benefiting as a customer.  

I am not sure if Uri or Pulwama was an eye wash. I don't really know the reality and unfortunately I do not own enough authority to verify them. But I feel better to hear from my five years old son about the Indian Army and it's courageous endeavors against our beloved neighbor.  

I don't honestly care if the news agencies are sold out. Especially because any responsible citizen should be bothered about his society first. I am content with the thought that my son feels proud to be an Indian. I love it when he asks me, "How's the josh?" and I love to reply, "High Sir".  

Stories have always played a pivotal role in creating nations. Stories make beliefs, beliefs make habits, habits make culture and culture makes people. I am grateful that not too many movies depicting India's poverty are showcased nowadays. I am happy that my neighbors want their kids to work in India rather than migrate to a foreign nation.  

I have lived in Europe for nine years and I know how little my India was known to them. Fortunately I get to see India in mostly all news channels across the globe getting aired nowadays. Mostly because of the courageous speeches delivered by Mr. Narendra Modi. I love to see the respect collected by India via Modi. It makes me feel proud.  

Maybe COVID lockdown in the recent days wasn't handled very well by the Central government. But honestly did you not expect something worse? Did you really expect India to survive knowing the huge population, poverty, illiteracy and diversity that India carries? But we sailed through the worst. Isn't it?  

I like to see a Home Minister who can justify with logic. In case my Home Minister misses the logic, his knowledge is sharp enough to answer back at least. This is not the India that I knew. This is New India. The josh is new. The thought is new. The power is new and the people around it are new.  

I am not a bhakt but what's the harm if I were? I like to see my fellow Indians finally call a place the Ram Janam Bhoomi. Probably a myth getting tracked to history? I mean we have seen more bogus stories associated globally. This at least has a link to our culture, our history and most importantly our civilization.  

I like it when the attacks on faith of Hinduism is avoided by liberals these days. I like it when Saffron is worn with pride. Not because I like to wear saffron but simply for the fact that the color won its pride which is synonymous to it's culture and civilians. I love it when everybody stands up during the National Anthem. This is not the time to listen to the tukdaa gangs. I am enjoying the drive to follow a leader.  

When was the last time India as a whole stood together to bang utensils? When was the last time the country's leader talked about 'Hope'? Not all can be explained by logic. Hope requires exciting content. Sometimes we have to believe in someone to progress. And I prefer to believe in Mr. Modi somehow rather than some foolish dark speaker of righteousness who can make me sad. Thinking of me to be a bhakt again? Nope I am not.  

I am a Bengali and I am educated. I am a thorough researcher and I know the facts behind all that I have written. I feel better now with what I have known. I wish to continue feeling better is what I desire.  

So, I am not capable of answering if the Modi sarkar is better than the Congress sarkar. All I know is that I am happy, I am content and my little one loves New India stories. This is New India, we talk, we shout, we follow and we barge if necessary.  

How's the josh?