Once despised and now courted by Western powers, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a third term in legislative elections after ten years of adopting a nationalist policy identified with Hinduism that distanced the country from its secular traditions.
His political rise was tarnished by accusations that he encouraged the worst religious riots of this century in India, and his tenure coincided with growing hostility towards Muslims and other minorities. Still, the 73-year-old leader is among the most well-liked leaders in the world on a regular basis.
His followers celebrate his image as a firm man, reinforced by his profile as a defender of India’s majority faith and the myths that extol his humble origins. “They don’t love me because of my humble origins,” he said at rallies before the last elections, criticizing his rivals.
Modi was born in 1950 in the western state of Gujarat, the third of six brothers whose father sold tea at railway stations.He was an average student, but due to his oratory skills, he began to stand out as a member of his school’s debate club and by participating in theatrical performances.
When he joined the nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of eight, his political destiny was sealed. hard Hindu.ย ย There, Modi dedicated himself to promoting Hindu supremacy in secular India, even abandoning an arranged marriage shortly after getting married at 18.
Remaining with his wife, whom he has not officially divorced, would have delayed his advancement in the ranks of the RSS, which requires the celibacy of its leaders.
The alliance led by Modi’s formation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), won a majority in Parliament in the legislative elections, according to data released by the Election Commission this Tuesday (4).
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A violent riot ensued
The RSS prepared Modi for a career in its political wing, the BJP. He was appointed chief minister of Gujarat in 2001, and the following year, the state was rocked by sectarian riots triggered by a fire that killed dozens of Hindu pilgrims.
At least 1,000 people died in the violence that followed, with Muslims being the main victims. Modi was accused of helping to spark the riots and of not ordering police intervention.
An investigation by India’s highest court ruled there was no evidence to charge Modi, but for years he was barred from entering the United States and the United Kingdom.
With the secular forces that have ruled the nation nearly continuously since its independence from the United Kingdom, Modi has gained a reputation as a leader prepared to stand up for the rights of Hindus. Despite this, its popularity continued to grow in India.ย
“A new story”
Modi became prime minister in May 2014. Since then, his critics have warned of the persecution of political opponents and the control of a once-vibrant press. At the same time, the Muslim community of more than 200 million people fears for its future.
After his rise to power, India experienced a wave of lynchings of Muslims for slaughtering cows, an animal sacred according to Hindu tradition.
But Western countries have set aside their concerns to cultivate a regional ally capable of countering China.
Last year, Modi addressed a joint session of the US Congress and was hosted by President Joe Biden for a state visit to the White House. He takes credit for India’s growing diplomatic and economic influence and says that under his leadership, the country has become a “vishwaguru”โa t teacher to the world.
After being conquered by the Muslim Mongol empire and then colonized by the British, Modi claims that India is now reclaiming its proper position in the world.
After being conquered by the Muslim Mongol empire and then colonized by the British, Modi claims that India is now reclaiming its proper position in the world.
His transformative project reached a milestone in January, when Modi presided over the inauguration of a Hindu temple in the city of Ayodhya, built on land where a Mongolian Muslim mosque had stood for centuries, destroyed in 1992 by Hindu fanatics.
