Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has chosen to visit Bhutan this month as his first state visit. Non-controversial visit for which there can be neither an argument of one country against the other in the region nor discussion on east versus west. As Gujarat chief minister he had visited Japan five times and China twice. Many thought he is east-ward looking and Japan-friendly. I guess he still is, but he has to keep prime ministerial balance. He cannot ignore the United States, the reason why he has a scheduled visit to the US in September 2014, and the west.
A revisionist version of the classic Indian half-sleeved tunic shirt worn by PM Narendra Modi is now called “Modi Kurta”. He wears Modi Kurta (made from organic cottons and silks) with designer watch (Movado) and sunglasses (Bvlgari). He uses his own pen, a roller-ball Mont Blanc he carries in his left chest-pocket. The clothing chain Jade Blue has trademarked Modi Kurta and is planning to take it to Britain, the US and Southeast Asia. In keeping with his pro-business ideology, he allowed to trademark Modi Kurta. People say Modi Kurta does not exactly represent extraordinary trend or aesthetic advance but symbolizes a set of values.
He works hard, makes people work hard and sends buzz around. He uttered few words on work environment cleanliness and 'Modi coming' buzz sent top babus (bureaucrats) on roller-coaster clean-up drive. He is serious about what he says and his words have weight !
PM Narendra Modi's working style:
· come thoroughly prepared for meeting
· make bullet point presentation
· give no long theories
· give practical do-able policies and solutions
· be ready for follow-up meetings
In short, emphasis on substance than show. He means business, strictly, and no to superficial bureaucratic lip-service.
He chose retired General Vijay Kumar Singh, 24th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, as his Minister of State (Independent Charge) for North East Region concurrently Minister of State of External Affairs, both highly relevant and utterly important for Bhutan. The combination is resolute. And, General V.K. Singh is known for being the first commando to be promoted to the rank of general and first Indian military chief to take the Government of India to court.
The Ministry of North East Region functions as the nodal ministry of the central government to deal with socio-economic development and peace and security matters of eight north-eastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. It acts as a facilitator between the Central Ministries/Departments and the State Governments of these states in economic development and security issues, more specifically in easing infrastructural bottlenecks, providing basic minimum services, creating environment for private investments and removing impediments to lasting peace and security in the region. And, General Singh as Minster of State (Independent Charge) for North East Region reports direct to PM Modi.
As prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi described north-east region as having full potential and prospect with abundant natural resources. His words during the election campaign were “North-east is our Laxmi (goddess of wealth), yet they are in such poor state. Unless you vote for lotus (BJP symbol) where will she (Laxmi) sit.” Even discounting election rhetoric, the emphasis in the region cannot be let passed.
His shift from right to centre-right is apparent. He seems to have a strategic approach to deal with north-east region, and look after Bhutan and the "chicken-neck".
I am not so naive to deduce that PM Modi chose Bhutan just to avoid Pakistan/Sri Lanka or east/west first visit controversy. There are much more at stake. It is called national strategic interest. Every country has its own national strategic interest that they want it to be well protected, and not sacrificed. Why do you think Ukraine is getting sandwiched between NATO and Russia, and poor Ukranians are having to pay a very heavy price? The big boys do not play zero sum game when it comes to pursuing their strategic goals. The small smart nations are vigilant about this. We also need to be. This is first.
Second, the governments may change but strategic national interest (“strong India-Bhutan relation” in diplomatic term) remain firm. What changes is the way the national interest is pursued. The same objective may be achieved through different ways. I do not believe that PM Modi will follow same old pattern more like economic handout as a means to pursue India’s strategic national interest in Bhutan. He is a taskmaster. I think he will support us but we need to deserve the support through hard work. We actually should prefer this approach than resorting to handout dependency. It is good for us: it reforms the system, builds institutional capacity, instils professional discipline and strengthens governance. All these are very vital elements of our own national strategic interest.
So it is possible to pursue our national strategic interest in tandem with theirs. We should be smart enough to understand their approach and mould our ways, not objective. I do not see any other option for now. There is no need to be confrontational, directly or indirectly. We can neither match nor be level with. It is foolish to take such an approach. Haven’t some people tried it and paid the price? The past events are still fresh in our memory.
Third, we take everything lightly. The impression that we do not do our homework and do take things in shallow and superficial manner (rumours circulating around are crude) is not helpful. It does not work in favour of our strategic national interest. It undermines our goal, is a shortcut to hard work and is not going to work, not with PM Modi. We need to be clear on our national goals, strategies, policies, plans and programs, and ways for achieving them. We should be prepared (in every sense of the word) to do business (he is after all a Gujarati) with him. If not, business-friendly Modi will ask for “follow-up meeting” (bullet point five of his working style). Well, not exactly “follow-up meeting” but something equivalent at PM-PM level.
Fourth, we should be prepared to undo things that are neither favourable to our national strategic interest nor theirs. Broad-based, innovative, inclusive and transparent approaches aimed at consolidating available resources, physical including human and knowledge, are nationally productive. We live in internet age. And internet is, everyone knows, a killer technology. It can work to great advantage but does not let everything be viewed through single perspective. The role of social media and digital technology in the defeat of one-dimensional strategy in recent Indian election is too fresh to be forgotten.
So I see the visit as an opportunity for us, an opportunity to take a very productive path ahead with our neighbours. Let us all pray that it actually is !
