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The Vishwaguru was struggling to remain the local-guru. When the world was grappling with the ominous threat of wiping out a whole civilisation, when global leaders agonised over the looming nuclear attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was dwelling on Mudra loan, Jaipur infrastructure, Puducherry election, people’s enthusiasm for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Asansol, gundagardi in Birbhum, Nari-shakti and ghuspaithiya. Even the Vishwaguru pretension feeds on situational logic. In hostile international seasons, Vishwaguru obsession is whittled down to local-guru ambition.

Modi uses escapism as the key survival trick. But that’s not the best way to become a global leader. Arranging crowds in foreign countries to chant Modi-Modi doesn’t make you the Vishwaguru. Addressing non-resident Indians on foreign soil isn’t any evidence of your global popularity. No, not even the ceaseless spree hugging heads of state bears testimony to your rising clout. And the sycophantic hymns orchestrated by allied TV channels about your supreme status as Vishwaguru only evokes contempt and ridicule across the world. 

Modi should understand the most effective rebuttal to criticism about his intellectual deficiencies is not taking down comical khee-khee-khee videos but to give a free-wheeling interview to a credible foreign or Indian journalist. Who will believe Rahul Gandhi’s charge about the prime minister being “compromised” if Modi tells Donald Trump not to dictate terms to India on where to buy oil from?

Had Modi confronted Trump on repeated claims of stopping the India-Pakistan war, on possessing the ability to destroy his political career and on humiliating deportation of Indians in chains, the “compromised PM” barbs would have been laughed away. Silencing critics, throwing opponents into jail, banning channels, removing videos and patronising slavish journalists deepen suspicions instead of clearing the mist.

Strong personalities lead from the front; not through subterfuge and propaganda. Strong leaders take questions, debate and uphold the principle of accountability. Strong leaders, having aspirations of global clout, speak on critical concerns, take unambiguous stand on vital issues and emerge as an........

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