India's 'Mobiliser in Chief' in times of Covid-19 shutdown

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New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) India, like most nations, is manoeuvring through a very delicate time with its 133 crore people in a 21-day-long nationwide shutdown, affecting the supply of essential goods as well as people's morale. While industry and services have already taken a beating, those who haven't faced the economic ramifications are overwhelmed with the idea of working from home, often resulting in domestic confrontations and worse, as per the national women's' panel. However, in this hour of absolute crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his message seems to have worked magic in containing the disgruntlement of people facing hardships, including those who have not voted for his BJP.

On Friday morning, PM Modi shared a short video clip, as announced by him earlier on Thursday, urging all to light 'diyas' (earthen lamps) or candles or even flash flights in their balconies or outside their main gate, as a mark of respect to the Corona Warriors - doctors, nurses, sanitation workers and police personnel who are braving it out on the front lines.

"I request all of you to switch off all the lights of your house on April 5at 9 p.m. for 9 minutes, and just light a candle, 'diya', or mobile's flashlight, to mark our fight against coronavirus," he said.

While this can be dismissed as unnecessary by many and a diversion as the opposition holds, its emotional appeal led to many Indians together immediately, and a new hashtag - 9 baje 9 minute started to trend on Twitter almost immediately.

But pat came the warning - no huddling or jostling during this exercise as it defeats the idea of social distancing. "I request you all, that while doing this, please do not gather anywhere in groups, be it on streets or localities. Please execute this from your doorsteps or balconies. The 'laxman rekha' of social distancing cannot be crossed. This is the only solution against coronavirus. So, at 9 p.m. on 5 April, sit alone for a while and remember 'maa bharti'," he asserted. Interestingly, Laxman Rekha is a concept Indians are familiar with, as it drawn from the epic Ramayana, where Sita, wife of Lord Ram was abducted by Ravana after she had crossed the protective line.

Modi, as the head of the government, had the power to warn of or crack down if people violated norms of social distancing. But he appears to have chosen phrases from Ramayana that rings a louder bell among the conscience of most Indians, regardless of their religion.

This is not the first time he used the phrase, however. And earlier taking a cue from him, BJP's General Secretary BL Santosh too had tweeted on March 24, "Every household should draw a Lakshman Rekha around the house & stay within that .@narendramodi #IndiaFightsCorona #StayHome."

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chief Vinay Sahasrabuddhe explained, "Prime Minister Modi is acutely mindful of Indian ethos. So whenever he makes an appeal, it gives the citizen a sense of participation. It's much like Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha. Many doubted him. But he revolutionised through that small act."

Ahead of the nationwide lockdown announcement, PM Modi tested the water with a day-long Janta Curfew. He urged people to come out at 5 p.m. that Sunday to clap or ring bells to show respect to the Corona warriors. It became a success with videos from society after society making its way to social media. On Friday, PM claimed many countries emulated India after its overwhelming show of support.

A calm Modi told on Friday: "The way you paid gratitude to people fighting against coronavirus on 22 March has become a model that is being emulated by other countries. Janata curfew and ringing of bells, clanging utensils, made the country aware of its unity amid this challenging time."

While government sources earlier told IANS that the shutdown may not end on April 14, as earlier planned, the PM's body language did not cause any panic. In fact, after Tabhleeghi Jamat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin proved to be a super spreader of Covid-19, infecting at least 400 people, PM Modi urged Chief Ministers to engage all religious leaders to "lead" the fight against coronavirus, instead of politically exploiting it. Even his government went on record to say that there is no time for pinning blame.

However, the patience of normal Indians is running out amid salary cuts, essential services proving insufficient and medical staff complaining of lack of PPEs. But even in this challenging time, it's the mass appeal of one individual - Narendra Damodardas Modi -whose public ratings seem to refuse to plunge and has managed to make Indians stay united.

--IANS

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