As the chief dignitary invited to the 60th birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi popularly known as the ‘hugging saint’ of Kerala BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was welcomed by cheering crowds and whistles.
In a significant gesture to reach out to the electorate of the southern state, Modi began his speech in Malayalam. “I am not here as the chief minister of a state or as a leader of a national party, but here as Amma’s great devotee,” said Modi.
“What governments should do, Amma is doing,” he added, elaborating on various initiatives taken by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in the field of education, health, technological research and so on.
While the BJP has not been able to register its presence in the state assembly, the party seems to be banking heavily on Modi magic to open its account in Kerala. The opportunity given to Modi to reach out to hundreds of Amma’s devotees may well turn out to be a step in that direction, even though his visit being considered non-political.
BJP state president V Muraleedharan said this is the first time a national leader has delivered a significant part of his speech in Malyalam. “This has made a very positive impression and the people of Kerala will soon realize that it is time for change,” he said.
Earlier last week, Modi had also posted a video on YouTube, extending Onam greetings in Malyalam. “I haven’t seen such a crowd coming out in support of a national leader since the time of Rajiv Gandhi,” said Muraleedharan on Modi’s visit to Kerala.
On the question of whether he would like Modi to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Trivandrum, Muraleedharan said “it would be anyone’s wish to have Modi contest from his constituency”. The decision, however, was not his to make, he said.
Invoking the teachings of Vedas and Puranas, the Modi said “rishis and munis” in India have given us the best manifesto to serve people. “Saints and seers have had a huge role in shaping and developing India.”
In a subtle ode to Hinduism and its spiritual legacy, Modi emphasised that innocents are being killed in Nairobi and soldiers are being shot in Jammu, but the Math here is working for universal peace and prosperity.
“A wrong impression has been created about the work of saints and seers by people who were educated with Lord Macaulay’s influence,” he added.
While it’s not easy to impress the discerning, politically-aware voters of Kerala, crowds at Amma’s ashram welcomed Modi’s speech with a roaring applause.
A youth in his 20s called it “awesome”, while a 22-year-old student of business management said she hoped he became the prime minister. Her parents are ardent Congress supporters but she said she doesn’t want the Gandhi family to rule anymore.
There are others who feel Modi won’t gain much from his Kerala tour. “Voters here don’t get influenced easily and will continue to oscillate between the Congress and CMP, at least for the next 10 years,” said a Taxi driver working in Trivandrum.
For some, however, Modi’s rise is feared and viewed with a sense of unease. “There’s never been any tension between Hindus and Muslims in Kerala. I can’t say the same for rest of India, especially the north,” says a working profession from Trivandrum. He adds his is one of the few Muslim families living in a prominently Hindu locality but has never faced any kind of discrimination. He fears things may take a communal turn with Modi in power at the Centre. “We are all for a nationalist leader, but he has to be inclusive,” he said. “Even Gandhi’s nationalism was rooted in Hinduism but it knitted the rest of India very well.”
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