A bhakt's account!

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्‌ । धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥

Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya cha duskrutam | dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge ||

Vote wisely for a stronger India. Don't miss exercising your right!

Date: April 13th 2019

Tripura Vasini entrance,

Palace grounds,

Bengaluru.

"Sir, did you register for the event online?"

"No..." he replied with a tone of disappointment. "I'm a government servant from Nelamangala. My son has come from Paris and doesn't want to miss Narendra Modi ji's speech...", he said. That was an online registrations queue and we are responsible for guiding people and allowing those only with online registrations through that gate (Chowkidars you can say :-) ). I looked at my volunteer friend. He too nodded with approval and took out a VIP pass from his back pocket and handed it over to the gentle man.

"Sir, you can use this. But this queue is for online registrations only. Please use the next gate to enter" i told him. He thanked us and left. We were handing out those passes to people who came to the venue but didn't have a pass that day. That included a senior citizen & his daughter, an ex service man, a lady with her 10 year old son, a couple with their 5 year old daughter. They came to see Modi ji and listen to his speech daring the hot Bengaluru sun. Seeing educated, common people in such large numbers for a political event is a first time for me.

I & my volunteer friends stood guiding an unending incoming crowd from 2pm to 6:45pm till we closed the gates. My legs and back started aching at 7pm. By the virtue of being a volunteer, I was allowed to watch the event from the front gallery (reserved for online registrations) - standing at the back though as seats were full.

As we stood in anticipation, the convoy came in. In the middle of it, is a sleek black SUV with Modi ji dressed in white sitting in the front. Crowd at once stood up from their seats and turned back to get a glimpse. "Modi... Modi...", chants followed. I could recognize some of the faces as i was at the gate assisting their entry. None of them are paid, most are educated, their love for the man seemed extra ordinary!

He came on to the stage in few minutes. He was waving and crowd was loving it. Evening Bangalore breeze was trying to disturb his neatly combed hair and was failing half way. Once he started his speech, he just thundered. There was no stopping him. Needless to say his connect with public pulse is immaculate. Listening (in live & at the venue) to one of the most effective speakers of our times is a experience to cherish. Even who ideologically disagree, have to agree on his enigmatic elocution skills.

My experience that day made me think what was the reason that drove people who came to see him daring the heat, inconvenience and notorious Bangalore traffic. These people don't look like they are going to skip voting for a vacation! :-) They came driven by patriotism & vision of a leader which is  strongly rooted in the idea of a new, strong & prosperous India. They like his idea of India, they want to be in this new India. They want to see India emerge from corruption, sycophancy, dynasty politics to a better state of affairs. They are all bhakts ... of India!

80s - 90s kids like me have been listening to 'we are a developing country' since childhood and are vexed of it. Why can't we be a 'developed country'? What is stopping us?  Here is a leader who speaks the same tune (definitely better than other PM aspirants).

Average Indian loves a leader who loves our country! Not just by words (or compulsion of being a politician) but by deeds as well. I'm aware there are people who don't like him too, but the number of people who love him seem to far exceed the former.

I repeat - Vote wisely for a stronger India. Don't miss exercising your right!

Jai Hind!

#VoteKar  #ModiAgain