In what Modi has achieved for himself and BJP; and ultimately for Bharat --- a few can appreciate that RSS adopted a "pragmatic" policy and did not overplay its power

The RSS has not overplayed its hand. In the process, governance and politics was left to Narendra Modi and the team he selects.

Hence, RSS remained non-interfering in many matters but stayed relevant. The Sanghparivar fountainhead selectively picked its focus areas and battles.

Modi -- personally committed to RSS ideologies - never compromised bigtime for power or 'name' in the secular and western media. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had a big weakness -- "log kya kahenge (What will people speak of me). This is why in 2002 during the peak of Gujarat riots; he had with what 'chehra (face)' can I go abroad now. 

L K Advani was the hardliner face, always leading from the front and brought up the party of two MPs like any laborious gardener. But at the fag end of his career, he became personally ambitious and tried to give up his image of a radical leader. This was his hara kiri. In 2005, his party rejected that; and in 2009 - the people of India.

Narendra Modi does not have any of these weaknesses of Vajpayee-Advani duo. 

He could be ambitious; but right from 2002 and 2003 -- the first public rally in Mumbai (Jan 12, 2003); outside Gujarat post his election win -- Modi has maintained that the Hindus should not be shy of Hindutva. 

Hence, it was easier for him to remained focus about Hindutva agenda and thus - Article 370 was abrogated and Ram temple is also a reality. Both looked unachiveable milestones. 

In fact including the likes of Jairam Ramesh would also joke -- "Mandir wohin banayenge, tariq nahi batayenge (We will have the temple at Ayodhya but BJP will never tell you the date). In the ultimate when the date Jan 22, 2024 --a great milestone in Indic civilisational date was announced; they were clueless -- and did not have the appetite to tolerate a civilisational hero in Namo. 

Certainly, the ongoing elections are important. These will decide the roadmap and the contours of Bharat, that is India’s future as a modern nation with unparalleled diversity and which for centuries has embraced ethnic and religious pluralism. Those who say there is a threat to Indian constitution and pluralism vis-a-vis democracy, they do not know India. 

But at the same time the sentiments of Hindus cannot be underestimated either.  The tolerance should not be viewed as political passivity. The mandate in 2014 and 2019 proved that clearly; and once more the stage is set to prove this matter of conviction. It goes without stating that a big fuss is made about the terms Hindu and Nationalism. 

Have we ever get to listen something called Christian Nationalism? If you interact with some neo and first and even second generation Christians, they would give the impression that even Pope is 'secular' and hence virtuous. They also tend to give an impression that there is no 'religious conversion' in this world. 

But the fact of the matter is around the world, there has been a resurgence of 'political movements' inspired by religious nationalism in many countries including in democracies.

Since last two decades, the BJP has been using one term regularly and for this of course L K Advani deserves the credit. That is “pseudo-secularism”.

Accusing the Congress Party of engaging in “pseudo-secularism” and appeasing India’s minority communities at the expense of the country’s overwhelming Hindu majority, the BJP experienced a resurgence that signaled a shift toward a muscular, pro-Hindu brand of nationalism, says an article in carnegieendowment.org. 

Building on its historic 2014 performance, the BJP has since methodically expanded its footprint across large swathes of India.

2024 goes a step further !!

ends