Those who admire Narendra Modi will say the grand Ram temple at Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 and an assertive Hindu moving on the streets and Indians generally proud of national identity are all part of the package of Acchey Din promised in 2014.
Others - the Sickular and essentially Modi-bashing army and pro-Left liberal intellectuals, church-funded NGOs and "jihadis" would say the last 11 years were the bad if not the worst era for India.
The concocted definitions of various such as Secularism, Tolerance, Appeasement politics (read insulting Hindu Gods and Hindus) and Democracy have been challenged head on.
But the Economic Reforms -- in expected steam - have stayed far off. The agrarian reforms would have materialised but a Prime Minister 'with guts' gave into the electoral pressure of Uttar Pradesh and a few other north Indian states.
Now apparently Donald Trump has put forward some hurdles and as the 'status quo' of so-called bonhomie between India and the US has been put at risk; Narendra Modi has got an opportunity to turn disadvantages into advantage. He may have to undertake the much needed Reforms and that will in the ultimate help him attain 'Viksit Bharat' - a Developed India status.
It goes without saying that while India-US relations have been on upswing since 1980s and given a mega boost after 1998 (India's Nuke tests); in 2025 that bond is now it a stage of mutual probing.
It has almost turned extremely competitive like the manner China-US relations have been in the nineties and at a later stage.
Of course the US is a powerful country. Its double-fistedness has been a super asset. America has been a great and powerful country for last so many decades on two fronts - military and economic.
But it is also true. Things have changed a lot in last two decades or so and will change further. Perhaps intellectuals and strategic experts in the US itself have started recignising the limitations of power.
But Donald Trump has a malady and he is preferring to look the other way. Narendra Modi has his maladies too. One of them is image consciousness. He is a populist face and will not do anything that goes against general public perception.
Take the clock to 2012 when as the Gujarat Chief Minister; Namo had openly turned down a request from a Mollah to wear the skull cap -- usually goes with a Muslim lifestyle.
The same populism played a part when he announced withdrawal of farmers bills. The agrarian reforms would have make it easier today for Indian farmers to compete in international markets.
The Prime Minister had promised making life easy. His government already claims that 'ease of doing business' is near perfection. However, likes of columnist Tavleen Singh notes;
"Modi seems to rely on bureaucrats a little too much, without noticing that this breed of Indian is interested much more in the perks and privileges of his job than in making it easier for businessmen to do business. Let us not delude ourselves into believing that it has become easier to do business in India than it used to be".
Of course a Prime Minister of a vast country like ours is not expected to be in every banks and municipal offices. But the old system(s) and some problems/drawbacks of yesteryear's do continue. Actually they thrive.
For example, to keep your bank account functional, you may have to meet that ugly face who will say get your KYC done again.
I am told of problems related to GST -- something meant as a mega reform tool.
"If you are exporting chairs, there should be a fixed rate. Right? Wrong. If the chair has a cushioned seat, it gets transferred to another category". (courtesy - Tavleen Singh in 'Indian Express')
Some of these problems are linked to being Indians. The Babudom is actually a typical Indian characteristic. We thrive in creating problems - at every steps - for our compatriots.
A middle class wife is a classic example. In general sense - it's called the Crab syndrome in Kerala.
Some communities excel in this. Malayalis, Bengalis and I am sure there are several others.
Verghese Kurien was once asked why don't you do something like Amul in Kerala. His response was: "Kerala has one big problem ... there are so many Malayalis". Ting tong.
Go to West Bengal - Left dadas and the present 'aapa' will teach you - what's "cholbe na'.
Go further east - in Assam you will be greeted with the salutation 'Lahe Lahe (go slow... slow means slo.......w).
In Nagaland - we have good old Nagamese phrase "na jaane ho (Not that I know)".
Come back to Delhi -- "ho jaega jee.... ghar ki baat hae". Be sure that work will never be done !!
In Mumbai -- it's 'kasa kae' !!
But it ought to be admitted that the working culture in India's commercial and entertainment capital is far better than two other metropolitans - Kolkata and Delhi.
Well, we Indians need to correct things where they should be corrected. It starts from one's home and oneself.
No amount of Moditva would have worked had it been West Bengal and peculiarly-Bengali dominated Tripura or the Silchar-Badarpur-Karimgaj region in Assam.
If your son or nephew gets a job in Haryana; there are chances the employment avenue will be given a miss. Reason -- 'macch paua jae na (There is no fish there)".
That's Jhol .... here we mean a mix of -- Laziness and home sickness. Yes; the Ma Ka Ladla variety.
Look around Rahul Gandhi's arrogance and over confidence despite multiple forms of failures in multiple stages. It all comes from mom's love !
What we have from Trump is a typical case of "stabbing in the back" for PM Modi.
Narendra Modi now has to work for bringing reforms in multiple sectors.
The farm sector reform was withdrawn under public pressure.
The Sikh protest against farm laws had gained currency even overseas.
As it is PM Narendra Modi does not have a good image or reputation among Muslims, this suits his pro-Hindutva image for domestic politics.
But the Prime Minister has been cautious about his 'image' and 'proximity' towards Sikhs and Christians.
PM Modi met Pope Francis recently and also invited him to visit India. The outreach to Sikhs now only strengthens this argument.
In fact, a former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh - himself a Sikh and a former military officer - also warned about the Sikh alienation and held two separate meetings with Modi's trusted lieutenants Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
There were also suggestions that some anti-India forces (a possible reference to Pakistan) were trying to back the Khalistani movement.
Even the then Governor of Meghalaya, Satyapal Malik (now deceased) and a Jat face in UP, had cautioned the Modi government on the apprehension of fueling anguish and grievances amongst Sikhs and Jats.
It's true the repeal of the farm laws only hampered India's much needed reform journey.
It marked the story of democracy and good governance getting marginalized and vanquished.
Politics cannot be without populism. But Narendra Modi's popularity-drive was tinged with an element of 'risk taking' ability.
He should again take a few risks.
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