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‘Howdy’, short for ‘how do you do’, symbolises PM Modi’s indulgent engagement with the Indian diaspora, particularly in the US, and the almost reverential reciprocity only makes it worth his while — it’s 90% for the country and only 10% for the party, insists the BJP
Vibha Sharma in New Delhi
Let there be no doubt, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ‘howdy’ at the Indian-American community event at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, today (the three-hour programme starts at 8.30 pm Indian Standard Time), at the core will be saffron politics at its most refined and sophisticated.
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The BJP-led Indian Government is leveraging the strength of its numerically, economically and socially strong diaspora for national and saffron interests and no amount of criticism can take the sheen off the ‘optical’ magnum opus politics that Prime Minister Modi is a master of. The event comes at a time when his government is passing through its most difficult phase (as much as BJP leaders may like to deny it). Will the Prime Minister Modi-President Donald Trump bonhomie add to the critical mass required to boost perceptions back home? Let’s see.
The event: Texas India Forum
Everyone associated with the event is “super excited”, “super proud” and they have every reason to be. President Trump’s presence is being seen as a reflection of the growing importance, power and complexity of the Indian-American community ever since Modi became the Prime Minister.
It was somewhere around July 17 that the ‘Texas India Forum’ announced the event, offering free tickets on its website. More than 50,000 had registered in three weeks. The organisers say it was close to June that the Indian-American community in Houston sent the proposal. The Prime Minister was to be in New York for the UN General Assembly meeting. Other cities, including Chicago and Boston, were also in contention for hosting a community event for him.
What worked in favour of Houston was the geo-political situation and India’s energy needs. “Houston is the energy capital of the world, and energy is among India’s top priorities,” explains Krishna Reddy Anugula, national president of the Overseas Friends of BJP.
With more than $2.4 million collected from rich community members and hundreds of small and big donors, including owners of oil, gas and energy companies, backing from corporates like Walmart and OYO and support from hundreds of volunteers and 650 Texas-based organisations — the mega PR bonanza was set to roll.
“The live audience will be the largest gathering for an invited foreign leader visiting the US, other than the Pope. There is unprecedented synergy between our region and the aspirations of a ‘New India’ that Prime Minister Modi represents. The American dream shares many similarities with the emerging Indian dream, and an event of this scale suggests an opportunity to build bridges across two great democracies,” explains Jugal Malani, convener of the organising committee.
Back home, this is what a senior functionary had to say about the growing engagement of the Modi government with the diaspora: “It is great that India is leveraging the diaspora to work as a lobby for national interests. The event is being followed closely internationally. It is not often that a premier of a developed country shares the stage with the leader of a developing nation. It is recognition of the transition of India into its own. Obviously, it is also about Trump’s home politics and Modi’s image in India. I agree that the PM and his party will gain but it is more about India’s stature. Benefits are 90 per cent for the country and 10 per cent for the BJP.”
The politics of it
The event comes at the time when the country is passing through a difficult phase — on the economic front and the diplomatic front. It is engaged in a bitter stand-off with hostile neighbour Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and is battling with allegations of “human rights violations” in the Valley. At a time like this, a kind of “family celebration” of the success of the Indian community in a foreign land with “guests like Trump and leaders from both parties in America” works on many fronts.
Trump’s participation is a signal to China and Pakistan. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statements and threats “have not gone down too well, including with Arab leaders”, it is said. Meanwhile, groups representing India’s religious minorities are also expected to lodge protests. The BJP has been accused of pursuing a Hindu nationalist agenda before but with Kashmir, it is a different issue altogether. Trump’s affirmation of Modi as an “ally and friend” is also “a message for Muslim and Khalistani front groups”.
India’s reputation for peacefulness and plurality is what the BJP-led government is also looking at. The major diplomatic coup is a win-win situation for America. India is a large and attractive market, particularly the energy sector, and for the American President, a significant opportunity, both politically and economically.
Brains behind the event
The efforts for such an event were on for a long time, almost over the past three years. Most Indian-Americans “lean Left” and BJP leaders say the “real brains were representatives of the diaspora aligned to the party, many of whom had also worked in Modi’s elections”. But even for them, Trump’s attendance came with a “sense of disbelief”. Obviously, “that part had been managed at the top levels”.
A large number of influential India-Americans are Democrats but, of late, there has been a subtle shift towards the “right” and Republicans.
Several BJP leaders and its cracking electoral and social media strategists have been camping in the US to make Houston a headline across the world. Vijay Chauthaiwale, in charge of the foreign affairs department of the BJP, and Manoj Ladwa, well known in India as one among PM Modi’s favoured strategists, are all there.
Leveraging India’s strength
Ever since Modi’s first date at the Madison Square Garden in 2014, his government’s engagement with the diaspora has increased.
“The BJP always recognised the strength of the NRIs. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas that started during the regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee is proof of that,” Krishna Reddy Anugula points, and there are good reasons for that.
According to a UN report, India is the leading country of origin of international migrants with a 1.75-crore strong diaspora. In the US, Indians constitute the second-largest immigrant group after Mexicans. Indian-Americans are among the most highly educated ethnic groups, largely well-off and highly educated.
‘Howdy, Modi’ is a perfect example of how the Indian-American community came together to build a mega show in such a short time.
“I see the Indian diaspora will get actively involved in development activities. Prime Minister Modi encouraged Indians and the diaspora to visit tourist places in India. I am sure the diaspora will start vacationing in India rather than outside of India. Also, they will help start joint ventures with Indian companies in many sectors,” he adds.
And in his endeavour, Prime Minister Modi has the full support of ideological fountainhead RSS. Senior Sangh leader Seetha Anandanam, Sahkaryavvah of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, explains: “While outside India, people often face an identity crisis. Prime Minister Modi is helping people build their identity beyond India. He is giving them the kind of energy children seek from parents. And its strength is increasing.”
And in the words of Vijay Jolly, former in charge of the BJP’s foreign cell, since the era of Vajpayee and LK Advani, the BJP recognised the potential of people of Indian origin. “All political parties engage with the diaspora, the Congress has also done it. Whenever a political leader visits abroad, he or she is expected to meet the diaspora, but with PM Modi emerging as a global leader, things have changed. India has changed from a soft state to a soft power.”
‘Has taken it to the next level’
Diaspora is an asset to India. The Indian-American community is highly educated and wealthy. The BJP recognised its value and has been encouraging the community to be a part of the growth story of India. It started with PM Vajpayee, and PM Modi took it to new levels. — Krishna Reddy Anugula, National President, overseas friends of BJP
‘He’s visionary, results will come’
Birthday party manane ka har ek ka apna style hai. Whatever he (PM Modi) is doing is for the benefit of the country. Results will come, maybe after 10 years. He is a visionary, how can we understand his vision from where we are standing? He is at the 10th level, we are trying to access him from the ground floor. — Seetha Anandanam, Sahkaryavvah, Rashtra Sevika Samiti
‘This is what’s different with him’
All parties engage with the diaspora, but with PM Modi emerging as a global leader, things have changed. India has changed from a soft state to a soft power. — Vijay Jolly, former in charge, BJP’s foreign cell
‘It’ll bring diaspora together’
First of all, it is not a BJP event. It is also not an event of the Indian Government. It is an event of the Indian-American community in Houston, which invited the PM. The whole purpose of the event is to bring together the diaspora of the country. — Vijay Chauthaiwale, in charge, Foreign affairs, BJP
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