New Delhi, 17 March 2013

There’s no mantra or tantra, and I am far away from the world of mantra and tantra, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said while starting his speech at the India Today Conclave 2013 that was titled as NaMo Mantra. Modi in initial part of his speech said there’s a need to change mentality of people to make them part of development movement. Modi made his point very well through examples, ideas and more.

“If we can connect our nation’s natural strengths and the century old wisdom that has evolved, I don’t think we can fail ever, and Gujarat has done exactly that. Are we proud about whatever abilities we have? or we always cry about it?”

“Gujarat has done one thing, that can be replicated elsewhere. When we have cricket world-cup, patriotism is found in the air and we are affected from victory or loss. Now is it not necessary that we try so that same feeling can stay there in sustained manner?”

“Pride of Gujarat, pleasure of being Gujarati, such things played major role in bringing success.”

“There’s need to evolve pride for India, pledge for India, and based on my Gujarat experience I can say it’s not impossible, we can do it.”

I was coming here, and just thought in a car that how could it be if the Employment guarantee scheme could be named as Development guarantee scheme! Suppose if beneficiaries could be told that they need to give 100 days per year to construct the nation! One approach is that, you do this because you are hungry, other approach is, do this for the country. This is the difference in leadership which can take people in specific direction. People would then feel they work for the development.

“There’s one story. One Mandir was being built, and stone carving work was going on and a person was asked what he was doing and he replied his parents didn’t educate him well and therefore he was doing this task and spending days with stones! Another said his children don’t earn so he was doing this stone carving at this age! Lastly one person was asked and he replied he was building a temple and the God would be installed there inside, and many people would feel peace there. So while someone was thinking he was doing just labour, someone other was satisfied and happy thinking he was building mandir.The biggest need is to change the mentality.”

“I sometime think there was no decade in which people were not sacrificing themselves for freedom. But even then it was not giving results. Gandhiji converted the movement into people’s movement. He told every person that if you clean the street it’s also a part of independence struggle, teaching illiterate, weaving khadi everything was task for independence. Britishers could not identify this strength.”

“Even for development people’s movement is needed. Government can build some things, but if people are connected to that task, then only there’s possibility of development in actual means. And today there’s a big gap between the government and the people. And my Gujarat experience says that anything we do with involvement of people, it can bring big change.”