Fake fades fast – India will regain its pride and glory at any cost. Leaders who focus on power consolidation rather than societal transformation tend to fade once their rule ends. Indira Gandhi, despite her impact, is remembered more for the Emergency than her developmental policies. While she is not forgotten, her legacy is mixed.
Margaret Thatcher, despite her radical transformation of Britain, became a divisive figure and is not universally celebrated. Hitler and Mussolini, once powerful figures, are remembered but not in a way that their followers would want. Modi and his associates risk a similar fate if their contributions do not translate into universally appreciated, long-term institutional achievements.
The long-lasting legacies of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are rooted in their broad-based and inclusive political approaches, whereas the current leadership’s legacy is seen as more divisive and tied to immediate political gains rather than long-term nation-building.
Mahatma Gandhi is remembered not just for his leadership in India’s independence struggle but for his philosophy of nonviolence (Ahimsa), truth (Satyagraha), and inclusive nationalism. His ideas continue to inspire leaders worldwide, from Nelson Mandela to Martin Luther King Jr.
Jawaharlal Nehru, as the first Prime Minister, laid the foundation for India’s democratic institutions, secularism, and mixed economy. His contributions in establishing institutions like IITs, AIIMS, and ISRO ensured his legacy outlasted his tenure. These leaders are remembered because their influence was not merely political but also philosophical and institutional.
Modi, Yogi, and Shah: A Political Strategy Rooted in Polarization?
Narendra Modi, Yogi Adityanath, and Amit Shah have built their political success largely on majoritarian politics, religious nationalism, and aggressive political consolidation rather than broad-based nation-building.
Their appeal, while strong, is often linked to short-term political emotions rather than long-term developmental policies. The political movements they spearhead, such as Hindutva nationalism and aggressive electoral mobilization, may not be seen as enduring national ideals in the way that Gandhi’s and Nehru’s were.
Their governance, especially policies like demonetization, electoral bonds, handling of protests (CAA, farmers’ protests), and state-level crackdowns, Covid-19 mishandling or Maha Kumbh overhandling has drawn both praise and criticism but lacks a unifying national vision.
Damage to India’s Secular Fabric
One of the defining features of India has been its secularism, as enshrined in the Constitution. However, under the current regime, there has been a consistent effort to replace India’s pluralistic ethos with a majoritarian Hindu-nationalist identity.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), combined with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), proposed amendments to Wakf Board Act, openly discriminates based on religion, violating India’s secular foundations. Laws restricting interfaith marriages in states like Uttar Pradesh under Yogi Adityanath’s rule show an effort to impose Hindutva ideology through governance. The Babri Masjid-Ram Temple ruling (2019) and subsequent temple construction were celebrated politically, further signalling religious majoritarianism.
Rise in Hate Speech and Religious Violence:
Hate crimes against Muslims and Dalits have increased, with leaders from the ruling party making communal remarks for electoral gains. The bulldozer politics in Uttar Pradesh has been used selectively against Muslim homes and businesses, reinforcing a targeted communal agenda. Attacks on Christian institutions and missionaries have risen under anti-conversion laws in BJP-ruled states.
Calls for economic and social boycotts of Muslims have been made openly, sometimes even by ruling party MPs and MLAs. Films, businesses, and even cricketers with Muslim identity have faced systematic trolling and harassment. This communal agenda has divided Indian society in ways that may take decades to heal.
Fake fades fast – India will regain its pride and glory at any cost – Systematic Destruction of Democratic Institutions
The Indian democracy today is at its weakest since the Emergency (1975-77). However, unlike Indira Gandhi’s declared Emergency, today’s democratic backsliding is being carried out in a more sophisticated, undeclared manner, making it more dangerous.
The independence of the judiciary has been compromised. The delay in hearing key constitutional cases like the Electoral Bonds case, the repeal of Article 370, and CAA protests shows selective judicial activism. Retired judges joining the BJP (e.g., former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi) raises concerns about post-retirement political rewards. The Supreme Court’s reluctance to challenge executive overreach (such as refusing to intervene in electoral bond cases for years) erodes faith in judicial impartiality.
IAS and IPS officers have become tools of political propaganda, with transfers and promotions based on loyalty to the ruling party rather than merit. Misuse of Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax Department to target opposition leaders, critics, and activists. Officers who act against BJP interests are punished, while those who execute questionable orders (like the crackdown on anti-CAA protesters) are rewarded.
The Election Commission, once a neutral body, has shown clear biases. Delay in announcing state election schedules to suit BJP’s campaign plans. Selective enforcement of Model Code of Conduct, allowing BJP leaders to use communal rhetoric while cracking down on opposition speeches. These trends point to a deliberate attempt to weaken institutional autonomy.
One of the biggest casualties of the Modi-Shah era has been press freedom – capturing and controlling the Media. Mainstream media has become a mouthpiece of the government, with channels like Republic TV, Times Now, and Zee News engaging in propaganda rather than journalism.
Independent journalists face harassment, with FIRs, sedition charges, and even arrests (e.g., Siddique Kappan, who was jailed for attempting to cover the Hathras gangrape case). Banning of BBC’s documentary on Modi’s role in the Gujarat riots reflects the growing intolerance towards press scrutiny.
Raids on media houses – NDTV (under Pranov Rai) , The Wire, and Newsclick- create a chilling effect. The arrest and intimidation of comedians, activists, and social media users critical of the regime show that even online dissent is not tolerated. Laws like UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) are weaponized to silence activists, students, and journalists. India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has fallen drastically, reflecting the decline in journalistic freedom.
The Modi government has systematically weakened parliamentary democracy, reducing it to a tool for rubber-stamping executive decisions. Important laws like the Farm Laws (later repealed) and CAA were passed without proper discussion. Suspension of Opposition MPs for questioning the government, turning Parliament into a one-party dominated institution. Use of ordinances and money bills to bypass democratic processes. This executive overreach has reduced parliamentary accountability, making democracy more fragile.
Despite claims of economic progress, the past decade has seen severe mismanagement. Demonetization (2016) destroyed MSMEs and led to job losses without achieving its goal of ending black money. Unplanned GST implementation crippled small businesses. Rising unemployment with the highest youth joblessness rate in decades. While billionaires’ wealth increased, the poor and middle class suffered economic hardship. Public sector disinvestment (LIC, Air India, Railways) is leading to long-term job insecurity. The economy today is more weak, more unequal, and less productive than before.
The Constitution itself has been undermined through scrapping of Article 370 without proper consultation with the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Attacks on federalism, with states ruled by opposition parties facing funding cuts and governor interference. Weakening of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, making government transparency weaker than before. Restoring constitutional balance will take at least 10-15 years, given the extent of the damage.
Fake fades fast – India will regain its pride and glory at any cost – Will Democracy and Secularism Survive in India?
The survival of democracy and secularism in India is at a critical juncture. While both values are deeply embedded in the Indian Constitution and its historical fabric, their erosion over the past decade raises serious concerns. However, history shows that democracies have the potential to recover, and India’s diverse society, constitutional framework, and political resilience could play key roles in determining the future.
The concentration of power in the executive and the systematic weakening of institutions (judiciary, Election Commission, media, bureaucracy) have eroded democratic norms. The ruling party has manipulated democratic processes by using state machinery, controlling the media, suppressing opposition, and creating a pro-government judiciary. States ruled by opposition parties are systematically targeted through governor interference, fund cuts, and misuse of central agencies.
Hindutva ideology has replaced secularism with an exclusionary vision of India where minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, are marginalized. Mob lynchings, bulldozer justice, and anti-minority policies have normalized religious discrimination. State-sponsored communal violence through laws like CAA, NRC, and anti-conversion laws is designed to undermine India’s pluralism. If these trends continue unchecked, India could move towards an illiberal democracy or even a de facto Hindu Rashtra, where constitutional democracy exists in name but not in spirit.
Despite these threats, there are strong counterforces that could rescue India’s democratic and secular values. The Indian Constitution remains a strong safeguard, and while the judiciary is currently compromised, history has shown that courts can sometimes push back against executive overreach. Public interest litigation (PILs) and civil society activism continue to challenge undemocratic policies.
State-level opposition governments (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab) have resisted BJP’s centralized control. BJP’s declining performance in some elections (Karnataka, West Bengal) suggests that people are not entirely buying into its communal politics. Regional parties and emerging alliances (INDIA bloc) show signs of challenging BJP’s dominance.
The farmer protests (2020-21) forced the Modi government to repeal farm laws, proving that mass movements can still bring change. Student protests, labour movements, and anti-CAA protests indicate that sections of Indian society are still fighting for democratic rights.
Unlike one-religion or one-party states, India’s linguistic, regional, and cultural diversity makes it difficult for anyone ideology to dominate permanently. Historically, authoritarian and communal forces have been defeated—from the British Raj to Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.
Fake fades fast – India will regain its pride and glory at any cost – The Road Ahead
To ensure democracy and secularism survive, India needs proactive efforts from citizens, opposition parties, intellectuals, and institutions. Judicial reforms to make courts independent of political pressure. Election Commission reform to ensure fair elections. Police and bureaucratic neutrality must be restored. Strict action against hate speech and religious violence. Revisiting discriminatory laws (CAA, anti-conversion laws).
There is need to promoting interfaith harmony and pluralistic education; protection for independent journalists; breaking the corporate-media-politician nexus; encouraging digital platforms as alternative voices; voter education on democratic rights; encouraging youth participation in politics; countering propaganda with factual narratives, etc.
Historical Memory and the Power of Narratives
Historical figures are remembered when they shape stories that future generations find worth telling. The survival of a leader’s memory depends on whether people feel an emotional or ideological connection beyond their lifetime.
Mahatma Gandhi’s story of nonviolent struggle, imprisonment, and ultimate martyrdom has universal emotional appeal. Nehru’s vision of modern India as a pluralistic democracy with scientific and industrial growth created institutions that still shape the country.
Narendra Modi and his associates are seen as dominant figures of an era rather than architects of an ideology that future generations will embrace as fundamental to Indian identity. While they have built a strong political machinery, their legacy lacks a transformative vision like Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolence or Nehru’s scientific temper. If their majoritarian politics fails to sustain itself, future generations may distance themselves from it, seeing it as a phase of history rather than a defining moment of Indian progress.
The Role of Institutions vs. Individuals
Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar built institutions, constitution, and ideologies that lasted beyond their lifetimes. Narendra Modi and Yogi Aditya Nath are seen more as political commanders than institution builders. If Modi were to create strong democratic institutions, economic frameworks, or social harmony, his legacy might be different. But if his primary contribution remains Hindutva politics, future generations might not see it as relevant or positive.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is still respected because his governance was seen as inclusive and developmental despite his RSS background. His economic reforms and diplomatic efforts are remembered beyond his party.
Modi, Yogi, and Shah, however, are known more for electoral victories and ideological dominance rather than lasting policy transformations. While Modi, Yogi, and Shah are immensely powerful today, their legacy is tied to their ability to shape an enduring narrative beyond their political careers. If Hindutva nationalism fades or is replaced by another dominant political idea, their memory might weaken. It is believed that RSS would not like to remember Narendra Modi to be one of its luminaries of its ideology
If their economic and social policies do not have a long-lasting positive impact, they may be remembered more for divisive politics than for constructive nation-building. Unlike Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru, who are embedded in school curricula, history books, and global narratives, these leaders may be remembered more as political figures of a certain era rather than architects of modern India.
Fake fades fast – India will regain its pride and glory at any cost – The Conclusion
The past decade under the leadership of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Yogi Adityanath has seen a fundamental shift in India’s political, social, and institutional landscape. Many critics argue that their rule has caused severe damage to India’s secular fabric, democratic institutions, and constitutional governance, putting the country at a crossroads. The extent of this damage is such that it may take at least a decade or more to restore India’s democracy and institutional integrity.
India is at crossroads. While democracy and secularism are under serious threat, they are not beyond recovery. The fate of India’s democracy will ultimately depend on its people—whether they choose to resist or remain passive spectators.
If history is any guide, India has always found ways to push back against authoritarianism, whether it was against British rule, Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, or communal violence. The coming years will determine whether this legacy continues, or whether India’s democratic and secular spirit fades into history. The last decade has witnessed an authoritarian slide in India’s democracy, where institutions that once safeguarded constitutional principles are now used to enforce a one-party agenda.
The judiciary, media, bureaucracy, and Parliament have all been weakened. Religious polarization has torn India’s social fabric apart. Democratic values have been sidelined in favour of electoral autocracy. To restore India’s democracy, future leaders will need to rebuild institutional independence. Reassert secularism as a national principle. Strengthen press freedom and judicial integrity. Reform election funding and curb political misuse of agencies.
Thus, while Narendra Modi, Yogi Aditya Nath, and Amit Shah are unlikely to be “forgotten” completely, the way they are remembered will depend on whether their politics is seen as foundational or merely transactional in shaping India’s future.