Reviewed by ASIF ANWAR ALIG
2014: The Election that Changed India, by
Rajdeep Sardesai, Viking in Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon – 122002, Year2014,
372pp, Indian Rupees599, Hard.
I
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ndia witnessed its most hyped general election in
2014 since country’s independence in 1947. This election revived Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) fortunes by bringing Narendra Modi at the helm of power in an
extreme glorification. Political pundits would profess his win a ray of hope for
then “beleaguered Indian economy.” Ironically no such revival is seen yet which
analysts had foreseen. His exaggerated vision stimulated but equally thawed
fast.
Television journalist Rajdeep Sardesai brilliantly observed
Indian elections as watchdog—and thus came the book 2014: The Election that Changed India. Viewpoints on election
strategies of BJP and Indian National Congress (INC) or regional parties are bold
assessments. It primarily focuses on India’s watershed general election of 2014
though. He also disseminates many circumstantial factors that proved bad omen
for few political outfits in this election.
The polemical observation of world’s largest
electoral exercise is from the manifestation of Narendra Modi to Rahul Gandhi and
many other leaders. This book critically studies the fast emergence of Hindu chauvinism
and voter mobilization escalations. Campaigns which created extreme hypes
orchestrated Modi as a messiah by superseding the gory incidences of 2002
Gujarat genocide during his rule in the Western Indian state.

Author’s narratives illustrate equivocal journalism
he practiced as a sharp reporter with nerve to judge political scenarios. In-depth
assessment of Indian polity, own observations and election reporting analysis, this
book sheds light on the changing scenarios of India’s electoral exercise. As an
analog on political ambitions, well-crafted mass mobilizations and vested
interests this book is a true account of election gimmicks.

Modi’s groundwork was deliberately kept aloof from the
media glare until felt necessary. It is worth observing his emergence from a smalltime
politician to country’s premiership. Sardesai first met him in 1990s. Their occasional
interactions continued thereafter. He would report all his moves as BJP prime
ministerial candidate meticulously even before general elections were declared.
Many reports projected his enigmatic figure, aspirations and the creation of a wave.
This book equally reflects several opponent leaders’ haplessness during the elections.

Sardesai writes that his
friendly relation with Modi almost became tempestuous post-Godhra coverage. Other
events before the
general election like anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare protest covered by the
global media to birth of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headed by its leader and current
Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal to loopholes in INC and Rahul Gandhi’s inefficiencies
have been penned sharply. Congress’ failing in damage control and fear
psychosis of many other leaders across the parties are book’s notable snapshots.

Strategic campaign plan of Modi amalgamated business
school graduates and swayamsevaks working together. Ironically, his opponents
implied several wrong strategies to mess up and invite doom. In nutshell, this book
perfectly profiles India’s political diaspora. Mature readers enjoy it with keen
sense on politics without opinionated biasness. Going into great detail, it
also examines counter narrative on Modi’s PR team unleashing with an aim to
build his image out of the 2002 pogrom. As groundbreaking reportage, it informs
readers about countless individuals working in a backdrop as Modi’s publicity
machineries for win. Sardesai claims that it was not media that created Modi wave.
Rahul Gandhi’s easygoing leadership against the solidity impression of Narendra
Modi widened that gap. Media only rode that wave.
Several monotonous facts which have already reached
to the Indian homes through television have been refreshingly highlighted through
this book. Without wriggling the facts imprint in people’s minds and those
available in print are meticulously summed in this narration which literally brought
India on doldrums. Some of them were Ram Janmabhoomi movement, communal riots and other misfortunes that
changed India’s political firmament.
Sardesai is derisive on Rahul Gandhi in a context
of off the record interactions especially without latter’s overarching vision. The
series of missteps brought expected disaster of INC. Through a sneak-peak into leader’s
team he points out that cutting off from grassroots halted its prospects even
after a decades’ rule. Giving ample room to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s
emergence this book mentions Indian media’s passionate coverage of Anna movement
that metamorphosed country’s political mood. He is critical of television media
particularly ridiculous journalistic exercises in prime time debates and failing
to develop sense of ground reporting by ignoring media ethics. He questions rotten
media identity that ‘breaking news has indeed become broken news.’ Cheap studio
talks are ethically hollow and loose talks. They don’t maintain solid ground
reporting trends and focus is on certain pockets only.
Historic swept of BJP in 2014 was a singular
triumph for Narendra Modi and so did it defy the known orthodoxies pertaining to
Indian elections. Rural-urban divides and traditional caste loyalties literally
proved wrong in this election that was indeed thoughtful reflection on a new trend
where sensation-seeking television paved the way for BJP rise. It brought constant
decline of Congress to the cameo of few political protagonists.


This book questions the role of India’s television media
failing to use resources for earnest interrogation of BJP prime ministerial
candidate’s leadership credentials during campaigns. It literally swam in the wave
as an offhand fourth estate. Questions are on media’s lax attitude to test the fabled
‘Gujarat Model of Modi.’
This review first published in www.ceylontoday.lk on June 26, 2016
https://seocontentindia.com/
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