THE PARADOXICAL PRIME MINISTER HB

Narendra Modi can certainly be described as Napoleonic in his single-minded pursuit of power and his belief in his own destiny from a very young age. Many of his admirers point to his visionary speeches, his soaring ambition, and his unshakeable faith in his own and India's destiny, as evidence that he has the special qualities that the iconic french leader possessed. However, while Napoleon is remembered, despite all his shortcomings, for his brilliant foresight and his belief in, and implementation of, many of the ideas that are fundamental to the world today - among them religious tolerance, property rights, and equality before the law - the same cannot be said of Narendra Modi. His speeches have been compelling, but he has been unable to implement his ideas. At the same time, he has failed to prevent or stop forces that have undermined India's prospects. On his watch, forces of bigotry, communalism and division have been unleashed that have set India back decades, and make it dificult to rate him positively on practically any quality that defines a great statesman and ruler.