India! Divided we stand

It didn’t quote come as a bolt from the blue. Tweets from the actor had signalled that something was coming up. A large viewership in millions was guaranteed even as the ‘non-political’ interview aired on several television channels simultaneously last Wednesday.

The country, known for its diversity, is at the same time marked by sharp differences of opinion. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s informal interview was another event that emphasised a range of views on whether it was appropriate, should it have been ‘media-managed’ like this, etc.

Truth to tell, the talk on his personal life would have made a deep impression on aam aadmi. Here was a PM opening up on his early days, his personal experiences, fellow politicians. But sections of the media which can see Mr Modi doing nothing right may not have picked flaws but kept up a barrage of derisive criticism on various grounds nonetheless.

This was virtually friendly banter as a film star shot soft questions at the Prime Minister, but he was the chosen one for his nationalistic image and his probable political leanings. Which candidate would risk a confrontational media conference when he can pad up his image with a goodie-goodie talk show.

What was forgotten, at least for a while, was the bitterest election campaign in history in which politicos have been throwing names at each other. The image came through of a warm person who told his tale. Twitterati seemed to take badly to the principal character though. But then they are not by definition aam aadmi. Therein lies the tale of a divided India.