Parallels from Unlikely Sources

Many Indians look at Narendra Modi and say: sure, there’s enormous hype around the man, he gets rock star receptions every time he goes abroad, the corporate world loves him, he is a great orator and knows how to use social media extremely well, but where are the results?

That’s a fair question.

Of course, the same question could be asked about the man known as the People’s Pope, the current Pope Francis. Extremely social media savvy, a man who talks frankly, sounds empathetic, and makes all the right noises about gays, abortion and the use of birth control. But as Gerald Posner wrote in God’s Bankers:

“Francis’s words were carefully crafted. He never promised to make any substantive reforms or alter long-crafted doctrine.”

Indeed, if you look carefully, no changes have been made to the church’s policies on any major (controversial) topic.

So why are Modi and Pope Francis still so popular? Why does Modi get a rock star reception at Wembley Stadium right after the Bihar trouncing? Posner’s explanation probably applies here:

“The best politicians realize there is a natural charisma, a chemistry of sorts, that allows a handful of them to connect with people in a way about which most can only dream. Despite shortcomings on promises and a failure to meet expectations, these men and women still inspire confidence and get high favorability ratings in opinion polls.”

And like Modi:

“Francis had sold them that he was the real deal.”

Imagine that: Modi and the Pope share something! Wouldn’t the Christian fundamentalists and the RSS be livid?!

But at least, with both those guys, I’d say, let’s give them some time. It isn’t fair or reasonable to expect either to change decades (even centuries) of crap within a year or two. Besides, both men seem to understand the way to (try to) reform a system from within. Larry Summers explained that to Elizabeth Warren in her memoir, A Fighting Chance:

“Larry’s tone was in the friendly advice-category. He teed it up this way: I had a choice. I could be an insider or I could be an outsider. Outsiders can say whatever they want. But people on the inside don’t listen to them. Insiders, however, get lots of access and a chance to push their ideas. People — powerful people — listen to what they have to say. But insiders also understand one unbreakable rule: They don’t criticize other insiders.”

Arvind Kejriwal might do well to learn from that.