There is never one correct point of view. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity was questioned by eminent scientists, among them Jayant Narlikar. As long as there is no ill-motive, every point of view has some truth and must be respected — a quality that the present government has not cultivated in the last 11 years.

Mr Narendra Modi has just completed 11 years in office making him the third longest-serving prime minister of India. That is a testimony to his tenacity and ability to win elections for his party.

There are pluses and minuses in every government, and the NDA government is no exception. Mr Modi’s government relies on metrics: in a developing country the usual economic metrics can only add to the stock. If schools are built or roads are constructed, it will add to the stock of schools (in number) or roads (in kilometres). However, the people’s standards for assessing a government’s work are different: they are based on an unquantifiable metric called ‘good governance’. Under good governance, the country is seen as a better (for all), stronger and fairer place and the individual is satisfied that his family’s life will become even better. The quality of governance cannot be fully discerned in quantitative metrics.

In my assessment, India is not better for all or stronger or fairer place today than........

© Mathrubhumi English