Demonetisation: 'Inconvenience' is the new buzzword!

Within days of PM Modi announcing cessation of INR 500, and 1000 notes as legal tenders, politicians and media persons from every nook and cranny of our vast country got busy in to letting us know, how we have been subjected to great ‘inconvenience’ by the PM!

True, we have had to wait outside banks for long hours, we have had to forego some of our shopping plans, we have had to go for austerity in family celebrations et al. So, they are factually right. We have been ‘inconvenienced’! Then, why did PM Modi did it? Does he stand to gain (politically) by ‘inconveniencing’ people? At best, it may turn people against him, then, why did he do it? When I started thinking around these questions, another question popped up in my mind – is he the first PM to put his countrymen in to ‘inconvenience’?

Confused? Seek guidance from history!

And, that’s what I did. I found plethora of examples when great leaders of India have resorted to measures wherein ‘inconvenience’ of people was not only unavoidable, it was asked for! And, Indians responded to the call.

During the 1965 war, PM Lal Bahadur Shastri appealed for keeping fast. Not even adults, there are stories of even children responding to his call. PM Modi has asked for 50 days of time, PM Lal Bahadur Shastri did not know and could not promise any time frame! Yet Indians sided with him. PM Lal Bahadur Shastri did not have to explain the reason to his populace as it was auto vivid, PM Modi may not even be in a position to disclose the full (classified) reasons to his countrymen!

Numerous examples from the life history of our freedom fighters deluge us with inspiration to rise to the call of the duty towards our nation. And, this time the war is within. It is against a bad habit (black money) that is crippling our nation. Our neighbour enemy is well aware of our bad habit and is using it to break our identity and pride as a great nation by carrying out terrorist activities and creating a situation in which we blame each other owing to our differing religious identities. PM Modi appears to know this well, and seems to be bold and skilled enough to treat this old wound, and save our nation. 

What fee do you think he is entitled to charge us – 50 days of ‘inconvenience’!