Bengaluru: The book ‘Middle Class, Media and Modi: The making of a new electoral politics’ published by the Sage publications and penned by New generation economic thinker Dr.Nagesh Prabhu has the potential to be a best-seller paperback on current political-economy of India. A special tab on Media makes the book a good read. While the book awaits formal release due to the Covid19 Lockdown, here is an overview.
The 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread Coronavirus pandemic has brought to a grinding halt all businesses, factories, schools/colleges and public transportation in the world’s second-most populous country. This measure made the burgeoning Indian middle class increasingly leverage a slew of welfare and progressive policies and programs initiated by the Narendra Modi government during the last six years.
An overwhelming section of the middle class, which now constitutes nearly 50% of the country’s population of 1.3 billion, has wholeheartedly welcomed the historic decision announced by the Prime Minister on March 24, 2020.
Why did the middle-class families, who love to spend time in traveling, attending marriages, and festivals, and loosen their purse strings on shopping at this time of the year supported the ‘Janata Curfew’? What made them stand in their balconies to clap and ring bells to salute frontline health workers serving the nation tirelessly even on holidays (Sunday at 5 pm on March 22, 2020)? Why did they fall in line to light lamps, candles or to hold up mobile phone torches (Sunday, 5 April 2020)? Why have the urban middle-class, and upper castes who have always found comfort in social security and stability embraced Modi’s brand of Hindutva, fuelled by fierce nationalism? In short, what makes Modi a middle-class hero?
These are intriguing questions which need answers.The book titled “Middle Class, Media and Modi – The Making of a New Electoral Politics” by Nagesh Prabhu, senior journalist, lucidly responds to these questions and throws light on the growth story of Indian middle class/new middle class and the brand of politics in the 21st century.
To ease the hardship caused to the working and the middle classes, the Modi government, in tune with its mantra ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas’ (with all, development for all, the trust of all) has come up with a whopping Rs 1.71 lakh crore relief package for providing a safety net for the poor hit by the COVID-19.
The Reserve Bank of India, for its part, also announced a slew of measures, including a three-month moratorium on payment of installments (between 1 March and 30 May 2020), cut in the rate of interest on bank credits which is large to the benefit of the salaried middle class, petty traders and small businessmen.
The Prime Minister termed the RBI’s decisions as “giant steps” to safeguard the economy from the impact of the Coronavirus, and said they will improve liquidity, reduce the cost of funds, helping middle class and businesses.”
Dr. Prabhu who has earlier published another book “Reflective Shadows- Political Economy of World Bank Lending to India” in 2017 is also known for his enlightening articles on world economy vis a vis Indian political-economy which are highly acclaimed by the people in the field of policy shaping.
Dr Prabhu in his new book touches upon various aspects of the Modi rule and puts in perspective terms like Achhe Din, Jan Aushadi, Ayushman Bharat, Ujjawala scheme and many more.
