The Star Wars series began with the 4th episode - A New Hope that showed the rebels consolidate their position against the Empire. Fast paced and packed with action, the episode ends with the threat of Death Star having been destroyed by Luke who is just beginning to understand the ways of "the Force" and the rebels rejoicing at having won an important battle. The movie successfully delivers a message of hope, of new beginnings and better things to come.

The results of the Gujarat elections have been nothing short of a similar message of new hope for people of India. In the face of the pseudo intellectuals and pseudo secularists, in face of trampled emotions and forced reservations, the decisive win of Modi comes as a sign of rebirth of hope. A hope that springs from the fact that however much is an able man vilified, as long as he forges ahead in the path of development, is progressive and delivers upon the aspirations; the people of the country shall reward him with their confidence.

As the results started pouring in yesterday, many from the loosing side were at pains to propound that this was but an isolated happening in a polarized state. Perhaps this is a planned strategy of trying to downplay a truth which they know is unfolding. Across the length and breath of India people are awaking up again. Lack of any agenda in part of the crowd that rules the nation, besides hanging on to power at cost of the nations security, prosperity and pride, has indeed come back to bite them and how. No amount of fawning sycophancy or dividing the nation through selective appeasement is going to turn this tide back. India’s time has returned again after a brief eclipse.

India lost a historic opportunity in not being able to return Vajapee to power four years back. A loss that future generations shall rue and hold us responsible for. But perhaps in Modi the nation has found again a real mass leader who is able to shake off past stigma and take his state and people on the road towards progress with decisiveness and vision.

Perhaps that is the best Christmas Gift the nation could have hoped for today.  

Here’s to wishing everyone a happy new year…