In the past, before independence, it used to be said that "What Bengal thinks today, India will think tomorrow". Of course, Bengal produced such giants of political, social, literary and spiritual leaders whose name and fame crossed our borders, not just heard in India — Subhas Chandra Bose, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda to name a few. Post - independence, similar honour, especially political, should go to Gujarat. Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) got a boost to his movement of “Total Revolution” against Indira Gandhi's corrupt and autocratic regime of early 1970s from the students of Gujarat (Chatra Sangarsh Samithi — Students Action Committee) which spread like wildfire throughout the country leading to the declaration of Emergency and rest is history. JP conducted an experiment fielding the 25 – year - old Sharad Yadav (who later became the Union Minister) in the Lok Sabha elections from Patna Constituency before the declaration of Emergency and Yadav won. Indeed, a harbinger of shape of things to come for Congress!

Now once again, in 2007, Gujarat is making news that will impact national politics. Narendra Modi has won for the third time. It is the fourth win for BJP in Gujarat. This despite anti - incumbency factor and Sonia Gandhi heading Congress onslaught on BJP and Modi personally. Remember the now infamous branding of Modi by Sonia as a “merchant of death”?

Of course, Modi returned the compliment in a public meeting. He simply asked the crowd, what he should do in dealing with terrorists like Sohrabuddin. The crowd shouted back its answer: “Kill him, kill him.” A natural reaction. Modi, like the great Greek orator Demosthenes that he is, bided in silence for a few seconds and delivered the punch line: That's what I did.

There was daring, as much as there was drama. Who knows if he had only asked the crowd to march with him, it would have. Fortunately, his rhetoric stopped at that.

I am reminded of Cicero, who was a Roman Consul. At the time of his laying down office as a Consul, he was about to speak in a public meeting when another Consul, Metellus Nepos, interposed saying Cicero should not be heard as he had put Roman citizens to death without trial.

But Cicero managed to say that his act had saved Rome. Instantly, people shouted back in approval of Cicero: "Thou hast said true." Saving Rome was more important than putting a traitor of a Roman citizen to death without trial.

There was strong negative reaction to both Sonia's and Modi's rhetorics. Sonia's men said "merchant of death" was not directed against Modi but against all those in his administration. Modi and his spokespersons said he did not mean Sohrabuddin the individual but all the terrorists symbolized by him. Quits?

Fortunately, the crowd at Modi's meeting did not say “Let us march against terrorists.” I am reminded of a similar instance in the history of Greece. Leaders of Greek City State of Athens were haranguing a crowd against Philip of Macedon. When Aeschines spoke, they said, "How well he speaks." But when Demosthenes spoke, they said, "Let us march against Philip." Modi no doubt is Gujarat's Demosthenes. People voted against Congress and catapulted him to power.

A delirious BJP supporter was seen screaming into the TV screen, “Gujarat is India.” He could as well have screamed “Modi is Gujarat” like what Dev Kant Barooah, the then Congress President, said of Indira Gandhi — “Indira is India, India is Indira.” Whatever it is, Modi has become a brand for serious development politics and efficient administration in contrast to Lalu Prasad Yadav who became a butt of many jokes and a brand for political corruption and inefficiency.

Listen to what Modi said of the Election Commission's (EC) response to his and Sonia's complaint against each other. EC has adopted two standards in its response. One for Indians and one for foreigners. This shows the "colonial temperament" of EC. Indira Gandhi also used to display occasionally this kind of intelligent trait and utter smart retorts. For example, when the opposition was screaming “Indira Hatao”, Indira Gandhi gave a clarion call “Garibi Hatao”. At the end “Garibi Hatao” won just as in Gujarat 'Modi Hatao' boomeranged.

What surprised me was the statement of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh calling Modi a liar for his claims on development under his rule. Of course, the facts on the ground showed it was the Prime Minister who was lying.

Indira Gandhi, when she returned to power triumphantly in 1979 after defeating the fragmented Janata Party, told those who congratulated her: The whole world loves the winner.

Yes indeed, the whole of India loves Modi the winner and who knows the whole of India may love BJP in the next general election. After all, as our own G. T. Deve Gowda, who recently joined BJP without much heart - burning and vacillation like M. P. Prakash, told his detractors the days of political parties with distinct ideologies are gone. Political parties today seek power on the strength of economic development. Modi won this election more on the strength of development and less with his Hindutva. If BJP accuses Congress of appeasing the minority, Congress is accusing BJP of appeasing the majority.

Well, let any political party win or lose. It does not matter. What matters is the victory of India. India must win. It simply can't afford to lose. If India loses, who wins? Jai Hind.