Brand Modi rules despite the cracks after four years in government

The persona of Narendra Modi has undergone an enormous transformation since the days in 2013 and 2014

It was a cold November morning in 2016, days after the government had announced demonetisation. At 6 am, a gaggle of bedraggled, tired men were already outside a branch of the Punjab National Bank which had announced, via a handwritten notice, that it would open at 8 am to enable ‘valuable customers’ to change their money. Some had been waiting since 4 am. Sensing a business opportunity, a chaiwallah had set up his cart early and soon the air was fragrant with the smell of tea stewed with cardamom and ginger. With nothing to do but wait, inevitably the conversation