PM Modi's note ban brings pain, but corruption-weary India grits its teeth

Even as the poorest have struggled, many have continued to voice support for the PM's initiative

It was a bold and risky gamble by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India that quickly seemed to backfire.

The announcement of a ban on the largest currency bills circulating in India, which came into full effect at midnight Friday, the last day for depositing the old notes at banks, set off cash shortages that have hit the country’s most vulnerable people hard and prompted worries about the economy.

But despite those concerns, as well as doubts about whether the currency ban will reduce corruption as it is designed to do, for the moment, at least, Mr. Modi’s bet appears