We Indians must learn to look up.

Seems that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi still has an average popularity rating of 74%, with 82% in metro cities and 67% in non-metro areas. In metro cities 70% would vote for him today with 62% in non-metro areas. Most perplexing and counter intuitive is that 82% in metro areas and 74% in non-metro areas support his handling of the economy. How then did the Aam Aadmi Party with its economically disastrous handouts win 67 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly in February and the Trinamool Congress sweep the municipal elections in Bengal last month? People vote differently in parliamentary and state elections. In the case of Delhi it was greed of the people, to get as many freebies today, tomorrow be damned, that got the AAP into power although some of its promises, such as those of building 200 schools and 20 new colleges are pure fiction because the cost of land will break Delhi's budget. In Bengal the thugs who terrorised voters to keep the CPM in power for decades have all shifted loyalty to the TMC. Modi has to win state assemblies to get a majority in the Rajya Sabha without which opposition politicians will not allow him to pass major reforms. They have realised that abusing Hindus has polarised voters, increasing support for the BJP, so they have shifted to crocodile tears for farmers and the poor. In response Modi has announced a slew of welfare schemes to counter charges of being pro-rich. It will not be enough to improve the economy, create more jobs and banish poverty. There are too many people dependent on poverty for their wealth and power, so they will undo his reforms if they can. In their struggle to survive the poor lose their bargaining power. They are easily seduced into crime by criminals who share a portion of the loot with local villagers in return for which they get warning about police movements and are hidden when required. Farmers borrow money from money lenders at extortionate rates and, when a crop fails, commit suicide. This is where vultures build their fortunes. Politicians create more handouts, a part of which they pocket, NGOs spring up to collect money for charity, most of which goes in remunerations and travel, and the poor continue at the margins of survival, always dependent on kindness. Modi has to change that mindset. Bill Gates of Microsoft had this to say about Steve Jobs of Apple," He has an expectation of superlative things in his work and the products they would create. His most natural, innate sense was a world-class instinct about whether this or that object met certain standards. He had extremely high standards of what was shit, and what was not shit." We are told that shit is good because poverty is so lucrative. If Modi can make us look up instead of down it will be his legacy.