He proclaimed the temple to become a "modern symbol of Indian culture", and also put the "long and hard" struggle of BJP-RSS for Mandir on par with the independence struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi. Significantly, he added, "a new history is being scripted".

He has always talked of "transformative changes" in the making in a "New India" of his conception and thus his next moves would be toward constitutional changes. Mr Modi has often talked of "One Nation, One Religion, One Election and one Law". His Government has been moving toward unification of official language as Hindi and Co-operative Federalism has taken severe hits under the BJP rule.

Thanks to an unexpectedly quick Supreme Court verdict of November 2019, the Ram temple construction was set in motion with great zeal. For the charismatic Prime Minister, it was a personal victory to have brought the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement struggle to a successful end.

He could give the foundation-stone laying ceremony the highest priority in the midst of his majoritarian government caught up with a multitude of crises, chiefly the Pandemic Coronavirus, triggering economic collapse, millions of jobless migrants facing hunger and without cash and a growth slowdown for two years turning negative this year (likely between 5 and 9 per cent). Public finance, with revenue shortfalls, is now debt-driven. Mr Modi's "green shoots” to recovery are hardly visible.

On the external front, the India-China face off over LAC in Ladakh is set to last with deadlocks in negotiations on de-engagement from the positions held at present. It is now clear that China has made transgressions across India-held LAC in at least a couple of areas. Both sides are set in confrontation for the long haul. After the brutal killing of 20 soldiers on LAC on June 15, the Prime Minister had said there were "no outsiders" on Indian territory. Without naming China, he had talked of "expansionism" and assured India would protect "every inch of its territory".

Meanwhile, India has gained now a dubious record of turning the third largest virus-hit nation after USA and Brazil with more than two million Indians testing positive for Covid-19 by the first week of August.

With no signs of vaccines till the end of the calendar year at least, and no credible signs of growth, Mr Modi would be chary of resorting to any "strikes" policywise. Government would have realised how it had messed up the life-and-death issue of migrants in the matter of help and facilitating return to their villages in Northern states.

Why did the Prime Minister choose August 5 for the laying of foundation for Ram Temple? This has to do with the abrogation of Article 370 (special status for J and K) the same date last year, loss of statehood for the Kashmiris and massive arrests of J and K leaders including former Government heads, and continuing deprivation for the people of civil rights and blockage of communications (internet). For the BJP, it represented completing Integration of India but others viewed with grave concern the accompanying actions of lack of legally required consultation, massive arrests of J and K leaders including former Government heads, loss of statehood and depriving the people of civil rights and blockage of communications (internet).

Any expectation that the Modi Government would modify some of the steps including release of major leaders for political dialogue in a gradual normalisation process including removal of tough curbs in communications via internet did not materialise. Instead, J and K came under security blanket.

External Affairs Minister Mr Jaishankar was visiting Srinagar on August 5 to talk of a transformation under way in the Union Territory. Nor was he authorised perhaps even to throw hints of statehood in the near future.

Intriguingly, petitions raising the constitutionality of Modi Government's actions of August 5 last year are still to be taken up by the apex court which no doubt took up smaller issues such as denial of internet connections for citizens and the adverse impact for children in schools and students in colleges. Even here, there has been no satisfactory compliance on the part of J and K authorities.

But the manner of this historical change abruptly from above, with a political lockdown, depriving the people of Jammu and Kashmir, also made a Union Territory, of civil rights and denial of a measure of liberties.

On the economic front, the fear about Covid-19 and loss of confidence about financial sector moving with stability as at present has thwarted economic recovery till now. Linked to global outlook, the broad conclusion could be it would take at least three years for the Indian economy to restore steady growth, depending also on global recovery. India has to create greater confidence in foreign investors. This partly explains Government's privatisation moves of public undertakings, sectors of railways and banking. Firstly, the majoritarian government must bring about macro-economic stabilisation through a better mix of policies, fiscal, monetary, health and infrastructure overall. (IPA Service)