Modi Masked His Reform Failings With Bombs and Nationalism

India’s prime minister may get another chance to deliver on his unmet promises.

Narendra Modi.

Photographer: Daniel Berehulak/New York Times via Redux

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On a cool Delhi evening in November 2016, Narendra Modi hastily called a national address to make the most consequential decision of his premiership: Effective at midnight, some 86 percent of India’s cash would no longer be valid in a bid to stamp out corruption.