The Great Indian Sacrifice Season
- Jayanta KalitaRajesh Sharma
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM May 15, 2026, 18:45 IST IST
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to defer gold purchases and conserve foreign exchange amid the escalating West Asia crisis, he was following a template set by successive prime ministers and finance ministers over decades.
Since Independence, India’s political leadership has repeatedly called on citizens to embrace austerity during global crises. Each time, those in power have also attempted to set an example — sometimes successfully, but often becoming a source of memes.
Since Independence, India’s political leadership has repeatedly called on citizens to embrace austerity during global crises. Each time, those in power have also attempted to set an example — sometimes successfully, but often becoming a source of memes.
