Pavan K. Varma | Govts a continuum: Modi, Nehru face-off ill-advised

Some days ago, I was on a TV debate where curiously the discussion's focus was "Jawaharlal Nehru versus Narendra Modi". Such comparisons, I think, are both facile and unnecessary, because you don't have to heap praise on one leader by demonising the other. Nor is there any need to view things in black and white polarities. All leaders have strengths and weaknesses. None is entirely good or entirely bad. But debates of this kind seek to compel you — if you fall into the trap — of making forced choices. History should never be judged only by the advantage of…