India, June 13 -- In the last decade, a clear pattern has appeared. Politicians who focused only on opposing Modi have slowly become irrelevant. Those who expected him to fail have been let down. People who tried to get close to him for personal gain were pushed aside, and those who used flattery to gain influence had to look elsewhere

Twelve years is a long time in politics. In that span, leaders come and go, parties form and disappear, and slogans are made and forgotten. Sometimes, though, a leader stands out and becomes the main focus. Now that Narendra Modi's government has completed 12 years at the Centre, it is worth looking back at what this period has meant.

Over these years, Modi's supporters have praised him for many qualities...