January 10th 2025.
In a recent podcast hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed his willingness to embrace new ideas that align with his core ideology of "nation first." This was his first appearance on a podcast and it was released on Friday. During the conversation, Modi expressed that he measures his success by how well he prepares his team to handle various situations. He also mentioned the abundance of young politicians with great potential, but refrained from naming any specific individuals in order to avoid unfairness towards others.
Modi shared that throughout his life, his mantra has been to avoid making wrong decisions out of bad intentions. He stated, "When I became chief minister, I made a promise to work tirelessly, without any personal gain, and to accept that I am human and may make mistakes." He firmly believes that mistakes are inevitable and that he is not a god but a human being.
When asked about his plans for the future and if he is grooming a team for the next 20-30 years, Modi responded by saying, "I can see many individuals with immense potential. When I was in Gujarat, I focused on preparing for the next 20 years and I am doing the same now. My success lies in the ability of my team to handle situations effectively." He emphasized that for him, the most important factor is to put the nation first, and not to prioritize personal ambition over the mission.
Modi acknowledged that politics requires a continuous influx of capable individuals who prioritize the nation's interests. When asked if he sees this potential in any young politician, he replied, "There are many of them. They work tirelessly and have a strong sense of mission. It would be unfair to single out one name when there are so many others." Throughout the two-hour podcast, Modi reiterated his belief in "nation first" and stated that he is ready to discard old ideas and accept new ones as long as they align with this ideology.
The prime minister also discussed the importance of women in politics and mentioned that in the near future, one-third of seats for MLAs and Lok Sabha members will be reserved for women. He pointed out that women are already well-represented in local bodies due to the 50% reservation for them in many states, and encouraged them to work towards becoming capable leaders in assemblies and Parliament.
Modi described himself as a non-traditional politician and stated that his main focus is on governance. He admitted that he is compelled to make political speeches during elections, but his time is mostly spent on governing outside of election periods. He mentioned that his risk-taking ability has not been fully utilized and that he never prioritized his personal comfort over his responsibilities.
In his third term, Modi stated that he feels more confident and his aspirations have broadened. In his first two terms, he evaluated his work based on the progress made since he took office. Now, his focus is on achieving a "Viksit Bharat" (developed India) by 2047. He also clarified that his concept of "minimum government, maximum governance" was misinterpreted by some as having fewer ministers or government employees. He explained that it was about streamlining bureaucratic processes and reducing the number of compliances and laws.
Throughout the podcast, Modi shared various insights from his life, including his struggles as a student and his father's inability to afford his admission to a sainik school. He acknowledged that his struggles have been his greatest teacher. When asked about his exceptional oratory skills, Modi stressed the importance of effective communication and cited Mahatma Gandhi as an example. He stated that Gandhi's actions spoke louder than his words and that he was able to unite the nation during the freedom movement despite not being a skilled orator.
Modi also acknowledged that politics is not just about contesting elections and that it is not an easy path. He also mentioned that some individuals are fortunate enough to reap benefits without putting in much effort, possibly hinting at dynastic politicians. When asked about the happiest moment of his life, Modi recalled the emotions he felt when he and other BJP leaders hoisted the national flag at Lal Chowk in 1992 during the party's "Ekta Yatra" led by Murli Manohar Joshi.
Overall, Modi's podcast appearance showcased his unwavering commitment to his ideology of "nation first" and his determination to groom a capable team for the future. He emphasized the importance of effective communication, good governance, and prioritizing the nation's interests in politics.
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