New Delhi, January 9: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, departed from conventional media arrangements to record a podcast with the co-founder of Zerodha, Nikhil Kamath for the show People by WTF. The episode went on air today and offered some insights into PM’s take on politics, entrepreneurship, and geopolitics.
A Modest Introduction
The podcast opens with Kamath revealing his nervousness about interviewing the Prime Minister. Modi demonstrates himself to be humble about this, and retorts, “It’s my first podcast; I don’t know how it’s going to go down with your audience.” This exchange sets a very human feel for the conversation.
Connecting Politics to Entrepreneurship
Kamath lets the interview serve as an opportunity to draw similarities between politics and entrepreneurship, surveying areas for common obstacles and lessons.
He felt apprehension regarding the interviews, to be held in Hindi, and Modi responses: “Hum dono ki aise hi chalegi,” accepting that both share an implicit communion in this space.
Observations of Leadership and Governance
When talking about the second term and transition from the first term, Modi describes how the atmosphere has changed: “Pehli term mein toh log mujhe bhi samajhne ki koshish karte the, aur main bhi Delhi ko samajhne ki koshish karta tha,” indicating a time of mutual acclimatization to one another with respect to the political atmosphere in Delhi.
Fasten the Young into Politics!
In this process, Modi addressed what he calls the “dirty nature of politics,” especially so among middle-class families. The mindset must be changed to attract good people into politics, driven by a sense of mission versus ambition alone.
He insists it is a stereotype-busting exercise whereby good people will change the political scene.
Understanding Human Fallibility
In a moment of introspection, Modi recalls one instance during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat wherein he admits to a lapse in sensitivity during a speech. “Manushya hu, devata thodi hoon,” he candidly states, underscoring his acknowledgment of human fallibility and the capacity for growth and learning from mistakes.
India’s Position on International Conflicts
The conversation goes ahead with India’s stance on international conflicts and Modi clarifies that in times of international crisis India does not stay neutral: “Crisis ke samay humnein lagataar kahan hain ki hum neutral nahin hain. Main shanti ke paksh mein hoon”, thus reaffirming India’s commitment toward peaceful resolution in international affairs.
Public Response and Impact
This podcast episode is garnering a lot of buzz on social media with an audience appreciating the Prime Minister’s willingness to engage in informal unfiltered conversation. The candid exchanges provide a glimpse into Modi’s personal reflections and leadership philosophy that many found resonated with a wider audience.
The Prime Minister’s Abhiyan with Nikhil Kamath marks the first time Modi has gone podcasting, although not his first foray into the world of modern communications in order to stretch his reach to a wider audience.
The rambling talks touch on leadership, growth, and India’s role on the global stage, leaving behind a lot of the Prime Minister’s share of insights.
With podcasts continuing to exercise an influential capacity on public discussions, such engagements could also set the stage for creating a deeper personal connect between leaders and citizens.
