Narendra Modi on Leadership, Spirituality, and India's Future

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently sat down for an in-depth conversation about his life, leadership philosophy, and vision for India's future. Here are some key highlights from this wide-ranging discussion:

Early Life and Rise to Leadership

Modi spoke candidly about his humble beginnings, growing up in a small village in Gujarat:

"My birthplace is in Gujarat, specifically in North Gujarat, in Mehsana District, in a small town called Vadnagar. Historically, this town holds great significance. And so, Vadnagar is where I was born and completed my early education."

He reflected on growing up in poverty, but not feeling burdened by it:

"My early life was spent in extreme poverty. But we never really felt the burden of poverty. You see, someone who is used to wearing fine shoes will feel their absence when they don't have them. But for us, we had never worn shoes in our lives, so how would we even know that wearing shoes was a big deal? We weren't in a position to compare. That's just how we lived."

Modi described how these early experiences shaped his outlook and work ethic:

"Our mother worked incredibly hard. My father, too. He was extremely hardworking. And he was also extremely disciplined. Every morning, around 4:00 or 4:30 AM, he would leave the house, walk long distances, visit several temples, and then reach his shop."

He spoke about his time as a young man wandering in the Himalayas, searching for spiritual truth:

"I grew up in a very small town. Our life was all about being part of a community. We lived among people, surrounded by them, that was just how life was. There was a library in the village, and I used to go there often to read books. Whenever I read something from the books, I often found myself feeling inspired, thinking, why shouldn't I shape my own life like that?"

Leadership Philosophy and Decision-Making

When asked about his approach to leadership and decision-making as Prime Minister, Modi emphasized several key principles:

1. Putting the nation first: "I always question if what I'm doing harms my nation in any way."

2. Considering impact on the poorest: "Mahatma Gandhi once said that if you're ever unsure when making a decision, think of the poorest person's face, remember them, and ask yourself, 'Will this help them?' Then your decision will be right."

3. Gathering diverse perspectives: "I'm very well-connected. In my administration, my officials know this well, and probably feel overwhelmed by it, by the fact that my information channels are numerous and are very active."

4. Maintaining a learner's mindset: "Suppose I'm not familiar with something, and an official explains it to me, I approach them like a student and ask, 'Can you clarify this? How does it work? Then what happens next? And how?'"

5. Taking calculated risks: "If something is right for my country, for the people, I'm always prepared to take the risk."

6. Owning decisions: "If something goes wrong, I don't shift blame to others, I stand up, take responsibility, and own the outcome."

Modi gave an example of this decision-making process during the COVID-19 pandemic:

"I had Nobel Prize winners advising me, giving countless economic examples from around the world. They'd say, 'This country is doing this, that country did that, you should do it too.' Renowned economists constantly bombarded me with suggestions. Political parties pressured me relentlessly, urging me to spend huge amounts of money. But I didn't act immediately. I paused and reflected, 'What exactly should I do?'"

He explained how he ultimately charted a unique course for India:

"The path I chose, after carefully listening to experts, understanding their opinions without opposing them, and combining their advice with my own country's situation and my personal experiences, created a system that worked effectively. As a result, when the whole world suffered from severe inflation immediately after COVID, India did not."

Vision for India's Future

Modi spoke passionately about his vision for India's role in technology and global affairs:

On artificial intelligence: "No matter what the world does with AI, it will remain incomplete without India. I'm making this statement very responsibly."

He emphasized India's vast pool of tech talent:

"India has access to an extraordinarily vast pool of talent, and that's our greatest strength. After all, artificial intelligence is fundamentally powered, shaped and guided by human intelligence. Without genuine human intelligence, AI can't thrive or progress sustainably. And that real intelligence exists abundantly in India's youth and talent pool."

On India's role in global peace:

"We represent the country that is the land of Lord Buddha. I represent the country that is the land of Mahatma Gandhi. These are the great souls whose teachings, words, actions, and behavior are entirely dedicated to peace. And that is why, culturally and historically, our background is so strong that whenever we speak of peace, the world listens to us."

He outlined his vision of India as a peacemaker:

"We seek neither to wage war against nature, nor to foster strife among nations. We stand for peace. And wherever we can act as peacemakers, we have gladly embraced that responsibility."

Personal Spirituality and Reflections

Modi opened up about his personal spiritual practices and philosophy:

On fasting: "Fasting is actually a scientific process. Whenever I fast for an extended period, I prepare my body in advance. For 5 to 7 days before the fast, I follow various Ayurvedic practices and yoga practices, along with other traditional cleansing methods to internally reset my system."

He described the mental clarity he experiences while fasting:

"When you fast, you may have noticed, as you said, you've been fasting on water for two days. Every single one of your senses, especially smell, touch, and taste, becomes highly sensitive. You may even notice the subtle aroma of water itself, something you probably never noticed before when drinking it."

On meditation: "Meditation is simply being present in the moment. I recall an incident from my time living in the Himalayas. There, I encountered this wise sage. He taught me a simple, practical technique. It was nothing spiritual. There are several little streams in the Himalayas. He positioned a large leaf to catch water from one of those streams. And placed an up-side-down bowl below. So water would drip rhythmically from the leaf onto the bowl. He asked me to focus only on the dripping water, ignoring all other sounds."

Modi reflected on mortality and the meaning of life:

"Life and death are two sides of a coin, but which of the two is more certain? Death. Exactly. Now, with that out of the way, we know for a fact that life itself is a whispered promise of death. and yet, life is also destined to flourish. So, again, in the dance of life and death, only death is certain. So, why fear what is certain? That's why you must embrace life, instead of fretting over death."

He emphasized the importance of living with purpose:

"That's why you must commit to enriching, refining, and elevating your life so you can live fully and with a purpose before death comes knocking. That's why you must let go of the fear of death. After all, death is inevitable, and there's no use worrying about when it will arrive. It will arrive when it's meant to."

Conclusion

Throughout the conversation, Modi emphasized themes of national service, spiritual growth, and India's potential to shape global affairs. He presented a vision of leadership rooted in cultural values, practical decision-making, and a commitment to uplifting all segments of society. As India continues its rise as a global power, Modi's philosophy and approach will likely play a significant role in shaping the country's trajectory in the years to come.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPUtA3W-7_I