New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke openly on many issues in the podcast show of Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. At the beginning of the podcast, Nikhil Kamath told PM Modi that “I am sitting here in front of you and talking, I am nervous. This is a difficult conversation for me.” To this, PM Modi smiled and replied, “This is my first podcast, I don’t know how it will be liked by your audience.” The PM said that the mantra of his life is to never do any wrong thing with bad intentions.
The PM said that when I became the Chief Minister, I gave a speech in which I said, I will not step back from hard work and I will not do anything for myself. I am human who can make mistakes, but I will never do anything wrong with bad intentions. This is the mantra of my life. After all, I am a human being, not a god.
Nation should always come first
PM Modi said in a podcast hosted by Nikhil Kamath that Gandhi and Savarkar’s paths were different, but their ideology was “freedom”. Idealism is more important than ideology. There can be no politics without ideology. However, idealism is very important. Before independence, the ideology (of freedom fighters) was independence. Gandhi’s path was different, but the ideology was freedom. Savarkar chose his path, but his ideology was freedom.” Speaking on his ideology, the Prime Minister said that the nation should always be kept first.
Always ‘Nation First’
I am not a person who changes my stance as per my convenience. I grew up believing in only one ideology. If I have to explain my ideology in a few words, I would say, ‘Nation First. Whatever fits into the ‘Nation First’ tagline does not bind me in the shackles of ideology and tradition. This inspired us to move forward. I am ready to leave old things and adopt new things. However, the condition is always ‘Nation First’.
The PM said that I was a normal student. I had a teacher who was very affectionate towards me. One day he was telling my father that he has talent but no one pays attention to it. Grabs everything quickly. I wanted to honor my teachers publicly. I searched for everyone and respected everyone publicly. The Governor also came in this. I had in my mind that whatever I am, they too have contributed in making me. I called 30-32 teachers and respected them. Those were the good moments of my life.
PM remembered his friends
Talking about his friends, PM Modi said that I left home at a young age. Left not only the house but everything. Was not connected to anyone. But when I became CM, I had a desire to invite my class friends to the CM house. I didn’t want him to think that I was some thirtysomething. There was no change in me, I wanted to live that moment. I had called everyone. At night I ate a lot of food and chatted, but I did not enjoy much. Because I was looking for friends. But he was looking like the Chief Minister. There is no one left in my life to say ‘you’. Still in touch but he looks at us with great respect.
For the youth coming into politics, PM Modi said that one is to enter politics and the other is to be successful. There should be commitment from the public for that. There should be companions in the happiness and sorrow of the people. Must be a good team player. Communicating is more important than speech. The country needs 1 lakh such youth who come into politics. To take, to become the achiever, if this is the aim. His time in politics is not very long.
During the conversation, Kamath also shared his experience that when he was growing up, politics was viewed negatively, how do you see it. Responding to this question, PM Modi said, “If you had faith in what you said, we would not be having this conversation.”