PM Narendra Modi (R) with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath | X (@nikhilkamathcio)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his debut in the podcast space with ‘People by WTF’ hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. In a wide ranging discussion during which PM Modi spoke about his childhood, his attitude, Godhra incident, politics and more. Here are some of the top quotes PM Modi from the podcast.
On His School Life
“I was a normal average student. I wasn’t someone who would get noticed,” said PM Modi when he was asked if he was a good student.
“But there was one particular teacher who took interest in me and met my father and told him that I was a talented student but I didn’t pay attention to things,” he said.
On Taking Risks
“I have not fully utilised my risk-taking capacity. I have huge risk-taking appetite. This is because I don’t worry about myself,” said PM Modi.
On Becoming Successful In Politics
“For that (becoming successful in politics), you need dedication and commitment. You should be there for the people and you should be a team player. If you consider yourself above all, thinking that everyone will follow you, their politics may work but there is no guarantee that they will become a successful politician,” PM Modi said.
On His Ideology
“I am not a person who doesn’t remain steadfast on anything. I grew up with one ideology – Nation First. Whatever fits into that tagline does not bind me in the shackles of ideology and traditions,” said PM Modi.
On Godhra Incident
“I was a three-day-old MLA when such an incident happened in Godhra. We first received reports of fire in a train, then gradually we received reports of casualties. I was in the House, and I was concerned. As soon as I came out, I said I want to visit Godhra,” PM Modi said.
“There was only one helicopter, there was an ONGC sign, they said that since it is single-engine, they cannot allow a VIP on it. I said I was not a VIP but a common man. We had an argument, and I said that I would be responsible for whatever happened. I reached Godhra, and I witnessed that painful scene, those dead bodies… I felt everything, but I knew that I am sitting on a position where I would have to stay out of my emotions and natural tendencies,” he added.
On Politics
Politics does not mean elections. Politics does not mean win or defeat. Politics does not mean power. It’s just one aspect of it,” said the PM.
“If you are involved in policymaking, you can bring in real change. If you are a policymaker involved in politics, you can bring that change to the entire country,” he added.
On Youngsters and Politics
“I would like to tell the youth of the country that you should not consider politics as bad and elections are politics, so it is right to vote in a dignified manner. Come into the political field, public life once, in any form and today the country needs leadership which is born from the womb of creativity,” said PM Modi.
“The country needs a very large class of people who think creatively, who do something new, who prepare themselves, who understand happiness and sorrow, who find ways, who do not belittle others, but find a way for the country,” he said further.
On Failures and Setbacks
When he was chief minister of Gujarat, PM Modi was denied a visa by the US
“That day, I held a press conference where I said the American government had rejected my visa. I said that I see an India, where the world will stand in queue for visa. This is my statement from 2005 and today we are standing in 2025. This is India’s time now,” he said
“I am not someone who will spend his life crying over a setback… One has to take risks at every moment,” said PM Modi
“Mistakes happen, and I too can make some. I am also a human, not god,” he added.
