“Mistakes happen. Manushya hu, devata thodi hoon” (I am human, not a God)”
“During crisis, we have maintained “ we are not neutral. I am for peace”
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first-ever appearance on a podcast, featuring as a guest on Nikhil Kamath’s popular show “People by WTF.” Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha and host of the podcast, teased the surprise guest through a two-minute trailer shared online, sparking widespread speculation.
Kamath captioned his tweet. In the teaser clip, Kamath and the Prime Minister shared a lighthearted exchange about their excitement for the conversation. “I am sitting here in front of you and talking, I feel nervous. It’s a tough conversation for me,” Kamath says in the video, speaking in Hindi. PM Modi, acknowledging his own nerves, replied, “This is my first podcast, I don’t know how it’ll go with your audience.” In this sixth episode, Kamath shared his vision of the conversation, hoping to explore the parallels between politics and entrepreneurship. He also asked PM Modi to forgive him for his “bad Hindi.” The Prime Minister reassured him with a smile, saying, “Hum dono ki aise hi chalegi” (We’ll manage like this).
PM Modi On Youth And Politics: During their candid chat, Kamath asked PM Modi for advice for young people considering a career in politics. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of purpose-driven involvement. “They should come with a mission, not just ambition,” he explained, adding that politics needs more good people.
Reflections On Past Speeches And Mistakes: The two also discussed one of PM Modi’s speeches from his time as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, where he acknowledged making an insensitive comment. “I said something in an insensitive way. Mistakes happen. Manushya hu, devata thodi hoon” (I am human, not a God), he remarked.
On Global Tensions And Peace: The conversation then shifted to global conflicts. Kamath asked, “Aaj puri duniya war ki taraf chal rahi hain (Today the world is moving towards war). Should we be worried about what is happening in the world?” PM Modi responded firmly, emphasising India’s stance on neutrality during crises: “Crisis ke samay humnein lagataar kahan hain ki hum neutral nahin hain. Main shanti k paksh mein hoon” (During the crisis, we have maintained that we are not neutral. I am in favor of peace).
Comparing Modi’s Two Terms As PM: Kamath also asked how PM Modi’s first term as Prime Minister differed from his second. Modi quipped, “Pehli term mein toh log mujhe bhi samajhne ki koshish karte the, aur main bhi Delhi ko samajhne ki koshish karta tha” (During my first term, Indian people were trying to understand me, and I was trying to understand Delhi).
On Social Perceptions Of Politics: Kamath, who grew up in a South Indian middle-class family, raised a poignant question, reflecting on the common societal view that politics is a “dirty place.” He asked, “Ye itna ingrain ho gaya humare psyche mein ki isko badalna bohot mushkil hain. To hum jaise logon k liyein aap kya kahenge?” (It’s ingrained in our psyche that politics is dirty. What do you have to say to people like us?) To which PM Modi replied, “Agar aap jo keh rahein the wahi hotein to aaj aap yahan nahin hotein” (If what you were saying had happened, you wouldn’t be where you are today). The episode promises an insightful conversation, offering a unique glimpse into the mind of India’s Prime Minister, breaking away from traditional forms of communication and stepping into the world of podcasts.
