Insights from PM Modi’s US Travel Diaries: Tales of Simplicity and Long-Term Vision
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a three-day visit to the US for the Quad Leaders’ Summit and the United Nations’ ‘Summit of the Future,’ aiming to strengthen India’s ties with the US and other Indo-Pacific allies.
While this visit is one of many during his tenure, his earlier trips to the US in the 1990s, when he was an ordinary BJP leader, reveal significant insights into his character and leadership style.
One notable incident from 1997 occurred during a visit as a guest at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) event. After attending, Modi discovered that his bag—containing his passport, money, and clothes—had been stolen from a car. Hirubhai Patel, an NRI who accompanied him, recalls how Modi remained calm despite the stressful situation.
“He reassured everyone not to worry, showcasing his composure under pressure,” Patel recalled. Modi ended up spending five days at his host’s home while arrangements were made for a new passport and humbly requested a small loan to cover immediate expenses, promising to repay it, which he did shortly after returning to India.
A Simple and Spartan Lifestyle
Modi’s minimalist lifestyle is well-documented, and another instance from his 1997 trip underscores this. Gokul Kunnath, an NRI from Atlanta, picked Modi up from the airport expecting him to have significant luggage, only to find he had a small briefcase-sized bag.
When Kunnath asked if there was more luggage, Modi simply replied, “There’s no luggage. This is all I have for the trip.” This interaction highlighted Modi’s humble and disciplined lifestyle, a trait he has maintained throughout his career.
Vision for Gujarat’s GIFT City
Modi’s early visits to the US also contributed to his vision for India’s development, particularly in the creation of Gujarat’s GIFT City. C.K. Patel, a US-based businessman from Gujarat, shared that a walk through Downtown Los Angeles in 1997 inspired Modi’s vision.
“During that walk, Modi observed the area filled with skyscrapers and remarked that this is where the economy thrives, driven by banks and corporate offices,” Patel recounted. Modi’s curiosity also extended to infrastructure; during a drive, he noticed a sound when the car veered slightly off the road and inquired about it, demonstrating his interest in learning about new technologies.
Linguistic Skills on Display
Modi’s ability to engage with diverse audiences was also evident during his 1990s visits. At the ‘Friends of BJP’ Forum in New York, he delivered a speech in English, impressing attendees with his proficiency. Jyotindra Mehta, a Gujarat-based observer, noted, “While he is an accomplished orator in Gujarati and Hindi, his command of English was unexpected and exceptional.”
Mehta emphasized that Modi’s linguistic skills reflected his clarity of thought, stating, “Even in English, which was not his first language, he conveyed his ideas with impressive clarity.”
These anecdotes from Modi’s earlier US trips depict a leader who remained calm under pressure, embraced a spartan lifestyle, and continuously sought to learn from international experiences. His ability to translate these insights into India’s development is a hallmark of his leadership that persists today.
