MODI TRIVIA

MLA: Modi's love for acronyms

No Modi speech is complete without a dash of acronyms thrown in. Before the elections, ABCD stood for “Adarsh, Bofors, Coal scam and Damaad”. After the elections, Modi used it to describe the government’s “Avoid, Bypass, Confuse and Delay” culture, which he wanted to reform. Then there were: ‘MoM’ for Mars Orbiter Mission; ‘4Ps’ for People, Private, Public Partnership; ‘SMART’ policing for Strict but Sensitive, Modern & Mobile, Alert & Accountable, Reliable & Responsive, Tech-savvy & trained; ‘FDI’ for First Develop India, three ‘Ds’ unique to India: Democracy, Demography and Demand and three ‘Ds’ that could improve India: Direction, Dedication and Determination.
 

Then again, B2B for Bharat to Bhutan, and INCH (India and China) towards MILES (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy)

Being human
There have been at least two instances when Narendra Modi has shed more than just a tear. First in May 2014, when he entered Parliament for the first time, and then during his interview with TIME Magazine 

earlier this month. The magazine noted how Modi “chokes and tears up” when asked what his life’s influences were.

Foreign policy, Modi style
From inviting Saarc leaders to his swearing-in ceremony, Modi has broken a few precedents in foreign policy. His visit to Nepal was the first by an Indian prime minister in 17 years. Inder Kumar Gujral had visited Nepal in 1997. Modi’s visit to Canada was the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister in 42 years. And, after Indira Gandhi’s visit to Fiji in 1981, Modi returned to that country 33 years later. His trip to Australia was the first by an Indian prime minister in 28 years. It is estimated that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made an average of seven foreign trips a year between 2004 and 2013. Modi has so far made 17. Next month, he will travel to Bangladesh.

Modi’s slip of the tongue 

Narendra Modi’s adversaries appreciate his public speaking but that does not mean he is immune to an occasional gaffe. The first occurred during his maiden foreign visit as prime minister to Bhutan, which he confused with Nepal. 
 

“I want to begin with a tribute to Nepal… Bhutan royal family…,” he remarked while addressing Bhutan’s Parliament. News reports noted that during the same speech, Modi later said Ladakh even as he actually wanted to say Bhutan.
 

This wasn’t the only occasion. In February, Modi referred to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s wife as M R S Sirisena, instead of Mrs Sirisena, causing a laugh riot on social media. 

Books on Narendra Modi 
Narendra Modi merchandise clearly is a thing of the past now. The latest fad seems to be books written on him. During the past two years, a little more than 100 books, including translations, have been written around Modi. Of these, at least 16 have appeared since he took charge as the prime minister in May last year. The ones released in the past year include biographies, books dissecting his political thought, books investigating his role in the Gujarat riots of 2002, and those exploring his election strategy. Publishers aren’t complaining!