A LEADER WHO LISTENS, REMEMBERS & ENCOURAGES

The narrators recall PM Modi’s ability to forge meaningful connections, remembering people and their ideas long after a first meeting

MODI JI’S MEMORY IS IMPECCABLE - PC Mohan, BJP Lok Sabha MP

I had first met Modi ji in the year 2008, when he had come down to Bengaluru for the party’s national executive meeting. At the time, he was already widely respected for his leadership, but the national wave that would later sweep the country had not yet fully taken shape. I met him at a hotel where he was staying, and even that brief interaction turned out to be a memorable one. It was a warm and engaging meeting, and I returned deeply impressed, reflecting on his clarity of thought, his confidence, and the energy he brought to every conversation.

Later that evening, there was another programme which Modi ji attended. What I witnessed there left an even stronger impression on me. The atmosphere was electric. People were excitedly cheering for him wherever he went. There was a tremendous fanfare surrounding him, unlike anything I had seen around any other political leader at the time. The enthusiasm was spontaneous and heartfelt. It seemed to indicate that the people of Bengaluru in particular, and the people of Karnataka in general, had already made up their minds that Narendra Modi ji was destined to become the future Prime Minister of India.

No other leader received such attention, nor did anyone generate the same level of excitement and anticipation. Looking back, it is remarkable how accurately that public sentiment reflected the future. Incidentally, Modi ji did become Prime Minister six years later, and once again I had the opportunity to meet him.

On that occasion, a senior party leader was introducing me to the Prime Minister. “Sir, this is Mohan ji, MP from Bengaluru Central,” he said. Before he could continue, Modi ji interrupted him with a smile and said, “Mohan ji mere purane dost hain (Mohan ji is a good friend of mine).”

I was completely bowled over. I could hardly believe that after six years, he would greet me in such a warm and familiar manner. I felt honoured and overwhelmed by this affectionate gesture. The fact that he not only remembered my name but also recalled our brief meeting from 2008 was extraordinary.

For a leader carrying immense national responsibilities, such attention to people is truly remarkable. I could not stop thinking about it for days and shared the anecdote with my colleagues, friends, and family. Modi ji’s sharp memory, combined with his deeply human touch in relationships, is one of the defining hallmarks of a truly great leader.

A MIND ENGAGED IN THOUGHT - Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Kerala BJP President

It was in 2012 that I first sought an audience with Narendra Modi ji. I was still an independent Member of Parliament then, just six years into public life, my journey marked more by questions than answers and by an eagerness to understand how meaningful leadership could shape the course of a nation. I travelled to Ahmedabad with little expectation, viewing it as an opportunity to learn from a leader whose good work was already attracting attention across the country. Yet what greeted me there left an impression that has never faded.

As I reached his office, on his desk lay a small stack of my own writings—essays and reflections I had published years earlier. When I introduced myself, he did not settle for the perfunctory nod of a busy statesman. Instead, he began speaking about a piece I had written on governance in 2010, recalling its central arguments with such precision that I was left momentarily speechless. It was not merely that he had read my work; it was that he had engaged with it thoughtfully and remembered it.

For the first time in my political life, I felt the rare privilege of being heard—not as a name on a roster, not as a fleeting acquaintance, but as a mind engaged in thought. The words spilled from me then, long held back. I spoke about governance, public service, and the aspirations I carried for the people I represented. He listened with patience, never interrupting, his attention unwavering and his interest genuine.

As our meeting drew to a close, I asked him if I might return to him again, to continue such exchanges. His answer was brief but generous: “Aate Rahiye (keep coming).”

From that day forward, I would meet him every few weeks, spending brief yet invaluable minutes in conversation. Those sessions were not merely discussions; they were lessons. They broadened my horizon, sharpened my conviction, and deepened my understanding of leadership and public service. Above all, they reminded me that true leadership lies not only in building a nation, but in nurturing those who would help build it alongside you. That first encounter remains etched in my memory—the moment I first recognised that Narendra Modi ji is not just a leader who speaks of growth, but one who actively cultivates it in others.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA