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PM MODI: THE MAN WHO HAS DREAMT THE INDIAN DREAM!

NaMo: HARBINGER OF NEW AGE ‘BHARATIYA VICHAR’
I want 5 Fs. I don’t want just a cotton exporter. I don’t want yarn. I want Farms; from farms I want Farming; from farming I want Factories. From factories I want to tap into Fashion; and from fashion I want Foreign exchange. —Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Balkrishan Goenka, Chairman Welspun Group
‘MODIJI IS ONE OF THE MOST GENUINE PERSONS ONE CAN EVER KNOW, MEET’

From then, I got the opportunity to travel with Modiji and got to know him closely as one of the most genuine persons one can ever know. I was part of the delegations that visited Australia, China and what I realized during these interactions with Modiji was that he had a completely unique perspective about everything. He looks at everything in a way nobody does! His level of inquisitiveness is unparalleled.

This is all about the vision of this extraordinary gentleman, the dreams that Modiji has for India. These are all transformational, futuristic ideas. And he is making them a reality. They are happening in our country now. Take Start-up India, Stand Up India, child education, focus on the girl child, for example

The narrator shares his various experiences with Narendra Modi and how every interaction with the PM left him enlightened and wiser. He believes that Modiji has the acumen of an industrialist and his ideas are truly transformational and futuristic.

When I met him for the first time, he was very direct in telling me, “No, you won’t expand your business in Vapi. You will do it in Kutch.” It was 2002 and the devastating memories of Bhuj earthquake were as alive as if it was yesterday. I was in disbelief of what Modiji had just said. I replied, “Sir, Kutch is still reeling under the tremors of the quake. There is no water, electricity, roads. How can we establish a textile plant in such a place?” Modiji said “No Goenkaji. You do not know the strength of Kutch. The land in Kutch has the power to yield a dollar for a rupee worth of investment you make!” He continued, in a very matter of fact tone “You are a businessman Goenkaji and I am a politician. But this suggestion to build Kutch is personal. And rest assured, whatever support you need, I will facilitate that.”

Well, any industrialist would have considered the decision to enter Kutch over and again at that point. But I gathered courage which was ultimately built on the tremendous faith I have on Modiji. His suggestion to me was so genuine, that it touched a chord in my heart. His words were so replete with confidence, that I was sure that this was not the voice of politics, it was indeed the voice of his mann. We exported the first towel in 9 months. We managed water via a 300km pipeline from Narmada. We made available electricity and roads. Today we have more than 25,000 employees. We also invested Rs 25,000 crore. Well, at that time, it was difficult for anyone to think of investing in Kutch. But Kutch is exactly from where we started to grow. The Welspun Group had definitely started out on its road to success from Kutch.

From then, I got the opportunity to travel with Modiji and got to know him closely as one of the most genuine persons one can ever know. I was part of the delegations that visited Australia, China and what I realized during these interactions with Modiji was that he had a completely unique perspective about everything. He looks at everything in a way nobody does! His level of inquisitiveness is unparalleled. After his visit to the solar park in China, he ensured that solar power in India too witnessed an enormous growth. In 2006-07, he got the solar policy for the first time in India. His vision was supremely ambitious. His vision of providing energy at Rs 19 per unit and giving Rs 14 per unit on an average in a period of 15 years came at a time when people knew very little about solar power. No one was prepared to believe in it! Modiji was convinced that solar energy was the greatest power alternative in India which could help us reduce our dependence on oil and gas. He would always talk of renewables! He would envision panels over the Narmada canal, and then put up a technical question to me “How do you think this will benefit us?” I would say “Sir we will save on land, farmers will get electricity.” “No!” Modiji would correct me. The biggest advantage is that efficiency would go up by 2%. When water flows below the panel, it has a cooling effect. The panel works better.” Thus, going into the minutest detail of everything is a hallmark of Narendra Modi.

Let me tell you, when we will look back from 2030, we will see that it was this man’s vision to make India the largest in renewable energy. And we are sure to be somewhere, whether we talk about hydrogen, ammonia, or solar. India is going to be absolutely selfreliant. This dream which was envisioned in 2006-07 will become a reality by 2030. India is already a global example now in the renewables sector.

As far as I am concerned, he was very sure what he wanted from me. “I want 5 Fs. I don’t want just a cotton exporter. I don’t want yarn. I want Farms; from farms I want Farming; from farming I want Factories. From factories I want to tap into Fashion; and from fashion I want Foreign exchange” he would say. So he wanted maximum value-addition in India, job creation, and that the GoI should get foreign exchange.

He was the CM then and came up with Vibrant Gujarat in 2007-08. The entire world was reeling under the great recession sparked by the crash of the Lehman Brothers. But he came up with Vibrant Gujarat. I met him and said “Sir, we must defer Vibrant.” He said “What do you say Goenkaji? Now is the opportunity.” I said “No investor is going to turn up. The world has taken an economic downturn.” But Modiji was determined. Being at the helm of leadership in the state, he just said nothing doing. There is an opportunity here as well.

Thus Modiji is vision, determination and leadership diffused together. When I met him recently, he spoke about changing the ship industry, how shipping could incorporate e-shipping, how we could use wind turbines and generate hydrogen from water and use the energy to run ships! Now again, this is all about the vision of this extraordinary gentleman, the dreams that he has for India. These are all transformational, futuristic ideas. And he is making them a reality. They are happening in our country now. Take Start-up India, Stand Up India, child education, focus on the girl child, for example. The way he mingles with children, his exuberance, warmth and playfulness is worth admiring. He has given all the pressing issues of India a concrete form and transformed them into revolutionary ideas. Who would not be inspired by such leadership? TO BE CONTINUED...

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA AND SHWETA SHARMA

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