Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in conversation with American podcaster Lex Fridman, opened up about the modest beginnings of his life. He reflected on how deeply rooted in poverty his life was, yet they never felt the burden of it. As Prime Minister Modi narrated, for someone accustomed to wearing quality shoes, the absence of them might feel like a void. However, they had never been in a position to compare since shoes had never been part of their lives. His mother and father worked diligently, and this diligence became a legacy for Modi.
PM Modi recalled his father's disciplined nature, rising early around 4 or 4:30 AM every day, traveling far to visit various temples before reaching his shop. He mentioned that his father wore hand-made leather shoes, typical of the village crafts, which created a characteristic clanking sound, heralding his presence in the village without the need for a timepiece, saying ''Here comes Damodar Bhai.'' This was a testament to his father's relentless discipline and tireless work ethic.
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PM Modi also fondly remembered his mother, portraying her as a paragon of perseverance, making sure the family environment did not reflect any hardships. Despite these conditions, their upbringing never bred negative thoughts. He reminisced about the closeness they shared as an extended family including parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and grandparents all living under one roof — a very tiny house which seemed even smaller when compared to the place from where he was podcasting.
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'Wearing shoes to school was never an option for me'
Prime Minister Modi shared a vivid memory of realizing the disparity, recounting a day en route to school when he met his uncle who asked him, 'Oh! You go to school like this, without shoes?' Struck by the question, his uncle bought canvas shoes for Modi, costing just about 10-12 rupees. Those were canvas shoes that easily soiled. Modi remembers staying back after school to collect chalk pieces, which he would turn into polish to maintain a bright white appearance on his canvas shoes—a prized possession for him.
