PM Modi: The New Face of India's Global Identity

According to Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the foremost brand ambassador for India. He noted that previously, the global perception of India was largely tied to Mahatma Gandhi. Shekhawat remarked that a decade or so ago, if a tourist mentioned their Indian identity abroad, the typical response would be, 'India? Oh, Gandhi!' In a discussion on Saturday, he emphasized that India's image was closely associated with Gandhi. However, he confidently stated that today, whether you are in the smallest Caribbean island or in the United States, or anywhere from South Asia to West Asia, if you tell someone, 'I am from India,' you will see a delightful smile and an exclamatory response, 'India! Oh, Modi!'

When asked who represents India's largest brand—culture and tourism or Bollywood—Shekhawat asserted that our biggest brand ambassadors today are indeed our Prime Minister. He clarified that his response was not politically motivated, stating, 'I am speaking as an ordinary citizen.' He reflected on how for decades, Gandhi served as India's brand ambassador, but now it is Modi who holds that title. Nevertheless, he emphasized that it is India's rich culture that truly embodies the nation's identity.