Every Child in India Now Plays with Mouse, Not Snakes: PM Modi

In a first-ever podcast appearance, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed a range of topics from personal story, policy making, governance and tech, with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. Modi emphasised India’s growth and the transformation it has brought to the youth.  

Narrating a personal incident in Taiwan, Modi mentioned that despite explaining about tech, people’s questions were revolving around whether India is a land of black magic and snake charmers. Modi replied that his ancestors might have been used to playing with snakes but now it is different. “Our ancestors played with snakes. Today, every child in India plays with a mouse.”

Alluding to the fast-paced technological developments happening in our country, Modi placed his confidence on the emerging youth who are equipped with tech and talent.

Viksit Bharat 2047 

In the podcast, Modi spoke about UPI, where he highlights how in the last decade, he has brought the technology of the world in one’s pocket. This has further empowered people and confidently believes that today’s 20-25-year-olds will be in a position to run the country efficiently by 2047. 

2047, which is also the year of Viksit Bharat 2047, where India looks to become self-reliant and a production powerhouse of the world.

Kamath mentioned about his growing years in his mid teens, used to believe that studying hard, going abroad, doing a PhD and working abroad in Microsoft was “the highlight” and that there was nothing beyond that. However, when we meet the youth today, the conversation is on building in India, and talks on moving abroad have reduced. “This is a big change,” he said. 

Modi goes on to explain sternly, “I am openly saying. You’ll regret, if you don’t come back to India. Now is the time for India,” he said. He even says that startups that were once seen as a disaster, are now considered a matter of pride. 

AI means Aspirational India

Earlier, NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang had also visited the PM at the backdrop of his NVIDIA Summit in Mumbai where promising investments were made with Reliance. 

In the podcast, Modi explains AI as ‘Aspirational India.’ Interestingly, the AI vision in India has been fortified with visits from big tech leaders who are wishing to expand their company leveraging India’s talent. With the country being a promising market, leaders such as Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Perplexity’s Aravind Srinivas visited Modi in the last few weeks. 

Last week, Nadella, who was in India as part of Microsoft AI Tour, committed to a $3bn investment to expand Microsoft Azure in India. He even met the Telangana government to reassure data centre expansion in the State. 

Highlighting India’s power, Modi also touched upon his experience he faced in his life when it came to a country not giving him a visa, which he calls as a setback. However, he is confident with the way the tables have turned. Two decades later, he said that the world now stands in line for India’s visa. 

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