PM Modi makes podcast debut on Nikhil Kamath’s show: ‘I am human, not God’

Kamath began the podcast by clarifying that his mother tongue is not Hindi and he may make mistakes. The Prime Minister, with a chuckle, said that he, too, is not a native Hindi speaker.

“We both will go on like this,” he laughed.

Kamath, in a subsequent question on politics, asked the Prime Minister what is his advice for those who think politics is a dirty game.

“Growing up in a South Indian middle-class home, we were always told that politics is a dirty game. This belief is so ingrained in our psyche that it is almost impossible to change it. What is your one advice for people who think the same?” Kamath, 38, asked.

PM Modi responded: “If you believed in what you said, we would not be having this conversation.”

On being asked about his old speeches when he was Gujarat chief minister, PM Modi responded: “I said something in an insensitive way. Mistakes happen. I am human, not a God.”

PM Modi, tweeting the trailer of the podcast on Thursday night wrote, “I hope you all enjoy this as much as we enjoyed creating it for you!”

I hope you all enjoy this as much as we enjoyed creating it for you! https://t.co/xth1Vixohn

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2025

Here are some key excerpts of PM Modi’s conversation with Nikhil Kamath:

On Xi Jinping wanting to visit PM Modi’s hometown

Speaking about his first term in 2014, the PM had an interesting anecdote to share about a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who wanted to visit his village in Gujarat.

“When I became the PM in 2014, leaders from across the world make courtesy calls… Chinese President Xi also made a courtesy call in which he said that he wants to come to India. I said ‘you are welcome, you must visit. He said I want to visit Gujarat, your village Vadnagar… He said ‘you know why? Me and you share a special bond’… He said Chinese philosopher Hiuen Tsang resided the longest in your village and when he returned to China, he resided in my village,” PM Modi said.

“I am human, not God”: PM Modi

Talking about an old speech from when he was the Gujarat chief minister, the Prime Minister said that he is human, not God and that he, too, makes mistakes.

“When I became the CM, in one of me speeches, I had said that I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts. Secondly, I will not do anything for myself. Third, I am a human, I may make mistakes, but I will not make mistakes with bad intentions. I made them my life’s mantras. It is natural to make mistakes, after all I am a human, I am not God, but will not do wrong intentionally,” PM Modi said.

Skills required to enter politics

Kamath asked whether there is a certain set of skills required to enter the cut-throat world of politics.

“There are two things: becoming a politician is one part and becoming a successful one is the other. I believe you need to be dedicated, committed, be with the masses in their good and bad times, be a team player,” the PM said.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the PM said that while the former was not a great orator he was a skilled communicator. The Prime Minister said a good politician has to be a good communicator.

“If you consider yourself above all, thinking that everyone will follow you, maybe his politics works and he wins the elections, but there is no guarantee that he will be a successful politician,” he added.

Speaking about freedom fighters and the handful few who eventually joined politics after Independence, PM Modi said: “If you see, all our stalwart leaders in the beginning, they emerged from the independence movement. Their thought process, their maturity is different… Their words, their behaviour… everything reflects utmost dedication towards the society. So, I believe that good people should keep on coming into the politics.”

He added that if someone wants to join politics, they should come with a mission, not ambition.

On social media and its impact

Prime Minister Modi called social media an important tool in a democracy. “Social media can give power to a democracy.” PM Modi said that the youth and young students are now getting information from social media and developing interests, referring to Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan missions.

On the Godhra train burning case

Recalling the Godhra case of 2002, in which 59 people lost their lives, PM Modi said that he was a first-time MLA when the incident occurred.

“On February 24, 2002, I became MLA for the first time, and on February 27, I went to the Assembly. I was a three-day-old MLA when such an incident happened in Godhra. We first received reports of fire in train, then gradually we received reports of casualties. I was in the House, and I was concerned,” the PM recalled. 

“As soon as I came out, I said I want to visit Godhra… There was only one helicopter… I guess it was ONGC’s, but they said that since it is single engine, they cannot allow a VIP on it. We had an argument, and I said that I will be responsible for whatever happens. I reached Godhra, and I witnessed that painful scene, those dead bodies… I felt everything, but I knew that I am sitting on a position where I will have to stay out of my emotions and natural tendency. I did whatever I could to control myself,” the Prime Minister added. 

When PM Modi was denied an American visa

PM Modi also recalled a time when he was denied a visa by the US. “I was the MLA when the American government refused to give me a visa. As an individual, going to America was not a big thing, I had visited before also; but I felt the disrespect of an elected government and the country, and there was a dilemma in my mind as to what was happening,” he said.

The PM added that he held a press conference to make the visa rejection public. “That day, I held a press conference, where I said that the American government had rejected my visa. I also said that I see an India, where the world will stand in queue for visa, this is my statement in 2005 and today we are standing in 2025. So, I can see that now, the time is of India,” PM Modi added.

On wars around the world

When Nikhil Kamath asked the Prime Minister about the ongoing wars in several parts of the world, he said that he is not neutral and is in favour of peace.

“The world trusts us, because there is no duplicity in us, whatever we say we say clearly. Even in these times of crises, we have repeatedly said that we are not neutral. I am in favour of peace, and I will support whatever are efforts are made towards it. I tell this to Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Palestine and Israel. They have faith on me, that what I am saying is right,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi’s podcast on episode 6 of ‘People By WTF’ is now streaming on YouTube.