India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi features on TIME magazine's list of 100 most influential people this year. President Obama wrote,in the magazine, an article on him titled, "India's reformer-in-chief." and described PM Modi's journey "from poverty to Prime Minister" as one that reflects the dynamism and potential of India's rise.
President Obama was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 26th January this year,and he was the first American president to be so. He visited on the personal invitation of PM Modi, months after the Prime Minister's visit to the US.
Three months after a visit to India, during which PM Modi informally addressed the US President by his first name a number of times - described by detractors as one-sided warmth, Obama has reciprocated the warmth, when he wrote, "When he came to Washington, Narendra and I visited the memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." and the the short note continues saying, "As a boy, Narendra Modi helped his father sell tea to support their family. Today, he's the leader of the world's largest democracy, and his life story - from poverty to Prime Minister - reflects the dynamism and potential of India's rise."
President Obama further said, "Determined to help more Indians follow in his path, he's laid out an ambitious vision to reduce extreme poverty, improve education, empower women and girls and unleash India's true economic potential while confronting climate change."
Recalling the visit to the Martin Luther king memorial, the US President says, "We reflected on the teachings of King and Gandhi and how the diversity of backgrounds and faiths in our countries is a strength we have to protect. Prime Minister Modi recognises that more than 1 billion Indians living and succeeding together can be an inspiring model for the world."
India Honest feels, it is one big proud moment for all Indians, that TIME has included Narendra Modi in the list of 100 most influential people and leaders who are shaping the future. It is even greater that a fighting Narendra Modi, who was once shackled for a decade in false accusations by the vested political interests, and that even made the US to hold his visa, but at the end it was the oldest democracy, the US and its chief President Obama, who truly recognised his stature as one national people's leader, an international leader of strength and vision.Will the misguided politicians learn some lesson, to respect and value nation's proud also ?