‘GUIDED BY A GLOBAL STATESMAN’

‘The discipline Narendra Modi instilled was simple: listen fully, decide sharply, (@) act relentlessly’

- MANOHAR LAL

In public life, some encounters do more than mark moments; they reset directions. My first meeting with Narendra Modi in 1996 was one such turning point. I entered asa young karyakarta, keen to learn and contribute. I emerged transformed, carrying a living model of leadership—a blueprint that turned politics into purposeful action anchored in clarity, deadlines, and accountability to the last citizen.

The discipline Narendra Modi instilled was simple: listen fully, decide sharply, act relentlessly. What struck me first was his extraordinary patience in listening. He absorbs every nuance—often more patiently than the speaker themself. After a brief pause, complex matters are distilled into a handful of clear steps. Meetings with him end not in vague aspirations but with precise metrics and deadlines.

My role was clear: work honestly, report regularly, correct quickly. That rhythm—report, review, deliver—became my operating principle. It demanded trading ornamentation for outcomes, acknowledging shortfalls without drama, and fixing problems swiftly. Honesty was not justa virtue but the most efficient way to work.

Those early years gave mea proving ground. In Gujarat, I was tasked with challenging political terrain including half the seats in Kutch—regions with vast distances, precise targets, and unforgiving timelines. Later, in Varanasi, I managed one assembly segment where each booth represented a universe of names, issues, and deadlines. Encouraged by Narendra Modi’ con-

fidence, I took on further challenges in Jammu & Kashmir and Chhattisgarh. The lesson was constant: quiet persistence beats loud intent; data speaks louder than volume.