The World Is Modi's Oyster

Think global, act local. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the magical marketing maestro of fusional statecraft.

- Prabhu Chawla

His invocation of Indian cultural leitmotifs is to project India as a global narrative setter. Last week, he evoked the healing halo of the Ramayana during his visit to earthquake-ravaged Thailand. Over a decade of governance, Modi has applied the encompassing spirit of ancient Bharat and modern India to emphasize the country's relevance in international diplomacy and politics. He has retained his position as India's most popular leader without compromising his global approval ratings.

He has used every trick in the trade, like taking maximum trips abroad, inviting international counterparts and exhorting intercontinental investors, entrepreneurs and opinion leaders to extol the virtues of India and its PM. The government has always rolled out the red carpet for rich and famous stalwarts—from tech bosses to society celebrities—to interact with him. They sing paeans to Modi's stature. His excessive international outreach using a uniquely curated toolkit is getting him traction and visibility.

For example, Bill Gates met Modi last month. It wasn't their first confabulation. When Gates came out of the meeting, he posted on X: "I had a great discussion with @narendramodi about India's development, the path to Viksit Bharat @2047, and exciting advancements in health, agriculture, AI and other sectors that are creating impact today. It's impressive to see how innovation in India is driving progress."