PHOTO: AFP
A new biography penned on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentions a rare confession by the premier.
Considered one of the most fashionable leaders in the world, Modi said his fashion sense is a gift from God.
“God has gifted me the sense of mixing and matching colours. So I manage everything on my own. Since I’m God gifted I fit well in everything. I have no fashion designer but I’m happy to hear that I dress well,” Lance Price quotes Modi as saying in his biography, The Modi Effect: Inside Narendra Modi’s Campaign to Transform India.
PHOTO: AFP
The author, a former adviser to Tony Blair when he was prime minister of the United Kingdom, examines Modi’s brand, his social media dominance and his campaign that harnessed technology like never before in an Indian election. It also looks into Modi’s much talked about sense of style.
The Indian premier not only has taken the media by storm with his clothing but has also caught US President Barack Obama's attention as well.
During a recent visit to India, Obama commenting on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s leader suggested Modi out-styled the First Lady Michelle Obama.
The Indian prime minister is said to have changed his outfit thrice during the first day of Obama’s visit. But it did not stop there as one of his suits, he donned for a lunch for Obama made the biggest impact.
Modi appeared to be wearing a pinstripe suit, but zoomed-in photographs revealed the stripes are actually letters repeatedly spelling out Modi’s name.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Modi might be the sole ruler of the glamorous and dynamic sphere of world leader fashion but, until now, had not commented in public about his wardrobe.
“In a nut shell, Modi is clearly seen as an icon of developmental politics, strong leadership and charismatic campaigner,” Nalin Kohli, a spokesman for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party said.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“It has been widely reported that his glasses are from Bvlgari, his watch is a Movado and the pen that often pokes from his top pocket is by Mont Blanc. The shirts themselves, a short-sleeved version of the traditional round-necked kurta, have become an internationally sought-after brand,” Price notes in his chapter ‘Brand Modi.’
Interestingly, Price mentions the birth of the Modi Kurta as just a way of making life easier.
“I had to wash my own clothes. So I thought my shirt occupied too much effort in washing and space too. I cut the sleeves myself. So my shirt became half sleeved. I have been wearing such clothes for over twenty-five years,” Modi is quoted as saying in the chapter.
PHOTO: DOTHEFASHION.COM
Further, the book mentions when counting of votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections was on, Modi was alone in his room meditating with no television on and took telephone calls only after 12 noon.
“In the morning when the counting was going on, I was totally alone and had no TV on. I was finishing off my own spiritual activities and enjoying my meditation time after the grueling elections,” the premier said.
PHOTO: AFP
On the day of counting, he says he “started taking calls only from 12 noon and the first call on the results was from BJP president Rajnath Singh telling me that it was a foregone conclusion that we would sweep the polls”.
This story originally appeared in the Washington Street Journal.
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