NEW DELHI, Jan 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed various incidents, including the events following the Godhra train incident and several terror attacks in Gujarat, to explain how he manages to separate himself from his emotions to deal with anxiety.
In a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Modi was asked if he had ever experienced anxiety.
“Many young people today mention that they struggle with anxiety. Have you ever faced it in your life?” Kamath inquired.
“Such situations certainly arise, but each person has different methods and capacities for addressing them,” Modi responded.
“In my role, I must distance myself from my emotions and the natural instincts we all have. I have to transcend them,” he elaborated.
Modi recounted the 2002 elections in Gujarat, describing it as one of the most significant challenges of his life. “I avoided watching television and had instructed my aides not to inform me of the results until noon. Then I received a message that we were leading,” he noted.
“While I wouldn’t say I felt restless or anxious, I did contemplate how to overcome those feelings,” he stated.
He also mentioned a time when there were bombings in five locations. “As chief minister, I insisted on visiting the police control room despite my security team’s objections regarding safety. I decided to make my way to the hospital first, even though there were reported blasts there too. You could describe it as anxiety and restlessness, but my approach was to immerse myself entirely in my responsibilities, a sense of duty prevailed,” he shared.
The Prime Minister also reminisced about the Godhra train fire incident in 2002, which claimed the lives of many karsevaks who were returning from Ayodhya. “I became an MLA for the first time on February 24, 2002, and soon after, on February 27, I attended my first assembly session when the Godhra incident occurred. I felt restless and anxious, so I expressed my desire to go to Godhra. I suggested traveling to Vadodara and taking a helicopter from there. They informed me none were available, so I insisted they find one,” he recounted.
“There was a single-engine ONGC helicopter available, but they said they couldn’t take a VIP. I replied that I am not a VIP, just a common person, and I would go via the single-engine chopper… and that’s how I made it to Godhra,” he said.
“It was a heartbreaking scene with bodies everywhere, but I understood that in my position, I needed to rise above my emotional turmoil. I endeavored to maintain my composure,” he added.
When asked if he considers worst-case scenarios, Modi stated, “I’ve never thought about life or death in that way; those who live calculated lives might do so. When I first assumed the chief minister role, I was amazed at how I reached that position.”
“Given my background, if I had become a primary school teacher, my mother would have celebrated by distributing sweets in the neighborhood,” he concluded. (PTI)
