PM Modi reveals how he ironed clothes, polished shoes: ’That’s how I lived, and I found joy in it’

PM Narendra Modi’s much-anticipated podcast with renowned MIT scientist and AI researcher Lex Fridman released on Sunday. Apart from delving into a wide range of topics, discussing India's relationship with China and other neighbours, PM Modi also shared insights on his early life.

Reminiscing his early days, PM Modi shared how he had never worn shoes during his school days, and came up with unique ways to iron his clothes. He added that he never thought about his ‘poor background’, and instead, 'found joy' in the little things in life

“You see, someone who is used to wearing fine shoes will feel their absence when they don’t have them. But for us, we had never worn shoes in our lives. So how would we even know that wearing shoes was a big deal?” Modi shared with lex Fridman.

‘No arrangements for ironing clothes’

Sharing anecdotes about his early life, PM Modi also added about how his family did not have any arrangements for ironing clothes.

“So instead, I would heat up water in a copper pot, hold it with tongs, and press my clothes myself. Then I’d head off to school. That’s how I lived, and I found joy in it. We never thought about being poor, or judged about how others lived or what their struggles were,” said Modi.

Tune into the podcast here

Lex Fridman's podcast

Lex Fridman, during his interview with Narendra Modi, shared that he had been fasting for for "almost two days, 45 hours" to prepare for his podcast conversation with the PM.

During the three hour podcast Lex Fridman informed, “I’m fasting right now. It’s been almost two days, 45 hours, so just water, no food in honor of this conversation, just to get in the right mindset, get into the spiritual level.”

In response, PM Modi shared that he was “truly pleasantly surprised and honoured,” because it felt like Lex Fridman was "fasting as a tribute of respect” for him.