PM Modi Recalls Childhood Spent in Extreme Poverty
Narendra Modi Childhood: PM Modi shared that he doesn’t know when exactly, but the habit of wearing clean clothes has been with him since childhood. To explain this, he gave the example of his white clothes and shoes worn while going to school.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminisced about his childhood spent in poverty during a conversation with American podcaster Lex Fridman. PM Modi shared that he learned life lessons from his father’s tea stall and his mother, which instilled in him a sense of service from a young age. He mentioned that he grew up in a small house without windows, where his parents, siblings, uncle, aunt, and grandparents all lived together. He said, “My early life was spent in extreme poverty, but we never felt the burden of poverty.” He recalled how his father worked tirelessly late into the night, while his mother ensured that the children never felt the struggle of their circumstances. Despite the hardships, these challenging conditions never left a mark on their minds.
PM Modi mentioned that he has always had the habit of wearing clean clothes, though he does not remember when it started. To clarify, he provided the example of the white clothes and shoes he wore to school. He recalled that when his uncle saw him going to school barefoot, he bought him a pair of white canvas shoes. He said that after getting the shoes, his next concern was how to keep them clean. Modi shared, “After school, I would stay back for a little while. I would go to every classroom and collect the leftover pieces of chalk thrown by teachers. I would take them home, soak them in water, make a paste, and polish my canvas shoes with it, making them shine white again.”
PM Modi fondly spoke about his shoes, saying, “For me, those shoes were a priceless possession, a symbol of wealth. I don’t exactly know why, but from childhood, our mother was very particular about cleanliness. Maybe that’s where we inherited this habit.” The Prime Minister also mentioned that his mother had knowledge of traditional treatments and would treat children with these home remedies. Recalling those days, he said, “Every morning, before sunrise, around 5 AM, she would start treating the children. So, all the children and their parents would gather at our house. The little children would cry, and we had to wake up early.”
“Sitting at Father’s Tea Stall”
PM Modi added, “This feeling of service was nurtured through these experiences. The sense of empathy for society, the desire to do good for others—these values came from my family. I believe my life has been shaped by my mother, my father, my teachers, and the environment I grew up in.” He also mentioned that during his childhood, he would sit at his father’s tea stall and observe how people interacted with each other. “I observed their way of speaking, their expressions. These things taught me a lot, even though I wasn’t in a position to implement them in my life at that time. I thought, if I ever got the chance, why not? Why not present myself well?”
