Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now India’s “biggest brand ambassador,” claiming the country’s global identity has changed significantly over the last decade.
In an interview with PTI Videos, Shekhawat said India’s image abroad was once strongly linked to Mahatma Gandhi, but this has shifted in recent years.
“Till 10–15 years ago, if you went to any country in the world and asked a person, based on his appearance, whether he was an Indian, he would hesitate in calling himself an Indian. He would introduce himself as an Asian,” Shekhawat said.
‘India’s Identity Was Earlier Linked to Gandhi’
The Union minister said that for decades, Mahatma Gandhi remained the face of India internationally.
He claimed that when Indians introduced themselves abroad, people often associated the country with Gandhi.
“If you told anyone abroad that you are from India, the answer would be, ‘India! Oh, Mr Gandhi’,” Shekhawat said, adding that India’s identity remained “stuck with Gandhiji” for years.
‘Now People Say – India! Oh, Mr Modi’
Drawing a comparison with the present, Shekhawat said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the new global face of India.
“But today, and I say it with confidence, you can go to any country in the world — from the smallest Caribbean island to America, and from South Asia to West Asia — and if you tell someone that ‘I am from India’, you will see a bright smile on his face, and an exclamation, ‘India! Oh, Mr Modi’,” he said.
‘This Is Not a Political Reply’
When asked whether culture, tourism or Bollywood served as India’s biggest global ambassador, Shekhawat said the prime minister currently holds that position.
“Nowadays, the biggest brand ambassador we have is our prime minister,” he said.
“Otherwise also, this is not a political reply. I am saying this as a layman. Like we just said, till 10–15 years ago, Gandhiji was the brand ambassador of India for decades. And now Modiji is the brand ambassador of India,” Shekhawat added.
