In politics, humour is a powerful force — an artful tool that can disarm tension, foster connection, and illuminate truth. For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, humour is far more than embellishment; it’s a vibrant thread woven into his leadership style
Whether through poetic flourishes and clever wordplay in Parliament, spirited satire in Gujarat’s public gatherings, or sparkling repartee on the global stage, his wit brings warmth and relatability to political discourse. His lighter side is ever-present, suggesting a belief that truth, when shared with a smile, resonates more deeply. What delights, endures-and in Modi’s case, humour becomes a bridge to hearts and minds alike.
Satire as sword and shield
When Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat, his humour acquired a sharper edge. In crowded rallies, satire evolved into a powerful political tool. Congress leaders’ promises became caricatures, likened to Bollywood dialogues:
“Congress ke neta aise vaade karte hain jaise Sholay ka Gabbar - ‘Arre O Sambha, kitne vote laaye?’”
At Garib Kalyan Melas, where welfare schemes were showcased, he lampooned his critics:
“Unko Gareeb Kalyaan Mela pasand nahi, shayad wo Gareeb Rulao Mela karna chahte hain.”
And when asked how he survived the barrage of attacks from rivals, his response was pure street wit:
“Main roz 2-3 kilo gaali khata hoon, isliye mujhe kuch hota nahi.”
The quip became so memorable that he repeated it years later as Prime Minister.
In the Assembly, humour doubled as armour. When opposition MLAs accused him of authoritarianism, he shot back:
“Shayad aapko problem hai ki main aapki tarah ‘holiday CM’ nahi hoon.”
Sarcasm allowed him to parry blows while keeping the crowd entertained.
Parliamentary Zingers
A notable exchange took place in February 2020 during a Lok Sabha debate. After Rahul Gandhi made a remark that “youth will beat Modi with sticks in six months,” Prime Minister Modi gave a memorable response that drew widespread attention.
When Gandhi interrupted Modi’s 40-minute speech, the Prime Minister delivered his devastating punchline:
“I have been speaking for 30-40 minutes but it took this long for the current to reach. Bahut se tubelight aise hi hotey hai (many tubelights are like this)”.
Modi then mockingly said he would prepare for Gandhi’s threatened beating:
“I will do more surya namaskar so that my back is ready for the beating... I will make myself gaali-proof (abuse-proof) and also danda-proof (stick-proof). In a way, I am grateful that I have been given the advance notice.”
Modi once joked about Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s frequent interruptions, saying he was “publicising the ‘Fit India’ campaign in Parliament” by constantly getting up from his seat. Similarly, when responding to unemployment criticism, Modi quipped: “I will resolve unemployment in the country but not his (the opposition’s) unemployment”.
Again showcasing his wit, in another parliamentary gem, Modi told critics: “If I start answering you point by point, I’ll become like Google search,” drawing laughter from MPs across party lines.
Banter with the Young
With students, his jokes have entered popular culture. The spontaneous “PUBG Wala Hai Kya?” became an instant meme, reflecting his knack for speaking the youth’s idiom.
Diplomacy with Levity
On the world stage, humour also became a diplomatic tool. Modi ribbed Emmanuel Macron with a cheeky, “Nowadays, you are fighting on Twitter?”
Breaking the Tension
During an international event, the translator fumbled while shifting between English and Hindi. Instead of letting it become awkward, Modi immediately smiled and quipped:
“Don’t worry, we can mix languages.”
Some of his most stinging critiques have been compressed into humour. During the 2014 campaign, he mocked Congress's decline with a crisp line: “400 se 40 ho gaye.”
On Pakistan:
“Unke liye jhande pe chaand hai, mere liye chaand pe jhanda ho.”
In 2017, his remark on Dr. Manmohan Singh - “He knew the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on” - provoked uproar.
Rebranding India with Jokes
When addressing global audiences, Modi often chose wit to make India’s transformation memorable.
At Madison Square Garden in 2014, he overturned stereotypes with one quip:
“Our ancestors played with snakes; today our people play with the mouse.”
The line drew thunderous applause from the audience - no surprise. India, once imagined as the land of mystics, had now been recast as the hub of IT prowess.
On the same US tour, speaking of India’s Mars Mission, he compared space science with everyday auto fares:
“In Ahmedabad, you spend Rs 10 to travel a kilometre in an auto. We travelled 65 crore kilometres to Mars at just Rs 7 per kilometre.”
In sum, Modi’s humour is anchored in cultural references instantly recognisable to ordinary people - cricket, cinema, proverbs, and even online gaming slang. These touchpoints ensure his jokes resonate across generations.
At the same time, humour serves as a disarming tool, softening hostility and easing friction in political exchanges without ever diluting his firmness. Long debates often collapse into catchphrases that thrive as headlines, memes, and WhatsApp forwards.
Above all, his humour humanises his leadership: when he jokes about “eating 2-3 kilos of gaali” daily or calls himself a “noob,” he narrows the gap of high office and remains approachable, able to laugh at himself even while bearing the weight of power.
In politics, laughter is rare, but when it comes, it can be more powerful than a speech. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often shown that a sharp sense of humor can disarm opponents, win hearts, and deliver truths in the most unexpected way. His witty one-liners, playful jabs, and lighthearted moments remind us that even in the heat of politics, hasna zaroori hai!
The Prime Minister: From Domestic Wit to Global Repartee
As Prime Minister, Modi’s wit found a bigger stage. Parliament - often a crucible of confrontation - frequently became an arena of wit and humor. Rahul Gandhi’s 2018 wink, for instance, turned into comedy when Modi mimicked it, leaving MPs in laughter. His humour, in such moments, disarmed tensions without diminishing seriousness.
