MemCast
MemCast / episode / insight
Extreme poverty shaped a mindset immune to material lack
  • Modi states his early life was spent in extreme poverty, yet he never truly felt its burden because he never knew the comforts of shoes.
  • The metaphor of never having worn shoes illustrates a lack of comparative deprivation, fostering a unique perspective on scarcity.
  • This background laid the foundation for his later empathy toward the underprivileged.
Narendra ModiLex Fridman00:01:21

Supporting quotes

My early life was spent in extreme poverty. Narendra Modi
We never really felt the burden of poverty. Narendra Modi

From this concept

From Poverty to Leadership

Modi recounts his humble beginnings, illustrating how early deprivation forged resilience, work ethic, and a deep empathy for ordinary citizens.

View full episode →

Similar insights