Tourism Minister Says India’s Image Shifted From Gandhi-Ji To PM Modi
Minister credits PM Modi for reshaping India’s global tourism identity.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now India’s “biggest brand ambassador” globally, arguing that the country’s international identity has undergone a significant shift over the past decade.
Speaking in an interaction reported by PTI, Shekhawat said that for decades India was largely associated abroad with Mahatma Gandhi, and that the country’s global image was “stuck” with that reference. He suggested that in earlier years, foreign perceptions of India were strongly shaped by Gandhi’s legacy, particularly when citizens introduced themselves overseas.
The minister said that this perception has changed in recent years, claiming that India now evokes a different response internationally. He remarked that from small island nations to major global powers, mentioning India often draws recognition linked to Prime Minister Modi, reflecting what he described as a transformed global image of the country.
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Shekhawat made the remarks during a discussion on whether India’s global appeal is driven more by its cultural heritage and tourism sector or by its film industry. He responded that, in his view, the Prime Minister currently serves as the country’s most prominent global representative, though he stressed that India’s culture remains its core identity.
He also clarified that his comments were not intended as a political statement, but rather as a personal observation. He reiterated that India’s culture itself continues to be the strongest element of its international identity, even as leadership and diplomacy shape how the country is perceived abroad.
The remarks are likely to generate political discussion given the comparison between historical figures and contemporary leadership, particularly in the context of India’s evolving global diplomacy, tourism outreach and soft power positioning.
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