In his recently released memoir, Unleashed, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recounts his first encounter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering personal reflections on their unique interactions. Johnson vividly describes the energy he felt upon meeting Modi, which he refers to as “astral energy,” as well as his evolving views on India’s position in global geopolitics.
Boris Johnson’s First Encounter with Narendra Modi
Boris Johnson’s first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi happened under circumstances he describes as filled with symbolic energy. In Unleashed, Johnson recalls that before their meeting, the UK government in 2012 advised him against engaging with Modi, who was then the chief minister of Gujarat, due to Modi’s image as a “Hindu nationalist.”
At that time, Modi was a highly controversial figure on the global stage, especially in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Despite these warnings, the meeting between the two leaders eventually took place a few years later, after Modi had ascended to the position of Prime Minister of India. Johnson describes the moment as electrifying, particularly when Modi raised Johnson’s arm and chanted something in Hindi.
It was during this moment that Johnson claims to have felt a “curious astral energy” emanating from Modi. The description of the energy felt by Johnson during this meeting reveals the aura and charisma that Modi has been known to project during his public and private engagements.
Read : India’s PM Modi Becomes Most Followed Global Leader on X with 100 Million Followers
This sense of mystique is not uncommon for those who have interacted with Modi, who is often portrayed as a larger-than-life figure in India. Johnson’s reflection on the “astral energy” adds a personal touch to their diplomatic relationship, one marked by warmth and shared strategic interests.
Read : PM Modi Receives Russia’s Highest Civilian Honour- Order of St Andrew the Apostle: Watch
While this energetic experience might be metaphorical, it highlights the personal connection Johnson felt, which likely influenced his approach to diplomacy with India in the years that followed.
Boris Johnson’s April 2022 Visit to India and Russia-Ukraine War
In his memoir, Boris Johnson also delves into his 2022 visit to India, which occurred during a particularly sensitive time globally. His trip came just after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Johnson described his visit to India as highly successful, despite the complex geopolitical landscape he had to navigate.
Johnson recounts his efforts to persuade India to reconsider its long-standing ties with Russia, particularly in the areas of energy and defense. At the time, Western countries, including the UK, were urging India to distance itself from Russia in response to the war in Ukraine.
However, Johnson acknowledged that India’s historical ties with Russia were deeply rooted in the Cold War era when Russia had been a steadfast ally of India, particularly in defense.
During his visit, Johnson described the reception he received in India as extraordinary, comparing it to an “orchestrated orgy of state-sponsored Beatlemania.” This highlights the importance that India placed on maintaining a strong relationship with the UK, despite the difficult conversations Johnson was there to initiate.
He recounted encouraging India to wean itself off its dependence on Russian energy and military hardware, aligning its stance with that of Western powers regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
While Johnson recognized the historical context behind India’s caution, he also expressed his belief that it might be time for India to reconsider its alignment with Russia and, by extension, with authoritarian regimes. In his memoir, Johnson reflects on this with a question: “Did India really want to be aligned with this pair of autocracies?”
This question reflects Johnson’s understanding of the growing global divide between democratic and autocratic systems, and his attempt to push India closer to the West.
Challenges and Opportunities in UK-India Relations
Boris Johnson’s memoir also touches upon the strategic aspects of UK-India relations, particularly in the defense sector. He recalls his efforts to overcome the hesitations of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), which was concerned about India’s close defense ties with Russia.
Despite these concerns, Johnson writes that the two countries were able to come to an agreement on collaborating in various areas of military technology, including submarines, helicopters, and marine propulsion units.
This cooperation was seen as a significant achievement for Johnson, who had long been an advocate of strengthening the UK’s ties with India. Throughout his time in office, Johnson prioritized building a strategic partnership with India, particularly in the areas of defense, trade, and technology.
His memoir emphasizes the importance of overcoming historical qualms and focusing on the opportunities that a stronger UK-India relationship could offer both countries.
Johnson also recounts a conversation he had with Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, shortly before her passing, regarding India’s historical ties with Russia. He quotes the Queen as saying that India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had told her in the 1950s that “India will always side with Russia, and that some things will never change.
They just are.” This historical perspective underscores the depth of India’s relationship with Russia, making it a significant challenge for any Western leader to shift India’s stance.
Despite this, Johnson remained hopeful that the UK could play a role in helping India transition away from its dependence on Russian military equipment, which had been a point of concern for Western allies.
He believed that with careful diplomacy and collaboration, the UK could offer India viable alternatives in defense technology and other strategic areas.
Throughout his memoir, Johnson presents himself as a champion of UK-India relations, eager to build a lasting partnership between the two nations. His reflections on his interactions with Modi, as well as his strategic vision for the future of UK-India relations, offer a glimpse into the complexities of global diplomacy and the personal dynamics that can shape it.
Boris Johnson’s reflections in his memoir, Unleashed, provide a unique perspective on the evolving relationship between the UK and India. His account of his first meeting with Narendra Modi, marked by the “curious astral energy” he felt, offers a personal insight into the rapport between the two leaders. This connection, according to Johnson, played a role in shaping his approach to diplomacy with India during his time as prime minister.
Johnson’s April 2022 visit to India, coming in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, further underscores the complexities of the UK-India relationship. While Johnson sought to push India away from its traditional ties with Russia, he also recognized the historical and geopolitical factors that made such a shift challenging.
His efforts to strengthen defense cooperation between the UK and India were a significant part of his diplomatic agenda, and his memoir reflects the importance he placed on this strategic partnership.
Ultimately, Boris Johnson’s memoir serves as a reminder of the personal dynamics that can influence global diplomacy. His descriptions of his interactions with Modi and his reflections on India’s place in the world offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for UK-India relations.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏