‘Modi Means Business’ – says Time Magazine’s cover page!

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi figures on the cover of the forthcoming issue of Time magazine which praises him in an article for development of the state he has been ruling for over a decade but wonders if he can become the Prime Minister.

The cover of the Time magazine's Mar 26 issue features Modi, with the caption: "Modi means business but can he lead India". In an article titled "Boy from the backyard", in the forthcoming edition, the US magazines describes Modi as a "controversial, ambitious and shrewd politician".

It also mentions his series of day-long Sadbhavana fasts to reach out to the people of the state. "It's Modi in makeover mode: an act of self-purification, humility and bridge building in a state that is still traumatised by the Hindu-led anti-Muslim massacres of 10 years ago and the flawed investigations in their wake...," the article says.

The Time magazine article says Modi is a firm, "no-nonsense leader" who can steer India out of a "mire of chronic corruption and inefficiency".

Time magazine describes Modi as a self-made man, succeeding without family connections adding that “Modi’s family is invisible in a country where nepotism and dynastic politics are the norm.”

Some of the finer points of the article say: “Modi sleeps only 3.5 hours a night, his brother working in state govt office has never visited Modi’s office in last 10 years.”

About the progress of the state, Modi tells the Time magazine “It is not luck, it’s a carefully devised process.”

Time magazine observes that Gujarat’s success is a result of good planning — exactly what so much of India lacks. The last line of the article reads: “If he succeeds, India may never be the same.”