Uday Kotak Shares His 'Modi Story' on PM's 75th Birthday, Recalls How Japan Visit As Gujarat CM Inspired Him

New Delhi: Uday Kotak, Indian businessman and founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, recalled one of his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the latter shared his experience from a visit

to Japan and expressed his desire to implement a similar initiative to help visually impaired people in India.Sharing his 'Modi Story' on the Prime Minister's 75th birthday (today, September 17), Uday Kotak said that every interaction with PM Modi has been filled with learning and inspiration.What strikes him the most is Modi’s ability to blend vision with execution, curiosity with humility, Uday Kotak said.Recalling one such experience, Kotak shared an anecdote about PM Modi’s interest in implementing a 'braille trail' -- a concept he encountered in Japan -- to assist visually impaired individuals.

Uday Kotak said, "One incident stands out clearly. During a meeting in Ahmedabad, he told me about his visit to Japan, where he had noticed braille trails on the roads leading up to the railway station. He explained how a visually impaired person could walk independently and safely using those tiles. He was so impressed by the idea that upon returning to Gujarat, he implemented the same concept at Kankariya in Ahmedabad, where it remains visible today.""That small example shows his attention to detail, his focus on execution, and his commitment to inclusive development. Whenever he visited a foreign country, he was eager to learn best practices and adapt them for the betterment of Gujarat and India. This relentless hunger to learn, adapt, and improve continues to inspire his vision for India as a developed nation," he said.

PM Modi Has Deep Passion for Vibrant Gujarat

Uday Kotak also mentioned PM Modi's deep passion for Vibrant Gujarat, noting that he has been attending the summit for many years, and each time had the privilege of a one-on-one meeting with the Prime Minister."Our discussions would always center on development and how India could transform into a stronger, more dynamic nation," Kotak shared.Uday Kotak further added that he had the opportunity to travel with PM Modi overseas during his tenure as Chief Minister, and praised his remarkable curiosity.

"He would visit a new country and learn something new. On many occasions, he shared his observations and insights from those trips," the billionaire Indian banker said.The BJP stalwart served as Gujarat CM from 2001 to 2014 and led his party to victory in multiple assembly polls. In May 2014, Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister and is now serving his third consecutive term. As PM Modi has turned 75 today, the government and his party BJP have planned a number of peoples' welfare schemes, to mark his birthday.