Now for the serious stuff

摘要

Narendra modi would like to believe he has broken the mould as India's leader. He is personally powerful and keener on a big international role for his country than his predecessors were. As he says, "there are huge global expectations for India." Showing more openness than earlier leaders, he agreed to be interviewed on the eve of his first anniversary in power. In conversation he is thoughtful, sincere and well briefed. He is driven (staff say he takes no holidays) and can be charming, though he is also intensely self-regarding. For example, he explains his many foreign trips as necessary for the "international community to get an opportunity to assess me directly".