New Delhi: For over a year now, people have got used to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘ascetic’ look — long hair and an unkempt beard. Modi started growing them under the Covid lockdown, and in the West Bengal assembly election campaign earlier this year, his look was even compared to that of iconic Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
But as the PM arrived in the US for his first trip abroad since the beginning of the pandemic Thursday, he looked distinctly different — the hair was shorter, the beard trimmed.
The PM is in the US to meet Joe Biden for the first time since he became President, as well as to attend the first in-person meeting of the leaders of the Quad, and address the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September.
The change in appearance was first noticeable when, before his arrival, the PM shared a picture of him reading files on the airplane, captioned: “A long flight also means opportunities to go through papers and some file work.”
A long flight also means opportunities to go through papers and some file work. pic.twitter.com/nYoSjO6gIB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2021
Soon after it was posted, the photo went viral. While opposition leaders such as Srinivas B.V. of the Congress tweeted pictures of Modi’s predecessors working during their flights and asked “Can you spot someone who is ‘faking it’ for PR?”, many others noticed the PM’s new ‘trimmed’ look.
A Hindu monk from the Pejawara Matha Viswaprasanan Teertha had claimed that the PM’s growing hair and beard represented a ‘sankalpa’ to get the Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya completed. But while the temple construction goes on, Modi is back to a more business-like look — still not at pre-pandemic levels, but certainly noticeable.
Also read: PM Modi calls for mutual recognition of vaccine certificates for easier international travel
Image & brand consultants say Modi is ‘ready for business’
For image and brand consultants, the PM’s new look signifies a changed attitude. Image guru Dilip Cherian said he looks “ready for business”.
“It’s very clear that the US trip marks a watershed moment in terms of PM Modi’s image, which was carefully crafted for the time of Covid. The change in image is because in the US, when he is meeting with business leaders, and also with the US establishment, projecting a ‘ready for business’ image is very important,” Cherian told ThePrint.
“I think the change in his hairstyle and beard style is testimony to making efforts in that direction. Given that India is looking for a seat at the high table as far as US strategy against China is concerned, Modi is pulling out all the stops… to make sure that kind of image he projects is not evoking an image of mystic,” he added.
Brand consultant Harish Bijoor added that an image change was the need of the hour.
“PM Modi is known to showcase his approach according to the context. To an extent, the beard has become a kind of a Covid-era statement. That image was of a ‘philosopher Modi’. The current image is of a practical Modi — a ‘let us discuss, let us get things going’ kind of stance,” Bijoor said.
Twitter buzzing
Y. Sathish Reddy, social media convener of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, wished the PM a happy journey, commented on the ‘trimmed look’ being a sign of excitement, and added sarcastically: “Wishing you come back with #BlackMoney & dhanadhan deposit 15,00,000₹ in #JanDhan accounts.”
‘A very happy journey #Modi ji’
We can sense your excitement by seeing the new trimmed look.
Wishing you come back with #BlackMoney & dhanadhan deposit 15,00,000₹ in #JanDhan accounts.#ModiUSVisit @KTRTRS pic.twitter.com/53EzKm0OKH
— Y Sathish Reddy (@ysathishreddy) September 22, 2021
Columnist Sandip Ghose, meanwhile, asked if the PM had trimmed his beard… “otherwise, it would be easy for the US media to bill him as ‘the Hindu Nationalist Prime Minister of India’”.
Has the PM #NarendraModi trimmed his beard before his US Trip? Otherwise, it would be easy for the US Media to bill him as “the Hindu Nationalist Prime Minister of India”. Not that PM @narendramodi is one to bother about such things. #ModiInUS #PMModiUSVisit #PMInWashington
— GhoseSpot (@SandipGhose) September 22, 2021
Gaurav Mishra, a Twitter user who describes himself as an ‘entrepreneur and nationalist’, called it a sign of Modi being a man on a mission.
Hair Cut, Beard Trimmed & Work On.
Man on mission: My PM, My Pride ??? pic.twitter.com/4dfDXoVDax
— Gaurav Mishra?? (@IAmGMishra) September 22, 2021
Former Indian Air Force pilot Suman Sharma said Modi’s attire and change of look was due to the fact that he was representing India on the world stage.
When you leave your house for somewhere or to meet someone,or when someone is expected at your place,am sure you change your dress,comb hair etc, or are you a Communist who don’t take bath?
Likewise for Modi, plus he has to be on world stage to speak to the world #UNGA https://t.co/u8OV0tCKFo— SumanSharma (@sharrmasumann) September 22, 2021
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