The office is busy. There is a stream of visitors coming and going as ministry officials go about their business. The walls are adorned with paintings of deities, and in one corner of the room, the Bhagavad Gita is placed on a carved wooden stand. As I wait for the Union minister of road transport and highways, who is on his way from a site inspection visit in Himachal Pradesh, I look out of the glass door. I see peacocks strut across the manicured green lawn under a clear, blue sky. Suddenly, there is a rush. Nitin Gadkari is back, and is immediately hustled into a meeting. About an hour later, a cheerful Gadkari walks in and politely apologises for the delay. I notice, despite a long day, the 66-year-old minister shows no signs of fatigue. In fact, I’m told, his day is far from over. As we sit down for the interview, I can see why he is regarded as one of the most respected statesmen in the country. Through the interview he regales us with anecdotes and life lessons. One of the things that strikes me is his candid desire to not be categorised as a politician. “I’m telling you very frankly, I’m not a politician. I don’t have political qualities in my personality. I’m a food lover and I’m interested in sports, music. I’m doing a lot of social work. I always feel politics is an instrument of socio-economic reform," Gadkari insists. “It is nine years since I took oath and I am the longest serving Union road transport and highways minister as far as the record is concerned. In the nine years of my tenure, there is not a single charge of corruption. I am transparent and corruption-free and quality conscious." “I want to do something for the poor people of this country who are socially and economically backward. I want to work for the country and make India a $5 trillion economy. We need to make India Atmanirbhar Bharat. I’m a small person and I’m trying to contribute. This is the mission of my life. We are working hard but there are many challenges and we need to do more," Gadkari says on Forbes India Pathbreakers. Recounting important life lessons which have helped him deliver in challenging times, Gadkari says, he believes a performance audit is more important than a financial audit. “I always tell my colleagues that human relationship is the biggest strength of politics, business, industry, and social work. I never feel I am a VIP. I always feel like a common man. One of the important things I tell people is about collective team spirit and to have a good relationship, cooperation, and coordination with all stakeholders. We need to understand their problems and we should be independent, impartial, and fair. We should give justice to people," he says.
First Published: Sep 08, 2023, 12:06
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