Narendra Modi says victories from former president Kovind's hardships "belong to Indian democracy"

At a New Delhi book launch on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the memoir of former President Ram Nath Kovind as a lesson for young Indians, urging them to read full-length life stories instead of relying on fleeting online clips. Modi cautioned that digital influencers can lead viewers astray and that seeking easy routes often backfires. He said Kovind's personal hardships—including losing his mother in childhood and growing up in rural poverty—showed how resolve can lift someone to the nation's highest office. The prime minister added that while Kovind's difficulties were individual, their successful outcome belonged to the country's democratic system. Kovind also spoke, crediting government housing programmes and praising Modi's rapport with grassroots workers. The event included Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.