PM Modi sent emails in 1988: The internet rocks again!
Narendra Modi, Modi and emails, modi and digi cam, News Nation interview, cloud and radar theory, Lok Sabha 2019, Chowkidaar Chor Hai, Main Bhi Chowkidaar
Even as the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polling was in full swing yesterday, the Internet just couldn’t get enough of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cloud and radar theory.
For the uninitiated, in a television interview, PM Modi revealed his master strategy behind the Balakot airstrike. And it went something like how cloud cover could maybe be advantageous to our Air Force, as they might go undetected under the radar.
No, clouds cannot protect planes from being detected.
Yes, radars are mostly more advanced than your Tata Sky connection — even Pakistani ones.
Yes, Twitter ripped the statement apart.
Most, however, stopped listening beyond this point. We don’t blame them.
But then, another portion from the same clip resurfaced — this time, with Modiji talking about emails way back in 1987-88.
PM Modi, whilst sharing an anecdote about LK Advani — that itself is oh-so-interesting — claimed that back in 1988, he had clicked a coloured photograph of the BJP leader on a digital camera — that he owned — and emailed it to Delhi, which then was printed in colour as a cover photo.
Needless to say, that makes Modiji one of the first people in India to use a digital camera.
Or emails for that matter.
Fact-checkers on Twitter immediately corrected Modiji.
Modi had digital camera in 1988 and used email service in 1988. FYI - The first digital camera came into existence in 1990 and email service in India was introduced in 1995.Who care about facts. Whatever Modiji says is the Truth. pic.twitter.com/IPwifqkRsS
— Drunk Journalist (@drunkJournalist) May 12, 2019
Most fact-checkers were not merciful, however.
Internet in India was made publicly available in 1995 by VSNL but Modi was sending emails in 1987Oh, and he was sooo poor that he owned a digital camera in 1987; most of the households purchased it 20 yrs laterModi is the biggest embarrassment for India! pic.twitter.com/gYDuuCVvxJ
— Gaurav Pandhi गौरव पांधी (@GauravPandhi) May 13, 2019
So not merciful.
I went to the US in 1993. AOL was the dominant player. It started as an internet service provider in early 90s. We used to go to university to use email (DOS based). 1988? This is so embarrassing for India. #Feku https://t.co/KQfdYGGmmG
— Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) May 12, 2019
But that does beg the question many are asking: If Modiji once used a lota and coals to iron his clothes, how come he had the money to buy a digi cam?
Modi : Maine gareebi dekhi hai , gareebi me jya hu. Chai bech ke ghar chalaya hai. Also Modi : 1988 me mere paas digital camera tha jab Desh me bahut Kam logo ke paas ye hua karta tha. Mai mail bhi karta tha. pic.twitter.com/7ihKjlQpiZ
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) May 12, 2019
He reportedly didn’t own a batwa because he had no money. Maybe he paid for the digi cam using his debit card?
@PMOIndia ke paas batwa nahi tha (kyunki paise nahi the!) lekin 1988 mein digital camera aur email tha?All of this would be really funny if it weren’t so embarrassing. A PM who’ll literally say ANYTHING that comes to his mind can’t possibly be trusted with our national security https://t.co/pmoGNQQtHi
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 12, 2019
Of course, it is perfectly possible that he just got carried away.
Let’s not blame Modi, he sees worshipful panna pramukhs gaze at him. The one thing he loves the camera is on him. The poor man gets carried away
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) May 13, 2019
Some critics wished him well, “Get well soon, Modiji!”
Modi claims that he had a digital camera in 1987-88 and an email account in 1988. He even sent a color photo as an email attachment within India in 1988 too. Modi suffers from serious illness and he needs proper medical care!
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) May 12, 2019
But then, Modi hai, toh mumkin hai, right?
Everyone missed the point. Modiji has been using Digital camera and Email way back in 1988. I remember getting an email from #Modi in 1977 asking to participate in India's freedom struggle. pic.twitter.com/63ln5WufZb
— Ameer Shahul (@ameershahul) May 12, 2019
All jokes aside, one thing is clear: Modiji’s ‘tryst’ with technology is as shaky as Nehruji’s tryst with dynasty... errr... destiny!