Modi led TIME readers’ online poll

Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Qatar at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won the TIME magazine ‘Person of the Year’ reader’s online poll. But the US elect-president Donald Trump was ultimately chosen as the ‘Person of the Year’ by the US magazine’s editors, who had picked Modi in 2014.

The Indian Prime Minister, infamous for his colloquial speeches and backed by a massive social media support, never fails to grab eyeballs when it really matters. As a favourite among the netizens who voted for this year’s annual TIME Magazine Reader’s Poll, Modi left world leaders such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or the likes of Mark Zuckerberg Facebook behind. He was arguably well ahead of his closest competitors, bagging 18 pc of the votes.

But the TIME Person of the Year, chosen by the US magazine’s editors, is Donald Trump, the US elect-President.

In 2014, Modi was chosen the Man of the Year by 16 pc of the five million voters and he handsomely increased his followers over the last couple of years while shuffling position as the decision maker and a major player in settling international relationships for India.

TIME’s ‘Person of the Year’ honour is an annual award bestowed by the US-based magazine, identifying the influence of the person on the news and the world. Last year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was Time’s ‘Person of the Year’.

The TIME magazine in a comment stated, “In recent months, Modi saw high approval ratings from Indians, according to a September Pew poll, and ratified the Paris Climate Change Agreement.”

The demonetisation was highlighted by the magazine as one of the factors that surged Modi’s relevance in India and abroad. The magazine commented, “Modi has come under scrutiny recently for getting rid of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, impacting cash-based businesses and threatening India’s economy.” The analysis of poll results showed varying pattern of choices in different parts of the world. According to poll host Apester, “Preferences differ across the world and the United States.” Modi performed particularly well among Indian voters as well as those in California and New Jersey, they added.

Indian Achievers for TIME

TIME magazine has featured a number of Indian leaders in the past. From Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi, TIME saw a few bright sides of the Indian politicians as well as the most controversial cover with Manmohan Singh. The ex-Prime Minister was called an ‘Underachiever’ by TIME that spurred a lot of criticism.

The magazine was criticized on a number of occasions for featuring the likes of Adolf Hitler (1938) or the Russian President Vladimir Putin (2007). Soviet leader Stalin had claimed the title twice in 1939 and 1942.

From India, personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar, Lakshmi Mittal, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bacchhan, Aamir Khan and Parveen Babi made it to the cover page of the TIME magazine for their contributions and influential personality during their span. TIME selects the most influential person of the year keeping the person’s global impact in mind whether it’s good or bad.