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The rise of Narendra Modi, India's prolific — and complicated — prime minister by Tanza Loudenback on Nov 30, 2015, 1:05 PM Advertisement
 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the most influential people on the planet, ranking sixth on Business Insider's list of the 50 most powerful people in the world. Now in his second year as leader of the world's largest democracy, Modi has extensive plans to reform both business and government agencies in India, and is implementing a uniform federal government sales tax as early as next year. The 65-year-old is also a champion of technology, enthusiastically working with Western companies to help spur India's technological progress. Modi is a controversial figure — throughout his career, many have accused him of intentionally stoking sectarian tensions between Hindus and Muslims. But his power is undeniable, as he governs a country of nearly 1.3 billion people. India also possesses the world's fifth-strongest military in the world and seventh-largest economy, with a GDP of $2.3 trillion. Modi says there are concepts he values more than just power: "If you were to ask me to choose between democratic values and wealth, power, prosperity, and fame, I will very easily and without any doubt choose democratic values," he said in a May 2015 TIME magazine cover story. Read on to meet the yogi, tech-lover, and politician. SEE ALSO: The 14 most powerful world leaders SEE ALSO: 10 unforgettable quotes from the most powerful people in the world Modi was born into a low caste called Ghanchi — traditionally producers of vegetable oil — on September 17, 1950, three years after India won its independence from Britain. Modi has said Vadnagar, the small town where he was born in North Gujarat's Mehsana district, was once home to 10,000 Buddhist monks.  Source: Narendramodi.in
As a student Modi was diligent and favored debating and reading, often spending hours in the library. According to Modi's website, he would read the spiritual works of Indian Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda cover to cover and dreamed of becoming a soldier in the Indian army.  Source: Narendramodi.in
From a young age, Modi expressed a desire for service. At 9 years old, he and his friends started a food stall and donated the proceeds to a relief network. At age 15, Modi began serving tea with his father to Indian soldiers at a railway station in Gujarat during the India-Pakistan war of 1965.  Source: Narendramodi.in
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