Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's memoir, I Am Giorgia: My Roots, My Principles, will be published in India by Rupa Publications and carries a foreword by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In it, Modi states that the book gives readers an honest glimpse into Meloni's mind and heart, referring to it as her own "Mann Ki Baat.
In his foreword, Modi highlighted that Meloni's life has "never been about politics or power." Rather, he termed it as "about her courage, conviction, and commitment to public service and the people of Italy."
Commenting on his interactions with world leaders, Modi penned, "Over the last 11 years, I have had the privilege of engaging with many world leaders, each with a different life journey.". Sometimes their paths cross beyond mere personal accounts and convey something greater. They remind us of values that have stood the test of time across cultures and civilizations. Prime Minister Meloni has a few such moments in her illustrious life, and that makes this book extremely unique. Her story is inspiring and epoch-making."
Admitting that questions had arisen regarding Meloni upon taking office, Modi noted, "But being the great leader that she is, Giorgia Meloni has injected strength and stability to her country. She has always been pragmatic and dedicated to promoting good globally. She has always expressed the interests of Italy with incredible clarity.". While at the same time, she has also remained sensitively attuned to the tests of our globalized world, working with a clear sense of cause and duty on the international scene.
"There are various ways to understand as well as appreciate Prime Minister Meloni's rise and leadership. Among those, I can see a strong connection between her story and the concept of Nari Shakti, the divine feminine energy that has been venerated in Indic traditions for thousands of years in many forms," he added.
Prime Minister Meloni, he wrote, has held firm to her roots while leading her nation with confidence on the global stage. "That is why her journey resonates so deeply with us in India. This autobiography, I Am Giorgia, gives readers a candid and rare glimpse into the heart and mind of one of Europe's and the world's most dynamic and vibrant leaders. It is also deeply personal."
"Her journey from a modest neighbourhood in Rome to Italy's highest political office highlights the power of purpose over narrow partisan politics. Her purpose of defending motherhood, national identity and tradition will resonate with readers in India. Her belief in defending one's cultural heritage, while engaging with the world on equal terms, mirrors our own values. Her compassion for her people and her ideas to take them on the path of peace and prosperity echo throughout the book," the Prime Minister wrote.
India and Italy, he said, are bound by much more than treaties or trade. "We are bound by shared civilizational instincts like the defence of heritage, the strength of community and the celebration of womanhood as a guiding force. Our nations are joined in spirit by a respect for tradition and an embrace of modernity. This is the bedrock of my own personal friendship with Prime Minister Meloni," he wrote.
"I am confident that it will be well received as a refreshing story of an outstanding contemporary political leader and a patriot. It has been a great honour to have written this foreword. It is not just an autobiography; it is her Mann Ki Baat," Prime Minister Modi wrote, referring to his monthly radio address to the nation.
