2025 incident of foreigners touching the Indian PM’s feet refers to specific events during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to Africa and Cyprus. Based on this clarification and the provided context, I’ll analyze the two incidents mentioned (1987 and 2025) and the evolution of the Indian PM’s image over the 40-year period, incorporating the specific events where Modi’s feet were touched as a gesture of respect.
1. 1987 Incident: Indian PM Head Hit with Gun by Foreigner with Disrespect
This refers to the incident on July 30, 1987, during Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka. While inspecting a guard of honour, a Sri Lankan sailor, Vijayamunige Wijemuni, struck Gandhi on the head with the butt of his rifle. The blow was glancing, and Gandhi’s quick reaction minimized the impact. He later brushed off the incident, saying, “These things happen,” and continued the visit, which was centered on signing the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord to address the Tamil conflict.
- Context: The attack occurred during a tense period in India-Sri Lanka relations. The accord, which involved deploying the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), was unpopular among some Sri Lankans, who viewed it as Indian overreach. The sailor’s action was interpreted as a spontaneous act of protest, reflecting anti-Indian sentiment among certain groups. The incident was a diplomatic embarrassment, highlighting vulnerabilities in India’s regional influence.
- Perception: The assault was seen as a disrespectful act toward India’s PM, underscoring the challenges of asserting regional leadership. Media coverage, both domestic and international, emphasized the incident as a low point, though Gandhi’s composed response mitigated some reputational damage.
- Impact on PM’s Image: Rajiv Gandhi was a modernizing leader, promoting technology and economic reforms, but the incident portrayed him as vulnerable on the global stage. It reflected India’s limited ability to command respect in its neighborhood during a time of economic and geopolitical constraints.
2. 2025 Incident: PM Modi’s Feet Touched in Africa and Cyprus with Respect
The query specifies that during Narendra Modi’s visits to Africa and Cyprus in 2025, foreigners touched his feet as a gesture of respect. Based on the provided web results and the absence of specific 2025 Africa-related incidents in the data, I’ll focus on the well-documented Cyprus incident and address the Africa reference cautiously, noting a similar precedent in 2023.
- Cyprus Incident (June 16, 2025): During PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus, Michaela Kythreoti Mhlapa, a Nicosia Municipal Council member, touched his feet at the historic Centre of Nicosia as a mark of respect. This occurred during a ceremonial welcome alongside Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides. Modi acknowledged the gesture graciously, placing a hand on her head and appreciating her familiarity with Indian culture. The moment, captured on video, went viral on social media, with many praising it as a symbol of India’s cultural influence. Modi was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus’s highest civilian honor, marking his 23rd international recognition.
- Context: The visit, the first by an Indian PM to Cyprus in 23 years, had strategic significance amid tensions with Turkey, which occupies part of Cyprus and supported Pakistan during India’s Operation Sindoor. The gesture reflected admiration for Modi’s leadership and India’s growing global stature, reinforced by Modi’s remarks dedicating the honor to 1.4 billion Indians and the India-Cyprus friendship.
- Perception: The act was seen as a heartfelt acknowledgment of Modi’s stature and India’s cultural soft power. It resonated with Indian audiences, where touching feet is a revered gesture, and was amplified online as evidence of global respect for Modi.
- Impact on PM’s Image: The gesture enhanced Modi’s image as a globally respected leader, showcasing India’s cultural influence and diplomatic clout. It underscored his ability to foster personal and cultural connections abroad.
- Africa Incident (2025): The query references an incident in Africa in 2025 where Modi’s feet were touched. However, no specific 2025 incident in Africa is detailed in the provided sources. A precedent exists from May 2023, when Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape touched Modi’s feet upon his arrival in Port Moresby for the FIPIC III Summit. This gesture, breaking PNG’s protocol against ceremonial welcomes after sunset, was widely noted as a sign of respect for Modi as a “great leader.” If the 2025 Africa incident refers to a similar event (e.g., during a visit to Nigeria or another African nation where Modi received honors like the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger), it would align with this pattern of cultural respect. Without specific details, I assume it mirrors the PNG and Cyprus gestures, reflecting admiration for Modi’s leadership.
- Context (Assumed): Modi’s 2025 Africa visits likely involved strengthening India-Africa ties, as seen in his 2024 Nigeria visit or broader engagements like the India-Africa Forum Summit. Such gestures would reflect India’s growing influence in Africa, driven by economic partnerships, diaspora connections, and Modi’s personal appeal.
- Perception: Similar to Cyprus, the gesture would be seen as a powerful symbol of respect, amplifying India’s cultural and diplomatic reach. Social media would likely amplify the narrative of Modi as a global statesman.
- Impact on PM’s Image: It would further solidify Modi’s image as a leader commanding international reverence, contrasting with the 1987 incident and highlighting India’s elevated global status.
3. Image Change of Indian PMs Over 40 Years
The contrast between the 1987 incident and the 2025 gestures illustrates a significant evolution in the image of Indian PMs, reflecting India’s transformation from a regional player to a global power.
- 1987: Vulnerability and Regional Challenges
- Global Standing: In 1987, India was a developing nation with a GDP of around $280 billion (nominal), facing economic challenges and regional tensions (e.g., Sri Lanka’s civil war, Punjab insurgency). Its foreign policy, rooted in non-alignment, struggled to assert influence in a polarized Cold War world.
- PM’s Image: Rajiv Gandhi was seen as a progressive but inexperienced leader. The 1987 attack highlighted personal and national vulnerabilities, with India’s regional interventions (e.g., IPKF) facing resistance. The incident underscored a lack of respect for India’s leadership in parts of its neighborhood.
- Cultural Influence: India’s cultural soft power was less pronounced globally, and such incidents overshadowed its diplomatic efforts.
- 2025: Global Respect and Influence
- Global Standing: By 2025, India is the world’s third-largest economy (PPP, projected ~$15 trillion) and a key player in global forums like the G20, Quad, and BRICS. Modi’s foreign policy emphasizes multi-alignment, cultural diplomacy (e.g., “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”), and economic self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
- PM’s Image: Modi’s image is that of a strong, charismatic leader who has elevated India’s global profile. The Cyprus and (assumed) Africa gestures, like the 2023 PNG incident, reflect personal respect for Modi and admiration for India’s cultural and economic rise. His 23 international honors by 2025 underscore his global stature.
- Cultural Influence: The feet-touching gestures highlight India’s soft power, with foreign leaders adopting Indian cultural practices to express respect. This contrasts sharply with the 1987 disrespect, showing how India’s heritage is now celebrated globally.
- Key Drivers of Change:
- Economic Growth: India’s economic rise from a struggling economy in 1987 to a global powerhouse in 2025 has bolstered the PM’s authority. Modi’s business roundtables, like in Cyprus, reflect India’s appeal as an investment hub.
- Diplomatic Assertiveness: Modi’s proactive diplomacy, seen in strategic visits and alliances (e.g., Cyprus as a counter to Turkey-Pakistan ties), contrasts with India’s more cautious 1980s approach.
- Cultural Soft Power: Modi’s promotion of Indian culture (e.g., yoga, diaspora engagement) has made gestures like feet-touching globally resonant, as seen in Cyprus and PNG.
- Domestic Narrative: Modi’s image as a transformative leader is amplified by social media and government campaigns, framing such gestures as proof of India’s global respect, unlike the 1987 narrative of vulnerability.
4. Critical Analysis
The 1987 incident was a clear act of disrespect, rooted in geopolitical tensions, while the 2025 gestures (Cyprus and assumed Africa) reflect admiration for Modi and India’s cultural-economic rise. However:
- Contextual Differences: The 1987 incident was an attack during a controversial intervention, while the 2025 gestures occurred in friendly diplomatic settings, making direct comparisons complex.
- Amplification of Narrative: The viral spread of the Cyprus video suggests a curated narrative to boost Modi’s image domestically, aligning with posts on X praising his global impact. This contrasts with 1987, when media was less instantaneous and government control over narratives was weaker.
- Limitations: While the feet-touching gestures enhance Modi’s image, they don’t erase challenges like India-Pakistan tensions or domestic polarization. The absence of a specific 2025 Africa incident in the data suggests the query may extrapolate from earlier events (e.g., PNG 2023), requiring caution in interpretation.
5. Conclusion
The 1987 incident, where Rajiv Gandhi was struck by a rifle butt in Sri Lanka, symbolized disrespect and India’s regional vulnerabilities. In contrast, the 2025 Cyprus incident, where a Nicosia council member touched Modi’s feet, and a similar assumed gesture in Africa (possibly echoing the 2023 PNG event), reflect global respect for Modi’s leadership and India’s cultural-economic rise. Over 40 years, the Indian PM’s image has shifted from one of vulnerability to commanding international reverence, driven by India’s economic growth, assertive diplomacy, and cultural soft power. The feet-touching gestures, especially in Cyprus, underscore India’s transformation into a respected global power, a stark contrast to the 1987 humiliation.
If you have specific details about the 2025 Africa incident (e.g., country or date), I can refine the analysis further.
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