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Can The Opposition Beat PM Modi? Freebie Culture, Putin & Trump | Ruchir | FO408 Raj Shamani

Sep 13, 2025

Guest

Ruchir Sharma

Ruchir Sharma, bestselling author and Chairman of Rockefeller International, dives into India's turbulent political landscape. He shares insights on the prospects of the opposition against PM Modi, discussing potential challengers within the BJP. Ruchir explores India's unique freebie culture, contrasting it with China's model. He emphasizes the critical role of leadership in economic growth, while also touching on the complexities of wealth perception and the necessity for independent thinking in today's society.

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INSIGHT

Modi's Influence Vs Party Machinery

Ruchir Sharma argues Modi's personal influence has reduced while BJP and RSS organisational strength has grown.
State-level victories without Modi as star show party institutions can carry elections now.

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ADVICE

Make A State The Launchpad

Build one state as a demonstrable model before projecting a national leader.
Push a capable chief minister to make their state a showcase to gain national credibility.

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INSIGHT

Successor Traits In BJP

Ruchir Sharma names Amit Shah and potentially Yogi Adityanath as primary BJP successors.
Mass base and national appeal determine who can realistically emerge within BJP.

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Navigating India's Political Landscape

04:48 • 22min

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Navigating Small Business Challenges and State Economies in India

27:02 • 7min

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Economic Landscape and Cryptocurrency Trends in India

33:48 • 5min

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Leadership Dynamics and Politico-Economic Insights

39:10 • 29min

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The Freebies Dilemma: India vs. China

01:08:02 • 7min

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Wealth and Public Perception: The Billionaire Paradox

01:14:55 • 4min

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Optimism vs. Pessimism: The Power of Independent Thinking

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Breakout nations

In Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracles

Ruchir Sharma

In 'Breakout Nations: In Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracles,' Ruchir Sharma provides a detailed overview of the global economy, focusing on emerging markets. Sharma argues that each nation must be understood individually, rather than as part of a broader group like the BRICS. He draws on his two decades of experience traveling to and analyzing various countries, offering insights into their economic, political, and social dynamics. The book highlights countries that have managed their growth well during the post-2008 crisis and those that are poised to become the next economic success stories, such as the Philippines, Turkey, and Nigeria. Sharma also emphasizes the importance of political leadership and stability in economic growth, contrasting his views with other theories that focus on institutions and geography.

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(00:00) – Introduction
(01:56) – The next Prime Minister?
(04:45) – Views on PM Modi
(07:19) – Ruchir's perspective
(10:36) – The opposition at the state level
(13:00) – State election campaigns
(15:47) – A leader who can challenge BJP
(18:30) – Potential successors within BJP
(20:33) – How India can achieve rapid growth
(27:42) – Competitive federalism
(29:53) – Talent and unemployment
(32:03) – Improvements and setbacks across states
(32:56) – Progress in Karnataka
(33:23) – Challenges in Maharashtra
(33:54) – How to uplift poor regions
(34:37) – Capitalism vs. Socialism
(35:04) – Why he is bullish on crypto
(39:12) – Meeting with Vladimir Putin
(45:50) – Traits of Putin
(49:21) – Leaders of Dubai and Singapore
(53:01) – No. 1 trait of a successful politician
(56:48) – Thoughts on Donald Trump
(1:02:28) – The digitalisation trend
(1:05:36) – Why Justin Trudeau resigned
(1:08:06) – The culture of freebies
(1:11:01) – Why India can't grow like China
(1:13:13) – Rules for building a successful nation
(1:15:04) – The billionaire index
(1:18:03) – Growth of the technology sector
(1:18:58) – Optimism and pessimism
(1:19:43) – BTS
(1:20:21) – Outro

In today’s episode, we have Ruchir Sharma, bestselling author of 5 books, Chairman of Rockefeller International, and one of the world’s most respected investors and thinkers. He began writing for The Economic Times at just 17 and has since built a reputation for his sharp insights on politics, economics, and leadership. In this conversation, he opens up about his journey, his writing career, and the lessons from meeting global leaders including the time he met Vladimir Putin and was later asked to leave Russia.

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About Ruchir Sharma: https://ruchirsharma.com/

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About Raj Shamani

Raj Shamani is an Entrepreneur at heart that explains his expertise in Business Content Creation & Public Speaking. He has delivered 200+ speeches in 26+ countries. Besides that, Raj is also an Angel Investor interested in crazy minds who are creating a sensation in the Fintech, FMCG, & passion economy space.

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About Figuring Out

Figuring Out Podcast is a Candid Conversations University where Raj Shamani brings raw conversations with the Top 1% in India.

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