PM Modi's birthday: A throwback to his 'first vacation in 18 years' with Bear Grylls' on Man vs Wild
In the 2019 Man vs. Wild episode, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Bear Grylls for a unique exploration that focused on environmental conservation rather than extreme survival stunts. The episode, which set records for viewership, highlighted Modi's rarely seen lighter side.
You hear Bear Grylls, and you can instantly picture British adventurer Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls doing just about anything to survive in the wild. But Narendra Modi? He doesn't exactly come to mind, which is why the Prime Minister's decision to appear on Man vs. Wild in 2019 grabbed everyone's attention. The huge hype surrounding the Discovery show translated into record-breaking numbers as the special episode, which aired on August 12, achieved the highest-ever ratings in the infotainment genre, propelling Discovery Channel (with 3.05 million impressions) to the No. 3 position for the week.
Unlike most other Man vs Wild episodes, the Modi episode wasn't about extreme survival stunts. Instead, it focused on environmental conservation, wildlife protection, and the importance of preserving nature.
It is my first vacation in 18 years of political career, says PM Modi in his conversation with Bear Grylls during his appearance in Man vs Wild show.#ManVsWild #DiscoveryChannel #modiondiscovery #TV9News @PMOIndia @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/JRzs3YTIcG
¡ª Tv9 Gujarati (@tv9gujarati) August 12, 2019
Throughout the episode, Modi also shared stories from his younger days, including how he grew up near nature and his early years of living in a low-resource environment.
One of my favourite photos: soaking wet and sharing a cup of tea with Prime Minister Modi after our @Discovery jungle adventure together. This moment reminds me of how the wild is the ultimate leveller. We are all the same behind the titles and masks. #adventureunitesus pic.twitter.com/9EQPAeUOLO
¡ª Bear Grylls OBE (@BearGrylls) February 5, 2021
As Modi turns 74, here's a lookback at the memorable moments of how the man survived the wild in Uttarakhand's Jim Corbett National Park - and all that he shared:
Modi's stance on survival
Bear Grylls crafted a makeshift spear to protect "the most important man in India." When he handed it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PM politely responded, "Bear, my beliefs don't allow me to kill. But for your safety, I'll keep it with me." He also added, "God takes care of everyone. Leave it to God, and you will never face any problem."
Bear Grylls gives PM Narendra Modi a spear on Man vs Wild, ¡®My upbringing does not allow me to take a life,¡¯ PM says.#ManVSWild pic.twitter.com/Ercx0qTgyP
¡ª Che Guevara ???????????? (@Che_guevara_in_) August 10, 2019
Modi on facing nature without fear
Bear Grylls mentioned that people often feel afraid in tough situations.
In response, Modi said, "You should never be afraid of nature. You cannot be afraid of nature because when we think we are in conflict with nature is when the problem starts." Modi also added that he has never felt fear, saying, "I have never experienced fear because my inbuilt temperament is very positive."
Its Modi in the water
Memory of a very wet rainforest adventure with the PM of India! @narendramodi - Two things I know: the wild is always the great leveller - and my raft was definitely leaking¡ ???? #India #Adventure #NeverGiveUp @discoveryplus @discoveryplusIN pic.twitter.com/9AZfRvWpKW
¡ª Bear Grylls OBE (@BearGrylls) February 27, 2023
A standout moment came when Bear Grylls built a simple raft from a log to assist the Prime Minister in crossing a river. In a video shared on X, Grylls and PM Narendra Modi are seen calmly floating on the raft, chatting as they navigate the water. Modi, dressed in his traditional Indian attire with a jacket, handled the challenge with ease, remaining calm and composed throughout.
Toilet humour at it's finest
A fun clip from my time in the Indian Wilderness with Prime Minister Modi for Man vs Wild. Toilet humour brings everyone together! ???#adventure #manvswild #India #NeverGiveUp pic.twitter.com/eK340Qn4D1
¡ª Bear Grylls OBE (@BearGrylls) January 8, 2024
As Bear Grylls and Modi traversed the forest, there was an interesting moment when Grylls picked up a piece of elephant dung from the ground and explained its potential uses in survival situations.
Grylls explained that it can be squeezed to extract water, sharing that once in Africa (Man Vs Wild 2007), he did just that and drank the juice from the elephant dung.
As he shares the story - Modi's laugh added a rare glimpse of his lighter side¡ªsomething viewers don't often get to see.
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Srishti B Dutta brings you everything from rags-to-riches tales and inspiring student success stories to those "No way, this can't be real!" moments. Whether it's intriguing, heartwarming, or just plain quirky, she's got it covered.
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