In his memoir Unleashed, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recounts his first encounter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing a moment where he sensed Modi’s “curious astral energy.” Johnson recalls that in 2012, the UK government had advised him to avoid meeting Modi, then Gujarat’s chief minister, labeling him a “Hindu nationalist.” However, years later, when they finally met in London, Johnson recalls Modi raising his arm and chanting in Hindi, during which Johnson felt the “astral energy.”
Johnson also reflects on his April 2022 visit to India, which took place shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During the visit, Johnson urged India to reduce its reliance on Russian energy and defense, encouraging alignment with Western policies on the Ukraine conflict. He humorously noted how his tennis serve was “more accurate than Russian missiles” and questioned India’s continued military dependence on Russia.
Johnson recalls further discussions with Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, during which she reflected on Jawaharlal Nehru’s sentiment that India would always align with Russia—a stance that Nehru reportedly shared with her in the 1950s. This historical perspective, Johnson noted, was still relevant in modern times.
