Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award in New Delhi. The award citation states that PM Modi was selected for his “outstanding leadership for the nation and his selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy that has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country”. Despite the propaganda peddled by the Congress and the sympathetic media, Philip Kotler, known as the ‘Father of Modern Marketing’, remains steadfast that PM Modi is one of the most dynamic global leaders and the best choice for the award.
In his tweet, Philip Kotler, professor of marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, congratulated PM Modi and praised his leadership skills and his focus on innovation.
I congratulate PM @narendramodi for being conferred the first ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award. He has been selected for his outstanding leadership & selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy. (1/2)
— Philip Kotler (@kotl) January 15, 2019
2/2 @narendramodi's efforts have resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in India. His winning the first award raises the bar for future recipients.
— Philip Kotler (@kotl) January 15, 2019
The award citation also recognises the fact that under PM Modi’s leadership, India is now identified as the centre of innovation and manufacturing (Make in India), as well as a global hub for professional services such as information technology, accounting, and finance.
Philip Kotler has been an admirer of PM Modi for a long time. In 2014, when Narendra Modi was newly appointed as the Prime Minister, Kotler had said that he was “High on Modi” and added that PM Modi was like “a breath of fresh air”. After the historic mandate of the 2014 general elections, many political commentators claimed that it was due to marketing of brand Modi while Kotler condemned all such claims and said, “He (Narendra Modi) is often mistaken to have marketed himself to fame, but I actually feel it is his hard work ethic and set of values that helped him catch up”.
In his latest interview to The Marketing Journal, Philip Kotler has again praised PM Modi. When asked about the ‘controversy about the award’, the Marketing Guru said, “You know India has a robust democracy. The opposition to the Prime Minister started criticizing the award – which is regrettable – since the award honors India, inasmuch as it honors the PM Modi”. Expressing regret on not being present in the award ceremony he added, “Unfortunately, I was not able to make the trip to India. My physician advised that I should not travel all the way to India, not just now. So I asked my lifelong friend, the distinguished Marketing Professor Jagdish Sheth, to do the honors in my place”.
In his letter to Jagdish Sheth (accessed by rightlog), Kotler also elaborated on the objective of the award, stating “Our idea with the World Marketing Summit is to choose each year a national leader who epitomizes the best ideas for advancing their society with democratic values and ideals. I talked to a number of people from India and elsewhere who felt that Prime Minister Modi is doing his best to advance the Common Good in India. We choose a public leader who encourages companies in that country to pursue the triple bottom line of profits, people and the planet.”
While the award to PM Modi has rattled some elements in media and many in the opposition, the man in whose honour the felicitation is made, has remained firm on the fact that PM Modi is the most deserving candidate for the award.