Modi's 'Sun Rahe Ho Na Vinod' Quip Leaves Audience in Splits

Sanand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew instant cheers and laughter from the audience when he used the popular line "Sun rahe ho na Vinod" in his speech here on Saturday. The PM inaugurated the CG Semi Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test facility at Sanand.

Chairman of CG Power and Industrial Solutions Vellayan Subbiah used a couple of Gujarati sayings while speaking on the occasion.

"The government's vision of development is clear, now it is up to the industry to follow. 'Nishan chuk maaf, pan nahi maaf nichu nishan' (missing a high target is forgivable, but setting a low target is not). We certainly don't want to set our sights low Sir," he said, adding that he had started learning Gujarati.

"Our first shipment of semiconductor chips is going to our partners in Japan. With this India has become part of global supply chain of semiconductors. As people in Gujarat say, "Kam bole che" (work speaks). Today, this first shipment speaks louder than words," Subbiah added.

In his speech, Modi referred to the two Gujarati adages.

"Subbiah ji used a Gujarti proverb, 'nishan chuk maaf, pan nahi maaf nichu nishan'. I never have small goals, I never think small. If I have to make a statue, I will make it the tallest statue in the world," the PM said, in an apparent reference to the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

"And Subbiah ji also used 'Kam bole che.'....'Sun rahe ho na Vinod' (Are you listening Vinod), kam bole che," Modi said, underlining the work done by his government to establish an indigenous semiconductor industry.

The crowd as well as the others present on the stage burst into laughter.

The line 'Dekh rahe ho na Vinod' or 'Sun rahe ho na Vinod' from a web show has been repeatedly used by online content creators, turning it into a meme.