PM Modi Pens Foreword to Giorgia Meloni’s Autobiography, Calls It Her ‘Mann Ki Baat’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly received by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni upon his arrival at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Apulia for the G7 Summit hosted by Italy. Beyond the diplomatic welcome, Modi has also penned the foreword for the Indian edition of Meloni’s autobiography, I Am Giorgia — My Roots, My Principles (Rupa Publications).

In his note, Modi likened the autobiography to Meloni’s own “Mann Ki Baat,” describing it as a deeply personal reflection of her life and principles. He expressed that it was a “great honour” to write the foreword, doing so with “respect, admiration and friendship” for the Italian leader. Modi further praised Meloni as a “patriot and outstanding contemporary leader.”

Recalling his interactions with numerous world leaders over the past 11 years, Modi wrote that their life journeys often carried larger lessons for humanity. He noted that Meloni’s story is one such example, resonating not only with Italians but also with Indians. “Her belief in defending one’s cultural heritage, while engaging with the world on equal terms, mirrors our own values,” he remarked.

The Indian prime minister went on to laud Meloni’s “inspiring and historic” journey, saying it was certain to strike a chord with Indian readers. The original Italian edition of the autobiography was published in 2021 when Meloni was the leader of the opposition, a year before she became Italy’s first woman prime minister.

Interestingly, the book’s US edition was launched in June 2025 with a foreword by Donald Trump Jr., son of the US President. In his note, Trump Jr. highlighted Meloni’s “working-class” background and described the memoir as “an unfiltered story of the patriotic tidal wave that Meloni would ride.”

In his foreword, Modi also touched upon deeper cultural bonds between India and Italy. “We are bound by shared civilizational instincts like the defence of heritage, the strength of community and the celebration of womanhood as a guiding force. Our nations are joined in spirit by a respect for tradition and an embrace of modernity. This is the bedrock of my own personal friendship with Prime Minister Meloni,” he wrote.