Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his new memoir ‘Unleashed.’ Praising PM Modi, Boris referred him as a "change maker" and shared his feelings about his first meeting. He wrote that he felt a curious, ‘astral energy’ during that encounter.

Boris Johnson's memoir ‘Unleashed’ was released in the UK this week. Johnson has devoted a whole chapter 'Britain and India’  from his book to Britain’s ties with India and called its relationship  ‘as good as’ it has ever been.

Johnson attributes his success in paving the way for a "proper free-trade deal" with India to his connection with PM Modi, whom he describes as the exact partner and friend he needed.

Johnson, who served as the UK prime minister from July 24, 2019, to September 6, 2022,repeatedly mentioned the friendship and bond Britain shares with India especially in the context of the Indo-Pacific region and its vision.

Johnson in a particular chapter wrote, "For some reason, we ended up standing in the dark at the plaza by Tower Bridge, in front of a crowd of his supporters," referring to his initial meeting with PM Modi during a visit to his City Hall office while he was Mayor of London.

Recalling moments with PM Modi he writes, “He raised my arm and chanted something or other in Hindi, and though I couldn’t follow it, I felt his curious astral energy. I have enjoyed his company ever since because I reckon he is the change-maker our relationship needs. With Modi, I felt sure, we could not only do a great free-trade deal but also build a long-term partnership, as friends and equals.”

In his memoir, Johnson mentioned that before meeting PM Modi, a UK Foreign Office had warned him about meeting a "Hindu nationalist" leader during an earlier mayoral trade delegation to India in 2012.

Calling his January 2022 visit to India a "tremendous success," he noted it was a much-needed "morale boost" and a "balm for the soul," offering relief from increasingly aggressive domestic politics.

He asserted that he wanted to highlight the issue of relations with Russia at a "global inflection point" due to its conflict with Ukraine during his visit.

Apart from this he writes, “I knew all the history and the sensitivities, the reasons for India’s post-war non-alignment with the West, the seemingly unbreakable relationship with Moscow. I understand the Indian dependence - like China’s on Russian hydrocarbons.”

He further added, “But I wondered if it was time for a change. I pointed out to the Indians that Russian missiles were statistically less accurate than my first serve in tennis. Did they really want to keep relying on Russia for military supplies?”

Boris commended himself for mainlining a broader vision for UK-India relationship beyond trade, climate change and educational partnership and collaborating on its military and technologies.

He declares “Overcoming the qualms of the MoD (Ministry of Defence), who are always worried about India’s closeness to Russia, we agreed to work together on all kinds of military technology, from submarines to helicopters to marine propulsion units.”