Indian leader Narendra Modi just pulled off the world's most epic humblebrag

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took office just three days ago on a wave of sometimes-fervent popular support among middle-class Hindus (India's Muslims not so much), is already accomplishing things. Namely, Modi may well have pulled off one of the world's biggest, most transparent humblebrags. This went out on his official Twitter feed to its 4.5 million followers:

Am reading in the news that some states want to include Narendra Modi's life struggles as a part of their school curriculum.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2014

I firmly believe that the life story of living individuals should not be included as a part of the school curriculum.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2014

India has a rich history of several stalwarts who made India what it is today. Young minds should read about these greats & emulate them.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2014

Yes, Narendra Modi wishes you to be made aware that Indian communities are so enamored of Narendra Modi that schoolteachers have sought to make his epic life and the many lessons of his wisdom a required subject for the betterment of our children. But Narendra Modi only begs to inform you of this because his high principles and sense of humility demand that he decline this honor, in the most public medium possible, such that India's prior "stalwarts" be granted a chance to shine. That is just the kind of modest, selfless leadership that we can expect from Narendra Modi.

To be fair to Modi, he did not make this up: two Indian states are considering adding some to-be-determined elements of Modi's life to school curriculum. What he does not mention, of course, is that in both states these proposals have come from senior regional officials in Modi's party, which holds the top executive offices in those states, and that the proposals have been criticized as partisan politics infringing on education.

One thing in Modi's tweets does puzzle me: why, in one of humanity's oldest civilizations, are there only "several" historical figures worth mentioning?

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