Mr Narendra Modi, here are 3 things you can learn from Spiderman

We all have grown up admiring one superhero or the other. And for me, Spiderman has topped that list. Spiderman isn’t any ordinary superhero – unlike Superman, he wasn’t born a superhero, nor was equipped with great gadgets like Batman.

Spiderman’s superpowers only came through a quirk of fate, and he knew how to turn that quirk of fate into an advantage. That’s a superhero for you.

While several economists, corporate leaders and market experts are already advising Modi on how to handle the economy and to govern the seventh-largest country in the world, we think Modi should take some lessons from one of our favourite superheroes.

Here’s what Narendra Modi, India’s next Prime Minister, can learn from Spiderman:

1. With great power, comes great responsibility

Everyone has heard this pivotal line. It may sound pretty ordinary, but it’s the first lesson for Modi. Spidey has always believed in this. And so should all leaders who aspire to be great.

Modimay not be able to swing from rooftops or lift cars over his head, but he has a huge responsibility. Modi’s win has alreadydriven shares to life-time highs and the rupee to its strongest level against the dollar in 11 months, but the BJP leader has also promisedto repair an economy growing at its weakest rate since the 1980s and tackle stubbornly high inflation.

The hopes of millions of Indians rest on his shoulders now.

It remains to be seen how he will manage all these expectations, hopes, fears and suspicions.

2. The media may sometimes not be your friend and you might be frequently misunderstood. But, keep going

Spidermandid not always get great media coverage. In fact,J Jonah Jameson, theeditor-in-chiefof the_Daily Bugle_writes editorials trying to prove the city that Spiderman is no hero. The editor was convinced that Spidermanis a menace to the society. Sure, it wasn’t a great feeling to see anti-Spiderman campaigns on billboards and news stands, but that didn’t bog Spidey down.

That’s a lesson to learn for Modi. There is a great deal of polarisation in the media over Modi: some journalists praise him to the skies, while some see nothing good in anything he does.

In the run-up to the elections, there has been abitter war on social media between left-leaning liberals and supporters of the new dispensation. A Times of India report notes that while many are hanging on to the hope that he fulfills his “Acche din ane wale hai” election catchphrase, an equal number are worried about his “combative” stances on social issues.

No matter what, brickbats or bouquets, Modi should just keep on rolling. Just like Spidey, keep doing good work.

3. The enemy may be bigger and stronger than you are, but it’s the fight that matters

Spiderman is a great superhero because he continued to remain who he was even after getting superpowers.

The shy, geeky yet smart Peter Parker did not change even while he was saving the world! Spidey has his enemies, and they were more than just one. Those enemies were frequently more powerful and stronger than he was. But what set him apart is his intelligence – and his never-say-die spirit.

That’s the third and final lesson for our next PM Modi. Modi is no superhero and we can’t – and shouldn’t – expect him to revive the economy overnight.

Modi’s enemies are likely to be not just people, but also some very grave issues, ranging from inflation and the fiscal deficit to fixing the country’s creaking infrastructure. It may seem impossible at times, but he should have the persistence to keep at them. Sometimes the enemy can be bigger than you, but when it comes to winning battles, size is not always the decisive factor. It’s the kind of fight you give that matters most.