Hello Modi !!! – Why we dialed Narendra Modi at 8 PM

It was our final year of college, and like every other ambitious bunch, we were working on a startup idea called “Friendion.” Back then, we were so naïve that we didn’t even know the term startup existed. Concepts like angel investors, VC funds, or even pitching to investors were completely alien to us.

But that didn’t stop us from building our MVP (which we proudly called a prototype). We needed more hands on deck, so our team of four had to expand to at least ten. Plus, we needed server space, infrastructure, and of course, funding.

The Bold Move – Meeting the Deputy CM

Through some acquaintance, we secured an appointment with the Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana. We walked into his office with all the confidence in the world, pitched our grand vision, and casually asked for ₹20 lakh in government funding—as if it was the government’s obligation to fund college kids with an idea!

The Deputy CM was shocked. He managed to keep a straight face but politely rejected us with some good old diplomacy. He suggested we write a formal letter to the government requesting funds so he could “look into it.” We took it seriously, wrote a letter, and… we’re still waiting for a response—10 years later! 😂

Taking It to the Top – Straight to the PMO

A few weeks passed, and frustration started creeping in. Nothing was moving. No response. No funding. So, like true dreamers, we decided to take it to the next level—the central government!

We found out that the Union IT Minister was coming to Hyderabad, and thought, Why not get an appointment and meet him? Small problem though—we had zero connections to reach out to him.

So, like every resourceful engineer, we turned to the internet. And to our surprise, we stumbled upon a phone number linked to Narendra Modi’s office.

At this point, we were beyond excited. Our hearts were racing, and my brain was already struggling with one major challenge—I wasn’t fluent in Hindi. So, we decided Sanju should do the talking.

The Call That Almost Changed Everything

Sanju picked up his phone, took a deep breath, and dialed the number.

📞 Ring…

📞 Ring…

Our hearts were pounding.

📞 Click!

“Hello!” came the voice from the other side.

Sanju nervously replied, “Hello, is this the PM’s office?”

“Yes, who is speaking?”

Sanju: “We are students from Telangana. We are working on a business idea and need funding. Can we speak to Narendra Modi?”

There was a slight pause.

Then, with the most deadpan tone, the person replied, “Sorry, wrong number.” Click.

And just like that, our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity disappeared.

We stared at each other in disbelief, disappointment, and—surprisingly—laughter. We had almost spoken to the most popular leader of the nation, and it ended with “Wrong Number!” 😂

Lessons from Our Naïve Days

Looking back, I realize that being naïve wasn’t always a bad thing. If I had thought rationally back then, I probably wouldn’t have even started working on a business idea in the first place. That blind confidence helped us dream big and take risks without overanalyzing everything.

But sometimes, being that naïve had its downsides too. Like the time we rejected a seed fund at a Million Dollar valuation (yep, a story for another day).

For now, let’s just say, always be bold, dream big—but maybe double-check the number before calling the Prime Minister’s office! 😆