Bill Gates names 4 Indians he'd love to dine with: 'PM Modi, Ratan Tata, .....'

The philanthropist praised PM Modi’s leadership and his long-term vision for India, especially the country’s goals for 2047.

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has named four prominent Indians - Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ratan Tata, Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan, and mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan - as individuals he would like to have dinner with, citing their extraordinary contributions to politics, science, business, and mathematics.

In a candid chat on Raj Shamani’s podcast Figuring Out, Gates was asked to choose three Indians, living or dead, for an ideal dinner conversation. “There are so many incredible talents,” Gates replied, before listing more than three names.

The philanthropist praised PM Modi’s leadership and his long-term vision for India, especially the country’s goals for 2047. “I get time with the Prime Minister and understand his vision and how we fit into that 2047 ambition,” Gates said.

Ratan Tata also featured prominently on the list, with Gates highlighting their collaborative philanthropic work and praising India’s vibrant innovation ecosystem. “I got to work with Ratan Tata and so many amazing philanthropists and innovators here in India,” he said.

Also recalling his meeting with the late Dr. MK Bhan, who helped found India’s Department of Biotechnology, Gates called him a “great scientist.” On Ramanujan, he said, “He was almost mysterious - how he was so brilliant at what he did.”

Gates also lauded India's growing startup scene, especially the use of AI in healthcare, both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors.

Asked once more to narrow it down to just three, Gates smiled and admitted, “It’s hard to pick just three - India has so many incredible talents.”