Five Things We Learnt About Mark Zuckerberg When He Came to India

Zuckerberg’s visit to India was highly action-packed. Here are some quirky takeaways!

Here’s what we learnt about Mark Zuckerberg after his visit to India! (Photo: Lijumol Joseph)

We all know that the last time our PM Modi went to the US, he met Mark Zuckerberg and they exchanged tight hugs and warm smiles. From sources that I cannot reveal here, I also believe that our PM handed Zuckerberg a discount code of a travel website. Which would probably explain why Zuckerberg came to India recently. Because you know, he’s always liked India and that discount code comes with an expiry date.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his recent trip to the US, where he met Mark Zuckerberg. (Photo Courtesy: PIB)

Anyway, Zuckerberg was here in India and he had an action-packed day. Here are a few things that happened during the visit and what we can learn from it.

He’s No Cliche

Zuckerberg, thankfully, gave that regular old pose – of the subject holding the tip of the Taj Mahal’s dome – a miss! (Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Like any other tourist, Zuckerberg went to see the Taj Mahal. But let that not trick you into thinking that he’s a cliche. Because believe it not, he did not take a photo with him holding the tip of the dome of the Taj. Which is a shocker because I don’t know what he’s going to put on his profile pic to prove that he really did go to India. Unless he dons a kurta, in which case, we know he carries India in his heart.

He Must Like Bollywood

Mark Zuckerberg, second from left, went for a run in Delhi around India Gate with a few members of his Facebook team. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Mark Zuckerberg)

I am not entirely sure If Mark Zuckerberg likes Bollywood but it sure looks like he does. In Bollywood movies, any time they want to show people training for the military or for anything that remotely requires physical strength, they put in a frame with these people running with the India Gate in the background. Mark Zuckerberg also went for a run around India Gate with members of his team. India Gate the monument, not the basmati rice. Just so we are clear.

He’s Selfie-less

Mark Zuckerberg looking at the Taj Mahal – clearly having had someone photograph him in this position, rather than taking a selfie. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Facebook’s founder took some nice pictures during his visit. Him against the Taj Mahal, him looking at the Taj Mahal, him at IIT Delhi and all that. But he didn’t take a selfie. Which speaks volumes about the man. One, that he’s not Narendra Modi. Second, that he probably has some people travelling with him who are willing to take his pictures which is always a good thing.

He’s Very Insightful

Mark Zuckerberg taking audience questions during the Townhall Q&A at IIT Delhi. (Photo: The Quint)

When Zuckerberg was at the IIT campus answering questions about technical but mostly non-business stuff, he was obviously asked about net neutrality. At which point he noted, quite insightfully, that “The people who aren’t on the Internet can’t sign an online petition pushing for more access to the Internet.” Mostly these people are those that have been conned to move to Airtel by that girl with a pixie haircut.

Sweet Endings

Mark Zuckerberg was at his charming best, refusing to be flummoxed by even the most bizarre audience questions! (Photo: The Quint)

He’s possibly the only man in the world that can claim that all his work happens on Facebook. And while we all love the platform, we all get annoying game requests which I have decided to direct to him from now onwards. A lady who spends too much time on Facebook decided to ask Zuckerberg about Candy Crush requests she gets and how to stop them. To this Zuckerberg responded by smiling and unfriending her.

(Mansi Shah is founder of the blog Damsel in Destress which reviews experiences as varied as spas, books and plays. Mansi is, by her own admission, “clueless” at 30 with an easy penchant for humour.)