Urjit Patel, the new RBI governor, couldn’t have been more predictable: understated, laconic, politically correct and glancing at notes while replying to uncomplicated and obvious questions. His first press conference as the head of the monetary authority occasionally appeared as monologues by a reticent man who was looking for an opportunity to end the conversation – which he did somewhat abruptly.Perhaps Patel would have instilled a little more confidence if he had taken on more questions and explained a little more on the thinking that resulted in a unanimous decision favouring a quarter-point rate cut by the newly formed monetary policy committee.But Patel’s lack of flamboyance may have a saving grace: first, it will ensure that the quarterly monetary policy event ceases to be a media circus; second, the central bank governor may now rarely air his views beyond the realm of banking and monetary policy; and third, being a man of few words – who shuns public events and rhetoric – Patel has the room to position himself before financial markets as a governor who would let his actions speak.However, a dull, modest approach matters little as long as markets are calm and the economy is in a sweet spot. An outspoken, communicative central banker can be handy when chips are down. Patel – the first RBI governor in recent history who has the experience of working in the private sector – will have the time and scope to hone his skills and style. These are early days.A few things become abundantly clear from the text of Patel’s first policy statement and media briefings:-RBI would let interest rate to soften as and when there is an opportunity. As Michael Patra – a member of the policy committee and one of Patel’s lieutenants -- explained that the central bank is comfortable with a real policy rate (which is repo rate or the rate at which RBI lends to banks net of consumer inflation) of 1.25 instead of 1.5. So, if inflation dips, RBI may lower repo rate by another 25 basis points. (On Tuesday, the rate was cut 25 basis points to 6.25%. Patel didn’t want to wait -- a rate hike by the US Fed later in December would have made it tougher for RBI to cut rate later)-Growth is a now a bigger worry than inflation. Not too many times in the past has the RBI sent out such a signal as clearly as Patel’s did on Tuesday. RBI is underplaying inflation risks, thanks to good monsoon and higher expected output of pulses. Indeed, for a man whose name is attached to a report that brewed a hawkish sentiment in dealing rooms of bond houses, Patel -- at least in his maiden policy — came across as a dove with a capital 'D'.-But possibly the most significant message that did not go unnoticed – a loud hint that marks a break from his rock star predecessor Raghuram Rajan – is that RBI and the government are now on the same page. Governor Patel may have been perfectly sincere, honest and even data-dependent when he lauded New Delhi’s efforts towards improving supplies and ease of doing business. But every word that a governor says -- when he says it, how he says it -- lends itself to interpretation. Such is the nature of the job. It’s up to Patel to either dispel or confirm the lurking fear that that RBI may have lost some of its aura and freedom. That’s a more complex story that would unfold with time.