Narendra Modi our beloved current Prime Minister of India. An Indian Politician and government official who became a senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2014 he taste the victory of election to the Lok Sabha (Lower chamber of Indian parliament), after which he swore in as prime minister of India. Prior to that he had been served as chief minister (2001-2014) of Gujrat State in India.
The upbringing of this great personality was way far from a fairy tale or a golden spoon. It was his sheer hard work and dedication which makes him leader of India. So let’s go from childhood to his struggles and some interesting facts. It’s a graph of poverty stricken tea selling boy to becoming development oriented leader, Prime minister, Mr. Narendra Modi ji.
Childhood of Narendra Damodardas Modi
Narendra Modi ji born on September 17, 1950. 3 years after India Independence and few months after India became republic nation. He was born and brought up in a small village Vadnagar in Gujrat state of India. An underdeveloped small town in North gujrat’s Mehsana district. He was the third of the six children of Damodardas Modi and Hiraba Modi.
The family belonged to marginalized sections of society who would struggle to make ends meet. The entire family lived in a 40 feet by 12 feet single store house. Narendra ji’s father had a tea stall set up at Vadnagar railway station. In early days, he also helped his father at tea stall. Despite his humble condition, Narendra ji was very ambitious child who balanced the academic and non-academic activities very well. Since childhood he loves to be groomed properly, making sure to keep the uniform crisp by folding it and keeping under the pillow and whitening the canvas shoes with chalk as shoes were gifted by his uncle. He is a book reader and used to read books for hours in school library. He was very fond of swimming and theatre. He also had a wide variety of friends from different communities.
The leadership of Narendra ji could be ssen from his early days. He was a brave as when there were floods at Tapi river, 9 year old boy and his friends started a food stall and donated whatever possible for relief work. When the war with Pakistan was at its peak he set put the tea stall to serve Jawans at railway statio who were doing to and fro from the border.
Entering RSS, Akhil Bharatiya Parishad
At age of 18, he was introduced in RSS, Akhil Bhartiya Vidya Parishad in the area and steadily rose in RSS hierarchy. This benefited him for his further journey. But in between as a family comes from orthodox tradition and a small town thinking, at very early age of 18, he was put into marriage as that time marriages were fixed in their childhood itself by parents. Narendra Modi ji got married to Jashodaben but life had different plans for him and so he soon walked out of the marriage as his eyes were full of greater vision of serving India. Reading Swami Vivekanand changed him completely as a person. He heard his inner voice and focused on serving for India. He was deeply touched and inspired by Swami Vivekanand and wanted to follow his footsteps. He traveled for 2-3 years where he completed his sannyas practice. During this period of travelling he had also visited several ashrams of Swami Vivekanand. Inspired by Swami Vivekanand’s books and his work he had developed inclination towards spiritualism. He went on to the strict disciplined monk life, sacrificing most worldly pleasures. He gave up eating oil, jaggery, chillies and even salt.
One which constantly remained on Narendra ji’s mind since childhood was serving mother India. In younger days this seemed possible through joining Indian army. Narendra Modi ji was very keen on learning at Sainik School nearby Jamnagar. But his family opposed this decision and also the fees were not affordable at that time. He was surely disappointed. But as we say, if your goals are and willpower is strong the universal power will help you getting to your goals by either way. And his determination embarked on the unique path that took him across India. What he had vision himself serving mother India, universe gave him bigger platform and opportunities to grab. Surely this was all possible with sheer hard work, dedication and determination.
Start in politics : Bharatiya Janata Party
In 1978, Narendra Modi ji secured a B.A. Degree in political science School of Open Univiversity at Delhi University. Five years later he also received masters of Art Degree at Gujrat University as an distant learning student. While studying he was also very active in RSS group which led him to join Bharatiya Janata Party BJP around 1987. Over the years hard work and consistency in 1995 he was recognized as a key strategist for BJP campaigns for the party. He had revamped the organization in various states successfully. He was also appointed as general secretary for BJP. In 2001, he was replaced as chief minister of Gujrat state.
Life has its up and downs. Every promotion is tested by life leaving you in controvercial situation making you stronger and shine like a diamond. Narendra Modi ji’s graph was no different.
On becoming chief minister Narendra Modi ji faced lot of criticism and controversies.
- During communal riots held in Gujrat in 2001, he was accused of ignoring the killing of more than 1000 muslims that arise after dozens of Hindu passengers were killed in the train in Godhra where the train was set on fire.
- In 2004, the side effect of riot was a case, where a death of a woman and 3 men from Lashkar –e-Taiba happened. (terrorist from 2008 Mumbai terror attack). They were alleged of plotting to assassinate Narendra Modi.
- In 2005, United States declined him to issue diplomatic visa on the grounds of being responsible for the riots. Some of his fellows were held guilty for the actions during the riots but the proceedings never happened against him as there were no confirm proofs of his involvement.
Besides all these allegations and conditions, he kept his path of good workd and serving India which led him a strong leader in BJP party. In several elections held in 2002, 2007 and 2012 secured more than 100+ seats in assembly and securing his own seat. He was repeatedly elected as chief minister for Gujrat State.
Day of Dreams: Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India!
After that there was no looking back and finally in 2014 elections we got our new Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji whose works speak more than his words. His back to back wins at elections prove his credibility and a vision to take India onto next level which was a much need step. His reforms for improving road transport, schemes for rurals, digitizing India, a great and indeed risk bearing action of demonetization improved Indian systems. Programs such as startups and finance funding and liberalize rules on direct foreign investment in the country gave a new face to India. His diplomatic achievements of meeting presidents of various countries which includes United States, China were highly successful.
Narendra Modi always promotes Hindu culture which was once fading away. Recently where he inaugurated the Ram Mandir and the grand event of Ram Pratisthapan held at Ayodhya in Madhya Pradesh, his involvement was sure to be recognized. Being a prime minister of India is indeed with hectic schedules. But instead of just attending the Ram Lalla pran pratisthan formally just a last minute visit like any other prime minister would have done it. But he took out his complete time and involved himself in the process. Narendra Modi ji followed the 11 day Anusthan ritual which included a rigid strict diet of just coconut water and fruits, sleeping on the floor and feeding cows. I see no other Prime Minister doing this much till now. It was commendable and a great lesson to be learned on how a person should be attached to his roots even in or at the highest position on the career front.
I haven’t particularly discussed his recent achievements as his work says it all. His political achievements and changes have been recognized worldwide and accepted with love. All I wanted to focus was his childhood and struggles to be known from the blog. If there is one word that describes Narendra Modi ji and stayed with him since childhood to now is his vision to serve Mother India.
It is indeed a story of rising phoenix from burning ashes!