Modi@75: From pracharak to Prime Minister, a life in politics and public service
As Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi celebrates his 75th birthday on Wednesday, his journey from a humble pracharak of the RSS to India’s most consequential and popular leader offers a profound insight into a life dedicated to siddhant (principles), sewa (service), samarpan (devotion), sangathan (organisation), sangharsh (struggle), and sushasan (good governance).
Modi’s journey began in a modest lower-middle-class family in Vadnagar, Gujarat. His early years as an RSS pracharak shaped his worldview instilling discipline, nationalism and sense of selfless service. As a pracharak, he travelled across India organising programmes and volunteers, living ascetically and participating in various movements including the anti-Emergency struggle, campaigns he would be destined to bring to their logical conclusion such as the removal of Articles 370 & 35A, and the building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Transitioning from pracharak to politician, karyakarta Modi’s organisational acumen was remarkable when he, as the national general secretary of BJP, orchestrated campaigns that elevated the party’s national presence. As chief minister (CM) of Gujarat, he transformed the state post-2001 earthquake and made the BJP an unbeatable force in the state. Since then, the BJP hasn’t lost any election in Gujarat.
Growing up, Modi’s mother Heeraben was a cornerstone of his moral compass, instilling values of integrity and hard work and famously advising him, “Narendra, don’t ever........





















Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Tarik Cyril Amar
Sabine Sterk
Stefano Lusa
Mort Laitner
Ellen Ginsberg Simon
Mark Travers Ph.d
Gilles Touboul
Daniel Orenstein