At 75, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi represents a rare convergence of personal discipline, political conviction, and national transformation. His life story, which began in the small town of Vadnagar in Gujarat, has become inseparable from India’s own journey of economic growth, social reform, and global reassertion. As he reaches this milestone, Chhattisgarh too completes 25 years of its formation, creating a moment of shared reflection.

Between 2014 and 2018, I had the privilege of serving in his cabinet. Those years offered an inside view of his leadership — decisive, disciplined, and determined to ensure that resource-rich states like Chhattisgarh gained from national policies. Reforms to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, for instance, enhanced the share of mineral-bearing states and continue to strengthen our economy.

PM Modi’s association with Chhattisgarh predates its statehood. Between 1998 and 2000, when the region was part of Madhya Pradesh, he was organisational in-charge of the BJP and built lasting ties. In 2018, he inaugurated India’s first Health and Wellness Centre under Ayushman Bharat in Bijapur, Bastar — an enduring symbol of his belief that development must reach the remotest villages.

Bastar, once synonymous with Maoist violence, is changing. Roads, schools, and markets are replacing fear and isolation. Over 450 Maoists, including senior leaders, have been neutralised, and the target is to make the state Maoist-free by 2026. This transformation reflects the Centre’s dual approach of security and development.

National programmes have directly touched lives........

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