Opinion | A Fauji's Salute To India's Longest-Serving Prime Minister

Updated: Jun 11, 2026 09:02 am IST Published On Jun 11, 2026 08:54 am IST Last Updated On Jun 11, 2026 09:02 am IST

Published On Jun 11, 2026 08:54 am IST

Last Updated On Jun 11, 2026 09:02 am IST

The year was 2013. I had just returned to my ooru (village) after serving the Indian Army. Like many young Indians of my generation, I stood at a crossroads. I knew I wanted to continue serving the nation, but I was still searching for the path through which I could do so. The country too stood at a crossroads.

Across India, there was a growing feeling that our nation was capable of much more than what it had settled for. In villages, towns and cities, a different energy was beginning to take shape. People were speaking about aspiration, confidence and possibility. At the centre of that conversation stood Narendra Modi, then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, whose message resonated with millions of Indians who wanted to see a stronger, more self-confident Bharat.

And in June 2013, I was given the responsibility of the District General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Dakshina Kannada. The uniform changed, but the mission remained the same - Nation First.

We campaigned not merely for a party, but for an idea. An idea that India could be stronger, more confident, more self-reliant and more respected in the world.

A decade later, I had the privilege of taking oath as a Member of Parliament in the team led by the very leader who had inspired millions of young Indians to dream bigger.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes India's longest-serving PM, I find myself reflecting not only on the transformation of the nation, but also on the extraordinary opportunities this period has created for ordinary Indians like me.

The last two years have been among the most consequential years in recent global history. The world continues to grapple with geopolitical conflicts, energy security concerns, economic uncertainty and the persistent threat of terrorism. As a Member of Parliament associated with discussions relating to energy and defence, I have had the opportunity to observe many of these developments from close quarters.

But what taught me a lot about India's place in the world were the two international assignments entrusted to me during my maiden term in Parliament. 

The first came in May 2025. In the aftermath of 'Operation Sindoor', I was chosen as part of an all-party delegation tasked with carrying India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism to the world. Our engagements took us across Moscow, Madrid, Athens, Ljubljana, Riga. As a fauji, this assignment carried special significance.

For decades, India was often compelled to explain the reality of........

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