Prime Minister Modi celebrates his 74th birthday today. Starting as an RSS worker, he has now entered his third term as Prime Minister, showcasing a notable trajectory of success within the BJP. Hailing from Gujarat, he has transitioned from a modest upbringing to become the longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister in India. Narendra Damodardas Modi hails from Vadnagar, Gujarat, born into a middle-class Hindu family without political ties. Throughout his journey, he has encountered significant occurrences such as the 2002 riots and the implementation of key policies like the GST, CAA, and the revocation of Article 370. Modi assumed the office of Prime Minister of India for a third consecutive term on June 9, making him only the second leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve this milestone. He holds the distinction of being the country's longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister. Modi, an erstwhile member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has guided Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to significant victories in three consecutive general elections.
Turning 74 today, Modi's journey from a humble RSS worker to three-time Prime Minister of India is worth noting.
September 17, 1950: Narendra Damodardas Modi, the third of six children, was born in Vadnagar, Gujarat.
1965: India-Pakistan war erupts over Jammu and Kashmir. Modi provides tea at Vadnagar railway station.
1971- Modi becomes a member of the RSS. Participates in Janasangh satyagraha in Delhi under the leadership of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, organized to enlist volunteers for the Bangladesh war.
1974- Engages in protests against the economic crisis in Gujarat.
1975- Appointed as general secretary of the Gujarat Lok Sangarsh Samiti, an RSS committee that coordinates opposition to the Emergency in Gujarat. The RSS will be prohibited shortly. Modi was compelled to conceal his whereabouts in Gujarat and resorted to traveling incognito to evade arrest, adopting disguises such as a monk and a Sikh on separate occasions. In 1978, he assumed the role of a regional organizer for the RSS, overseeing operations in Surat and Vadodara. The following year, he served in Delhi focusing on researching and documenting the RSS's account of the Emergency. 1980 marked the establishment of the BJP, leading to Modi's involvement with the party. In 1983, he attained his MA in Political Science through Gujarat University as an external student. Subsequently, in 1987, Modi joined the BJP and was later appointed as the general secretary of Gujarat BJP in 1988. The year concluded with the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh in December 1992. The protestors allege that the Masjid was constructed on the birth site of Lord Ram. Over 2000 individuals perish in the riots that followed.
1995- The BJP secures victory in 121 out of the 182 seats in the Gujarat assembly. Modi was appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP on October 7, 2001 following Keshubhai Patel's resignation as Chief Minister of Gujarat in the aftermath of an earthquake. Modi surpasses Patel to become Gujarat's lengthiest-serving Chief Minister. February 24, 2002: Modi secures victory in the Gujarat assembly by-election in Rajkot II constituency, triumphing over Ashwin Mehta of the Congress. February 27, 2002: A train transporting Hindu pilgrims from Ayodhya, following a event to destroy the Babri Masjid site, is engulfed in flames in Godhra, Gujarat. February 2002: Riots ensue in the aftermath of the Godhra incident. More than 1,000 individuals, primarily of the Muslim faith, lost their lives. Modi has faced criticism, both domestically and internationally, for his perceived inadequate response to quell riots during his tenure as Chief Minister. In April 2002, he offered his resignation at the BJP national executive meeting in Goa, which was not accepted. Subsequently, on December 22, 2002, Modi was sworn in for a second term as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. In 2005, the US State Department declined to grant Modi a travel Visa, citing concerns over religious 'intolerance', a decision that sparked controversy in India. By July 2007, Modi had completed 2,063 consecutive days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, becoming the longest-serving holder of that position. In the same year, BJP emerged victorious in the Gujarat assembly polls, securing 117 seats. Modi is elected as Chief Minister for the third time. In 2008, Modi successfully convinces Tata Motors to relocate its factory for manufacturing the Nano car to Gujarat from West Bengal amidst farmer protests. On October 22, 2012, British High Commissioner James Bevan meets with Modi to engage in discussions regarding business and investment opportunities. The meeting marked the conclusion of the United Kingdom's ten-year diplomatic boycott of Modi following the deaths of three British citizens in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
December 2012 - Modi secures a fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister of Gujarat. BJP secures victory in 115 out of 182 seats.
January 7, 2013: European Union ambassadors dine with Modi at the residence of the German ambassador in New Delhi. The luncheon concluded a ten-year informal boycott of Modi.
June 9, 2013- Modi is appointed as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.
2014- BJP secures majority with 282 seats in Lok Sabha polls. Modi emerges victorious in the elections in Vadodara and Varanasi. On May 18, 2014, the United States ends a ten-year Visa ban on Modi. President Obama extended an invitation to Washington for Prime Minister Modi on May 26, 2014. After the BJP's significant victory, Modi was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India. The BJP government commenced the 'Make in India' campaign on September 25, 2015, to showcase India as a top global manufacturing hub. On October 2, 2014, PM Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the country's largest cleanliness initiative, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. In 2015, the Digital India campaign was initiated to enhance electronic availability of government services through improved online connectivity. On November 8, 2016, PM Modi announced the immediate demonetization of ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes in a televised national address. The Goods and Services Tax was introduced on June 1, 2017. - The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has replaced various federal and state taxes.
- May 20, 2019 - Prime Minister Modi is featured on the cover page of TIME magazine.
- May 30, 2019 - Modi successfully leads BJP to victory in the Lok Sabha elections, 2019. Modi has been inaugurated for a second term as Prime Minister.
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