Every minute of PM Narendra Modi’s life is dedicated to the nation: Acharya Devvrat

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed a historic milestone as India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, in the latest episode of The JC Show, reflected on his leadership, work ethic and public connect in an extensive conversation. Speaking about Modi’s rise from humble beginnings, his years as Gujarat Chief Minister, his continued popularity, personal simplicity and commitment to national service, Devvrat shared several personal anecdotes, including an incident that highlighted the Prime Minister’s attention to people even amid demanding responsibilities. He also discussed Modi’s vision for farmers, the National Natural Farming Mission and the transformative impact of development initiatives across Gujarat and India.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has surpassed the 62-year-old record of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to become the longestserving elected Prime Minister of India. As an ordinary citizen, how do you view this achievement?
  Acharya Devvrat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s journey is undoubtedly an inspiration for future generations. He has demonstrated that in a democracy, a person can reach the highest positions through hard work, honesty and dedication. Jawaharlal Nehru came from a family that inherited considerable privilege and was born into a prosperous household. He also received significant support from Mahatma Gandhi. Narendra Modi, on the other hand, emerged from a life marked by struggle and sacrifice.
  In today’s democracy, where we often see considerations of caste and social divisions in elections, I feel that the community to which Modi is said to belong is relatively small. Yet through his dedication and work ethic, he has earned a place in the hearts of 1.4 billion Indians. This is the result of his vision, the largeness of his heart and a life devoted entirely to the welfare of humanity. That is why he has become a leader of the masses.
• You are not only an ordinary citizen but also the Governor of the state from which Narendra Modi hails and where he served as Chief Minister for nearly 13 years. How do you assess his tenure as Chief Minister and Prime Minister while holding a constitutional office?
  I travel extensively across villages in Gujarat and spend a great deal of time among the people. I regularly hear stories about Modi’s work from ordinary citizens. The affection people have for him is remarkable.
  Many villagers tell me that there was a time when water scarcity was so severe that two women from a household would spend the entire day carrying pots on their heads just to fetch drinking water. Today, there is tap water connectivity, drip irrigation systems for farmers, extensive canal networks, roads reaching villages and electricity available across rural areas.
  Wherever I go in Gujarat’s villages, I see prosperity, and people often attribute it to Narendra Modi’s leadership. Many tell me that had these changes not taken place, they would have been forced to migrate.
  Gujaratis today are present in nearly 170 countries around the world. One reason for this was that village life had once become extremely difficult because of droughts and a lack of facilities, forcing people to leave their homes and seek opportunities elsewhere. However, when people talk about Gujarat’s development model today, they say with satisfaction that it was because of “Bade Saheb” that Gujarat evolved into its present form.
• Political observers in Delhi and Ahmedabad are often surprised that Narendra Modi, whether as CM or PM, appears largely immune to antiincumbency. How do you explain this?
  I have observed the same thing. He has completed 12 years as Prime Minister & had an equally long tenure as CM, yet his popularity continues to grow. The reason, in my view, is his belief in putting nation first. Every citizen of India is part of his larger family, and his thinking is always centred on public welfare. It is not merely a matter of intent; it is also reflected in his actions.
  It is difficult to find another leader in independent India who has worked with such intensity and dedication. Throughout his long political career, he has not taken a single holiday. By God’s grace, he has maintained a disciplined and healthy lifestyle and remains physically fit. He himself serves as an inspiration for healthy living.
  Whether in Gujarat or at the national level, he has simplified people’s lives and advanced the country on the path of development. Young people see it, farmers see it, women see it and children see it. India has lifted 250 million people out of poverty over the past decade. One can see the expansion of railway networks, road infrastructure, airports, industrial growth and countless welfare schemes. There are so many initiatives that it becomes difficult to list them all.
• Despite spending years in public life, Narendra Modi does not own a house in Ahmedabad. You have been Governor for seven years, and when he visits Ahmedabad, he stays in a small room at Raj Bhavan. What is his routine like during such visits? Does he also seek feedback on natural farming and alternative healthcare?
  The level of sacrifice and austerity in his life is extraordinary. He possesses virtually nothing in the name of personal property. He genuinely believes that the progress of others is his own progress.
  He arrives with remarkable simplicity. Even during foreign visits, he tries to meet leaders of several countries in a single trip to save time and avoid unnecessary expenditure. He pays attention to even the smallest details to ensure maximum time is devoted to serving the country. The Raj Bhavan in Gujarat is relatively modest. The room in which he stays is extremely simple. I have never seen him seek five-star or sevenstar luxuries. Even while staying there, his schedule remains packed. He spends the day addressing public meetings and attending programmes, and after returning, he continues with meetings until 11 pm or midnight.
  One meeting follows another. The way he utilises every minute for national work is beyond imagination.
• When he stays at Raj Bhavan during Ahmedabad visits, do family members, close friends or relatives come to meet him?
  I have not seen anything of that sort. If someone comes, it is generally in connection with an important national mission or official work. He does not allow time to be wasted.
  For him, entire country is his family. I have never seen casual social gatherings or idle conversations. Meetings do take place, but they are focused on specific subjects. I have never witnessed a situation where someone came merely to pass time or where time was being spent unproductively.
• PM Modi has been working for years to increase farmers’ incomes. What role can your natural farming drive play in the mission?
  The Prime Minister has introduced numerous schemes for farmers during his tenure, and they have significantly improved farmers’ conditions.
  He has also recognised that the excessive use of fertilisers, urea and pesticides has made the soil toxic and depleted its organic carbon content. Consumption of urea and DAP continues to rise each year, affecting the environment, public health and soil fertility.
  That is why he is promoting natural farming as a nationwide mission. Last year, natural farming was institutionalised as the National Natural Farming Mission, with a dedicated budget for implementation across the country. He repeatedly encourages farmers to return to natural farming so that future generations can live healthy lives and so that the environment, water resources and soil health can be preserved.
  Natural farming improves soil quality, conserves water and protects the environment. It does not reduce productivity. In fact, it is entirely different from conventional organic farming. Natural farming is based on cultivating beneficial microorganisms. It is cow-based. One gram of dung from an indigenous cow contains more than three billion bacteria, which improve soil quality.
  Through preparations such as Jeevamrit and Ghrit Jeevamrit, these microorganisms multiply rapidly. As earthworms and beneficial insects increase, soil carbon levels improve naturally. Farmers’ input costs become negligible, and there is no question of production declining.
• On Bharat24, there has been a programme for the past four years called “Untold Stories of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” where people recount personal experiences with him. Having served as Governor for seven years, is there any particular experience involving the PM that you would like to share?
  There are many experiences I could share, but due to time constraints, I’ll mention one. As part of the Natural Farming Mission, I regularly travel to villages, stay in schools, interact with farmers, join cleanliness drives, share meals with SC/ST families, and even work in the fields. During one such farmers’ programme in Bhuj, attended by 500–600 farmers, I was making my way down a crowded staircase after the event when I found myself being jostled from all sides.
  While speaking to people on the staircase, my foot slipped and landed several steps below. I suffered a severe jolt to my lower back and experienced intense pain. Somehow I managed to return, but the pain remained severe. Three days later, the Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Ahmedabad. Under protocol, I was required to receive him and accompany him during the visit. I was worried because of the injury. I applied heat therapy, practised some yoga exercises and managed to make myself fit enough to walk. On the day of the visit, as per protocol, the Governor receives the PM first, followed by CM. The moment I greeted him, his first question was, “How is your back pain?” Even Raj Bhavan officials were unaware of my injury, yet he knew. That thoughtful concern and attention to detail left a lasting impression on me.
  Coincidentally, he was travelling directly to Raj Bhavan that day, and on several occasions he has invited me to travel with him to save time. As we travelled together, he again asked about my condition and advised me not to neglect the injury, saying that back pain can be very troublesome and should be treated properly. Just think about it.
  Despite carrying immense national and global responsibilities, Prime Minister Modi took the time to inquire about my back injury. Such concern and attentiveness are difficult to forget. This is how he connects with people, and I have heard many similar experiences from others as well.