A SAGA OF FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP!

Modi’s old bonding with Baldev Giri Maharaj, Valinath Mandir - Swami Jayram Giri, Mahant, Valinath Mahadev Mandir, Mehsana, Gujarat / Ranchhod Desai, MLA and former minister, Gujarat / Rasila Rayka, Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently took part in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Valinath Mahadev temple at Talabh in Gujarat’s Mehsana, which is one of the largest temples in north Gujarat. But his association with the temple is long, especially with Mahantshri Baldev Giri ji Maharaj, with whom he had a strong bonding. So, whenever Modi ji met Guru ji, the latter applied Bhasma Tilak on his forehead. Even if Guru ji forgot to do so, Modi ji would remind him and urge him to apply the holy tilak on his forehead. It was a deep bonding of guru and disciple. During CM Modi’s Sadbhavna Mission in Gujarat, when he was keeping fast, it was Guru ji who conducted the ritual to break the fast.

Even way back when he was an RSS pracharak, Modi ji used to spend long hours with Baldev Giri Bapu and listen to him intently. After becoming the CM of the state for the first time, Modi ji had straight come to meet his Guru and seek his blessings. He was so closely associated with his principles and his affection that when he passed away, Modi ji personally called up the members of the community and expressed his deep condolence at the loss and counted it as his personal grief.

While being the CM, the news of the worsening health condition of Guru ji once reached Modi ji’s office. He immediately took a break from his work and himself suggested Ayurvedic treatment for him for his early recovery. He got the medicines noted down and sent them to Guru ji, asking to ensure those were taken regularly and on time. The temple’s Pran Pratishtha thus holds special significance for the PM, which is why he made it a point to attend the ceremony.

Narendra Modi: Man of perfect execution and thoroughness - Amarnath Sharma, BJP leader, Himachal Pradesh

During the Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra of Lal Krishna Advani, Narendra Modi was the in-charge of the whole programme. On its way to Kashmir, the Yatra took a halt at Jwalamukhi in Himachal Pradesh. I was among the party functionaries responsible for the overall arrangements during the stay of the leaders. Yatra was to proceed towards Nurpur and Pathankot very next morning.

Modi ji called the local MLA and two karyakartas and asked them to take a vehicle immediately and proceed for a recce of the route the Yatra was about to take. We were all surprised as to what was the purpose of such a recce just a day before the journey. But Modi ji’s thoughts were always ahead of the rest and he could see what others couldn’t.

He asked the party men to see carefully if the road till Nurpur was perfectly suitable for the travel of the Rath Yatra. He asked them to ensure the height of the tunnels on the way should be suitable, i.e. not too low, so that they could comfortably accommodate Advani ji’s chariot and there must be no obstacles on the road like narrow bridges or any gateways that could trouble progress of the Yatra in any way.

Incidentally, there were quite a few obstacles that were noticed in the quick survey by karyakartas. Here we realised farsightedness of Modi ji. Alternative routes were then immediately finalised and the Yatra was thus taken through those bypass routes so that the obstacles on the main route could be skirted. By midnight of that day, Modi ji had fully prepared the route map, knowing exactly where to take turns, which roads to leave or take and how to maneuver the Yatra for its smooth passage.

Also, I remember, on that day Advani ji was not keeping too well, while he had plans to visit a temple the same evening. To ensure that everything was smooth and safe for the party stalwart, Modi ji sent two karyakartas to go and count the number of stairs to the temple and the height of the stairs to check if Advani ji would be comfortable enough to climb the height, given his health condition. Such was his concern and meticulous planning that nothing could go wrong once he was at the helm. Advani ji finally dropped the plan to visit the temple that night and took up the journey the next morning for better safety.

Modi ji had told us, that Advani ji is very much needed for nation. His safety and well-being should be paramount to us. Keeping this in mind, he did all planning and took action within a matter of hours, even before anyone could think of these.

Today when the media asks, how does Modi ji do all the work so perfectly and in time, they must know that the steps Modi ji takes have their planning in his mind for months. When the time comes, the organisation seems pitch-perfect, but all the arrangements for the same are already decided in Modi ji’s mind much before the actual manifestation. Such is his unique organisational caliber.