MODI'S MOSAIC OF MILESTONES!

A LEADER BEYOND DESIGNATION - Ghanshyam Thacker Bhuj Mayor, Gujarat

On August 28, 2022 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Smriti Van Memorial in Bhuj, Gujarat. This memorial was built as a tribute to the spirit of the people in the face of the devastating earthquake that shook Gujarat in 2001.

Modi as Gujarat CM had thought of having such a memorial, which he fulfilled as the Prime Minister of India. As a unique initiative, a sapling was planted in the memorial for every life lost in the quake.

The 470-acre unique memorial is situated on Bhujiyo Hill near Bhuj town. The memorial showcases and salutes the indomitable spirit of the people of Bhuj who came out of this tragedy that killed over 13,000 people on January 26, 2001.

Names of all those people who perished in the quake have been inscribed in the memorial. The state-of-the-art museum at the memorial also exhibits the situation in the town at the time of the quake and how things changed drastically through initiating and expediting development projects.

Just imagine what the situation was after the earthquake and look at the same place now. The place has been developed so beautifully. For a large number of children who had lost their lives in the catastrophe, a Bal Tilak Smarak has also been constructed at the place.

Narendra Modi ji came here at that time. He heard our pains and travails and started planning ways to develop the area and make us self dependent. Kutch was broken. Whatever we have today is due to Narendra Bhai. He was only a party worker (karyakarta) at that time. Yet he took the initiative and played a pivotal role in the reconstruction of the region. After he became the CM, he changed the whole landscape.

RESURRECTING INDIA’S GREATS TO INSPIRE YOUTH - Hardeep Puri, Union Minister / Sita Nayak, Valsad, Gujarat / Bharatsinh Parmar, Former Rajya Sabha MP, Gujarat

The historic Veeranjali Yatra in August 2003 was a tribute to freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma by Narendra Modi. Shyamji Krishna Varma passed away in 1930 and his ashes were kept safe in Geneva in a bank locker. He had wished that his ashes be immersed in independent India only.

Even after 56 years of India’s freedom, nobody took cognizance of Shyamji’s ashes. Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat went to Geneva and brought back his ashes in 2003. Narendra Modi then embarked on over 2000 kilometre Veeranjali Yatra starting from Mumbai to 17 districts of Gujarat where people paid their tributes to this great freedom fighter.

Shyamji Krishna Varma had established the Indian Sociologist and the Indian Home Rule Society in London in 1905, through which he helped India’s freedom struggle. Modi ji himself contacted the government in that country, went to Geneva and carried back the urns with the ashes himself, as a fitting tribute to the stalwart of India’s freedom struggle.

He carried out a mega rally Veeranjali Yatra all over Gujarat with Varma’s ashes. Thousands of people from all walks of life stood on the roads and paid their tributes by offering flowers as the Yatra containing the urns passed by. The Yatra ended at Varma’s birthplace at Mandvi.

This served as a landmark event in inspiring the youth and making them aware of the contributions of great men like Shyamji Krishna Varma. Foundation of Krantiteerth Memorial was laid on October 4, 2009. On December 13, 2010, Narendra Modi dedicated it to the nation.

INDIA’S AWAKENING ALWAYS ON HIS MIND - Dr Bharat Dangar, Former Mayor, Vadodara City, Gujarat / Harshadgiri Gosai, Gujarat

Determined to realise the dream of Swami Vivekananda, Narendra Modi organised ‘Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra’ from Becharaji in Gujarat on September 11, 2012. This journey lasted for a month, culminating in Pavagadh. Through this event, Narendra Modi called upon the youth of the country to make India a world leader again by following the path of Swami Vivekananda. Swami ji had said, “I am seeing with my eyes. Bharat Mata has once again awakened,” Modi said.

September 11 was an auspicious day as we celebrate the day as Digvijay Day. On this day Swami ji had given his historic speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago (US), introducing the greatness of the Hindu religion and culture to the world.

The highlight of the Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra was a 15-ft imposing statue of Swami Vivekananda that became the face of the whole campaign. Narendra Bhai worked hard to make the Yatra successful by taking it to all corners of Gujarat and making it the centre of people’s life and culture.

The purpose was the awakening of the youth. The purpose was to unite the youth power of the whole country by circulating a strong message. The rally reached Vadodara on September 25, birth anniversary of Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya. Swami Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Parishad was established, in which more than 50,000 youth came to be members of the Parishad and listen to Narendra Modi.

Modi ji said, “If we all together dream of making Mother India the lord of the universe, and if millions of Indians sacrifice their dreams for this one dream, there is no power in the world that can stop us from becoming so.”

A FAR SIGHTED LEADER - Arvind Brahmbhatt, Bharuch, Gujarat / Kirti Khatri, Journalist / Pushpdan Gadhavi, Former MP, Gujarat

We extensively toured Kutch during a visit with Narendra Modi way back in 1988. We know that Narendrabhai has this unique quality of picking up the smallest things that clicks him.

It was during the trip that we had also visited the White Rann. Casually Narendrabhai had told us that this natural beauty is a unique place in the world. It is a wonder of nature. This should be spread across the world. And now we all know how true he was!

The first Rann Utsav was a 3-day affair during the winters, named Shardotsav, which now extends into an event of more than 100 days and is attended by thousands of people every year. Hundreds of locals have hence got employment while catering to tourism.

It is Narendrabhai’s uncanny ability that turned a nondescript place into a land of opportunities. Modi ji talked to the villagers and himself suggested to open homestays in their homes. People from 30-40 villages in the Kutch region bought into the idea and started earning from homestays. When the tent city gets filled up, several tourists take up the bhungas (traditional huts) as accommodation and soak in the local culture more closely. Poor locals earn so much in three months of the year during the Rann Utsav season that it suffices for them for the rest of the year.

Today Dhordo has been adjudged among the world’s best tourism villages by the UN. The vision of Modi ji has worked wonders.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA