NaMo’S HEART WINNING FORMULA

A Swayamsevak recalls his experiences working with Modi in Vadodara - Mukund Shah, Gujarat

Once he had come home and my son, who lives in America, had come home to meet us. So Narendra bhai’s discussion was all about technology, development in America etc. When I tried to interrupt and asked him to interact with us as well, he said “No, I wish to talk to your son first.” So since his earlier days, he has been development oriented and has kept himself abreast of latest technological innovations in the world.

Another time he came home and remarked “What have you changed in this house?” I said “Narendra bhai, there have been no changes. Why do you feel so? It is just the same.” But he insisted that there had been changes.

Just then, my wife entered the room and she responded to Narendra bhai confirming that indeed the last time when he visited, the house looked different as some renovation had been done recently. So what I am trying to say is that Narendra bhai’s observation is extremely sharp and he does not forget once he’s seen something. His eye for detail is almost supernatural.

Once I went to meet him when he was the Chief Minister. Well, I must tell my readers that I did not have a prior appointment that day. I was visiting Gandhinagar for some personal work and I felt inclined to go and meet him. I went to his home just to meet him as an acquaintance. But when I reached his house, the security personnel said to me “Today saheb is not meeting anyone. He has not given an appointment to anybody.” So I respected that and I turned to go back when the security personnel announced over the mic that a gentleman called Mukund Shah from Vadodara would like to meet the CM.

So he told his security staff to let me in. When I went in to meet Narendra bhai, he met me with great love and affection. I could not but admire his downto-earth demeanour. Someone as busy as him, the CM of a state & a thorough professional, it is not easy for such a person to take time out for people. But for him, personal relationships matter and he makes time for them. See I had not taken an appointment and that he met me that day, is just his greatness. It is something that only Narendra bhai can do. Not just this, I did not feel that he was in any hurry to send me off. He met me as if he had all the time in the world for me. In fact, I myself took his leave as I felt that I should not be taking up much of CM’s time. So, this incident showed how much Narendra bhai values his personal relationships, irrespective of his position and of the work that he has to complete in his professional day-to-day life.

MODI CONSIDERS KARYAKARTAS’ FAMILIES AS HIS OWN! - Vinod Gadkar, Gujarat

Modiji was a regular visitor to my home. He is simple, easy going and his visits were not work-related all the time. He would come to my place just to meet us or for a chitchat. And he used to address my mother as “Vahini” which is the marathi for “bhabhi”, i.e. sister-in-law. And whenever he felt that he had to visit Shantaben, he would not think twice before coming home. When Modiji got elected for the first time, the first place he visited was Jagannath Mandir in Ahmedabad for darshan. And his next stop was my place because he used to treat my mother like his own. My mother welcomed him with great love and pride and the first thing my wife and mother did was to do his aarti which is a Hindu ritual to bless someone. We offered him sweets to celebrate his well-deserved success. We have a jhoola in our house and he went and took his seat there, just like he always used to do when he visited as Sangh Pracharak. I could see no change in him and he was completely calm and easy, just as we always knew him.

It was my son’s marriage in 2005 and my mother, my wife & I, we reached CM bungalow to invite him for the wedding. He offered us ‘Pooranpoli,’ a famous sweet that is loved by Maharashtrians. He also assured us that he would attend my son’s wedding saying “I will be there 100%!” Well, he honoured his word and I want to share with my readers, that when he arrived, his cavalcade of security personnel remained outside and there was no fanfare. He came to the event like an ordinary person and met all our guests and just became one with the crowd. His greatness lies in simplicity and he met everyone with love and humility and took a chair amongst all the guests. When it was time for dinner, as a mark of reverence, we offered to bring his plate to the chair where he was seated. But how could that be possible when it is CM Modi?

He got up and took his plate and had dinner with everyone and after that, he left the gathering winning everyone’s heart!

When my mother left for her heavenly abode, he was with us in this hour of grief. He was filled with emotion because my mother loved him like her own son; in fact, she had a soft corner for him and probably loved him more than she loved me. He took three rounds around the place where her body was kept and paid homage to her. He stood in silence for an hour close to her and later left to meet other commitments.

Even after attaining such heights, he would remember us and inquired about me and the well-being of my brother. Once I got COVID and he found this out from someone. When I got discharged from the hospital, I received a call from him and he said “Vinod dada, how are you? Hope all is well and you’re feeling better.” It was a short call but was enough to lift my spirits. He keeps in touch with people he cares about. It is the hallmark of a great leader who does not forget his friends who were there with him in earlier days.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHWETA SHARMA AND SHASHIKANT SHARMA