Born in a small village in the state of Gujarat in western India in 1950 to a tea shop owner’s family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made history by becoming the first prime minister to achieve three consecutive terms since Jawaharlal Nehru. The support for Modi, who significantly boosted the Indian economy since taking office in 2014, led him to victory in the recent election, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Modi, who comes from a Sudra (artisan) background, near the lowest caste in India’s caste system, sold ‘chai’ (Indian-style milk tea) at a makeshift tea stall at the train station in his childhood. Referring to himself as the ‘voice of the underprivileged,’ Modi utilized his humble background to advocate for the common man in politics.
In contrast to past prime ministers who were educated in prestigious universities like Cambridge and Oxford in the UK, Modi, a domestic Indian, graduated from Delhi University in New Delhi, primarily using Hindi and Gujarati languages.
Modi’s personal life is shrouded in mystery. He is known to be single, with no children, and prefers a simple and ascetic lifestyle. It is said that Modi was married once at the age of 18 to a woman named Jashodaben, but they reportedly had a modest ceremony and did not live together.
A devout Hindu, Modi immersed himself deeply in Hinduism from the early days of his political career, joining the National Volunteer Corps (RSS), the parent organization of the current ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Due to the strict conditions of celibacy imposed by the RSS for its members, Modi reportedly concealed the fact of his marriage. Modi has been involved with Hindu nationalist organizations like the RSS since the early stages of his political career.
Modi faced criticism in 2002 during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat for his alleged involvement in the “Muslim massacres.” The violence, perpetrated by Hindu extremists, resulted in the deaths of around 1,000 to 2,000 Muslims. The Gujarat state government was accused of displaying a biased attitude, including the police’s alleged complicity in the attacks.
When the Indian Supreme Court attempted to investigate Modi’s actions at that time, he focused on resolving the state’s significant financial deficit, building roads, and improving power supply. In 2003, Modi organized the “Vibrant Gujarat” investment summit, where Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, one of India’s largest conglomerates, announced plans for multi-billion dollar investments.
Under Modi’s leadership, Gujarat state achieved an annual growth rate of over 9% due to innovations in infrastructure and industry sectors. This success, known as the “Gujarat Model,” became synonymous with development and government efficiency. Modi joined the BJP in 1987, based on the RSS, as Hindu nationalism gained momentum, leading to the resurgence of the BJP, a previously minor party. The “Gujarat Model” displayed during his tenure as Chief Minister became a blueprint for India, culminating in Modi’s election as Prime Minister in 2014 in a landslide victory for the BJP.