Introduction

On september 17, 2025, prime minister narendra modi turns 75, marking a milestone in the life of one of India's most transformative leaders. Born on this day in 1950 in the modest town of Vadnagar, gujarat, Modi's journey from a tea seller's son to the architect of modern india exemplifies resilience, vision, and an unwavering commitment to national progress. His political career, spanning over four decades, has been defined by bold decisions that have reshaped India's governance, propelled its economy to new heights, and elevated its stature on the global stage. As the world watches, Modi's 75th birthday is not just a personal celebration but a reflection of a nation's remarkable evolution under his stewardship.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Narendra Damodardas Modi was born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi and Hiraben Modi, the third of six children in a family of limited means. His father ran a tea stall near Vadnagar railway station, where young narendra often helped, serving passengers and instilling in him the values of hard work and service from an early age. At just nine years old, Modi organized relief efforts during floods, setting up a food stall to aid victims—a trait of selfless service that would define his life.

At 17, Modi left home to travel across india, exploring its spiritual and cultural landscapes, before joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a full-time pracharak. This period honed his organizational skills and ideological foundation. Entering politics with the bharatiya janata party (BJP), he rose swiftly: general secretary of BJP's gujarat unit in 1987, architect of the party's 1995 gujarat assembly victory, and chief minister in 2001. Over 13 years as gujarat cm, Modi transformed the state into an economic powerhouse, earning acclaim for initiatives like the Vibrant gujarat Summit and robust infrastructure development.

In 2014, Modi's national appeal led to a landslide bjp victory, making him India's 14th Prime Minister. Re-elected in 2019 and 2024, his tenure has been marked by a "high command" style of governance, emphasizing centralization, transparency, and citizen-centric reforms.

Transformative Policies in Governance

Modi's governance model—often summed up as "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance"—has revolutionized India's administrative framework. Key achievements include:

Digital india and JAM Trinity: Launching wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital india in 2015, Modi integrated Jan Dhan Yojana (financial inclusion), Aadhaar (biometric ID), and mobile (ubiquitous connectivity) to create the JAM trinity. This enabled direct benefit transfers, eliminating leakages and empowering over 500 million people with banking access. As Modi noted, it ensures "maximum value for every rupee spent."

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Initiated on Gandhi's birthday in 2014, this campaign built over 100 million toilets, achieving open defecation-free status for rural india by 2019. It symbolized a cultural shift towards cleanliness and public health.

PM GatiShakti: This national master plan integrates multi-modal infrastructure, reducing logistics costs and boosting exports. Under Modi, highway construction surged from 12 km/day to 36 km/day.

Welfare for the Marginalized: Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (housing for 40 million families), Ujjwala Yojana (LPG connections for 100 million women), and Ayushman Bharat (health insurance for 500 million) have uplifted the poor. niti aayog reports 250 million people escaped multidimensional poverty in nine years.

These reforms have instilled accountability, with india climbing in global ease-of-doing-business rankings from 142nd in 2014 to 63rd in 2020.

Initiative

Key Impact

Beneficiaries

Jan Dhan Yojana

Zero-balance accounts

500+ million

Swachh Bharat

Toilet construction

100+ million

Ayushman Bharat

Health coverage

500 million

PM Awas Yojana

Houses built

40 million

Economic Reforms and Growth

Modi's economic vision has steered india from a "fragile five" economy to the world's fifth-largest, with GDP projected at $4.18 trillion in 2025. Landmark reforms include:

Goods and services Tax (GST): Rolled out in 2017, GST unified India's tax regime, boosting revenue and compliance. It simplified business operations, contributing to a 7%+ annual growth rate.

Make in india and Startup India: These initiatives attracted $600 billion in FDI, fostering 100,000+ startups and tripling unicorns. India's Global Innovation Index ranking improved from 81st to 40th.

Atmanirbhar Bharat: Post-COVID self-reliance packages injected $500 billion into the economy, emphasizing manufacturing and MSMEs. Renewables capacity doubled to 200 GW, with india on track for net-zero by 2070.

Agricultural and Farmer Support: PM KISAN provided ₹6,000 annual aid to 120 million farmers, while Minimum Support Prices (MSP) hit record highs.

Under Modi, india aims for third-largest economy status by 2029, with unemployment challenges addressed through skill programs like PMKVY, training 12 million youth.

Elevating India's Global Image

Modi's diplomacy has positioned india as a "Vishwa Guru." Achievements include:

Neighborhood First and Act East: Strengthened ties with bhutan (Order of the Dragon King), uae (Order of Zayed), and QUAD partners, enhancing security amid Indo-Pacific tensions.

COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy: india supplied 200 million doses to 100+ countries via Vaccine Maitri, earning praise from leaders like Vietnam's PM: "Under Modi's leadership, india became the 5th largest economy."

G20 Presidency (2023): Themed "One Earth, One Family, One Future," it spotlighted the African Union and global south issues, with the New delhi Declaration resolving divides.

Climate Leadership: At COP26, Modi pledged net-zero by 2070, making india the only major economy on track for paris goals. He received the Seoul Peace prize (2018) and Global Goalkeeper Award.

World leaders laud Modi: US President trump called him a "great prime minister," while World bank President ajay Banga highlighted strong US-India ties.

75th Birthday Celebrations: service Over Spectacle

True to form, Modi's 75th birthday emphasizes seva. The BJP's "Sewa Pakhwada" (Sept 17-Oct 2) features blood drives, health camps, and cleanliness initiatives nationwide. Key events:

Modi Mahotsav Conclave: Hosted by Centre for narendra modi Studies in New delhi, focusing on "Viksit Bharat @2047" for inclusive growth.

Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan: Launching a women's health campaign for cervical cancer vaccinations and wellness.

Inaugurations: A mega textile park in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, and possible bihar visit for Pitru Paksha Mela.

Public Gestures: Lionel Messi sent a signed world cup jersey; celebrities and politicians share #MyModStory on X.

In gujarat, 54,000 donated blood under "Namo ke Naam Raktdaan." Pune's drone show and concert were rescheduled due to rain.

Legacy and Future Vision

At 75, Modi's legacy is India's ascent: from poverty reduction to wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital dominance, economic resilience to global influence. Challenges like job creation and inequality persist, but his third term focuses on Viksit Bharat by 2047— a developed, self-reliant India.

As External Affairs minister S. jaishankar noted, Modi's decade has "changed world perception" of India. His story inspires: from Vadnagar's tea stalls to the world stage, Modi embodies "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas."

Happy Birthday, prime minister Modi—may your vision light India's path to glory.

 

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Balasahana Suresh

17/09/2025 01:04 PM