PM Modi Turns 74: A Look Back At His Political Journey In Rare, Unseen Pictures

Narendra Modi, born on September 17, 1950, shortly after India's independence and its transition to a Republic, was the third among six children born to Damodardas and Hiraba Modi. During his childhood, he sometimes helped at his father's tea stall at Vadnagar railway station. He completed his schooling in Vadnagar in 1967, where he was considered an average student but was recognized for his debating skills and acting talent, with a keen interest in theatre.

At eight years old, Narendra Modi joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His first notable political involvement was in 1971 when he participated in a Jana Sangh rally supporting the Bangladesh Liberation War, leading to a brief arrest.

Following the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he dedicated himself as a full-time RSS pracharak (campaigner). He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Delhi University in 1978 and a Master of Arts degree from Gujarat University in 1983.

His rise through the RSS and his engagement with the BJP were instrumental in his political journey. During the state of emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in June 1975, which lasted until 1977, the RSS was banned.

Narendra Modi then went incognito in Gujarat, disguising himself to evade capture, at times as a monk and at other times as a Sikh. He was involved in circulating anti-government literature, staging protests, and establishing a network of safe houses for activists.

By 1987, he had a pivotal role in the BJP's successful campaign for the Ahmedabad municipal election, which led to his appointment as the organizing secretary of the BJP's Gujarat unit. Modi's prominence in the party grew as he organized significant events like L.K. Advani's Ram Rath Yatra in 1990 and Murli Manohar Joshi’s Ekta Yatra in 1991-92.

In 1995, he was appointed as the BJP national secretary and relocated to Delhi, where he oversaw the party's activities in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Narendra Modi's strategic approach in the 1998 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election contributed to the BJP's majority win, leading to his elevation to the role of BJP general secretary (organization) within the same year.

On October 7, 2001, he assumed his first official position as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Since then, he has been at the helm of an elected government. He is currently the longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister and holds the record for the longest tenure in an elected government, including his 12-year stint as Gujarat's Chief Minister. 

In 2014, under Narendra Modi's leadership, the BJP achieved a sweeping victory, becoming the first party to win a majority on its own in over three decades In 2019, the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, secured a second consecutive term with a larger majority. In 2024, Narendra Modi and the BJP once again secured a resounding victory in the general elections, earning a third consecutive term.