By Satyabrat Borah
Narendra Modi, the 14th Prime Minister of India, marked a significant personal milestone on September 17, 2025, as he turned 75. Born in 1950 in the modest town of Vadnagar in Gujarat, Modi’s journey from a tea seller’s son to one of the world’s most influential leaders embodies resilience, ambition, and an unyielding commitment to public service. This birthday arrives amid a decade of transformative governance that has reshaped India’s economy, society, and global standing, while also sparking intense debates on nationalism, inclusivity, and democratic norms. As Modi enters this new chapter, his life and legacy continue to inspire millions, even as they polarize opinions across the nation and beyond.
Modi’s early years were defined by simplicity and hardship, forging the disciplined character that would later define his leadership. He was the third of six children born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi, a tea stall owner near the local railway station, and Heeraben Modi, a homemaker. The family resided in a small, single-story house measuring just 40 feet by 12 feet, where financial struggles were a constant companion. Young Narendra often helped his father by selling tea to passengers at the station, an experience that instilled in him a deep empathy for the working class and a firsthand understanding of economic vulnerability. School friends recall him as an industrious boy with a passion for debates and reading; he spent hours in the local library, devouring books on history, philosophy, and politics. Despite his average academic performance, Modi’s curiosity and oratory skills set him apart. He completed his secondary education in Vadnagar and later pursued a Bachelor of Arts in political science through a distance-learning program at Delhi University, followed by a Master of Arts from Gujarat University in 1983. These qualifications, though modest, equipped him with the intellectual foundation for his political ascent.
At the age of eight, Modi joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization that profoundly shaped his worldview. The RSS’s emphasis on discipline, patriotism, and cultural revival resonated with the young boy, who rose through its ranks as a pracharak, or full-time volunteer, by the early 1970s. This period was marked by personal sacrifice; in a tradition of his Ghanchi caste, Modi was betrothed and married at 18 to Jashodaben Chimanlal, but he soon left home to pursue his RSS commitments, effectively abandoning the marriage without divorce. The couple remained estranged for decades, with Jashodaben living quietly as a teacher until Modi acknowledged the marriage publicly during his 2014 election affidavit. Modi’s RSS tenure also coincided with India’s Emergency period (1975-1977), when he went underground to organize opposition against Indira Gandhi’s regime, honing his skills in grassroots mobilization.
Transitioning to formal politics, Modi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1985, leveraging his RSS networks to build the party’s presence in Gujarat. By 1987, he was instrumental in organizing the Ekta Yatra, a high-profile march led by BJP leader L.K. Advani to promote national unity. His organizational prowess earned him promotion to BJP’s Gujarat unit general secretary in 1988 and national secretary by 1995. Modi’s behind-the-scenes role was pivotal in the BJP’s 1998 national victory, but his big break came in 2001. Amid a devastating earthquake in Gujarat that exposed the inefficiencies of then-Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, the BJP high command appointed Modi as replacement. Sworn in on October 7, 2001, he inherited a state reeling from disaster, corruption allegations, and economic stagnation.
As Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014, Modi transformed the state into an economic powerhouse, earning the moniker “Vikas Purush” or development man. He prioritized infrastructure, attracting investments through the annual Vibrant Gujarat Summit, which by 2013 had secured deals worth trillions of rupees. Gujarat’s GDP growth averaged over 10 percent annually under his watch, outpacing the national average, with sectors like manufacturing, diamonds, and textiles flourishing. Initiatives like Jyotigram Yojana ensured 24-hour electricity to villages, while Sujalam Sufalam built irrigation networks to boost agriculture. Modi’s governance model emphasized minimal government interference, privatization, and technology integration, including early adoption of e-governance. He also promoted tourism and cultural heritage, turning sites like the Sabarmati Riverfront into symbols of progress.
However, Modi’s Gujarat tenure was marred by profound controversies, most notably the 2002 riots. Following the Godhra train burning that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims, communal violence erupted, claiming over 1,000 lives, predominantly Muslims. Critics accused Modi of complicity or inaction, leading to international backlash; the U.S. denied him a visa from 2005 to 2014 under a law barring officials involved in religious freedom violations. A Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team cleared him in 2012, finding no evidence of wrongdoing, but the stigma persisted, fueling narratives of majoritarian bias. Despite this, Modi won three consecutive state elections in 2002, 2007, and 2012, consolidating BJP dominance in Gujarat and positioning himself as a national figure.
Modi’s national ambitions culminated in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, where he led the BJP to a historic absolute majority, ending the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance’s decade in power. Sworn in on May 26, 2014, as India’s first Prime Minister born after independence, Modi promised “Achhe Din” or good days, focusing on economic revival amid high inflation and corruption scandals. His first term saw bold reforms: the Goods and Services Tax (GST) unified India’s fragmented tax system in 2017, boosting revenue and ease of business. Demonetization in 2016, though disruptive and criticized for hurting the informal economy, aimed to curb black money and digitize transactions, accelerating financial inclusion via the Jan Dhan Yojana, which opened over 500 million bank accounts for the poor. Schemes like Swachh Bharat (Clean India) built millions of toilets, reducing open defecation, while Make in India attracted foreign investment in manufacturing.
Foreign policy under Modi elevated India’s global profile. He strengthened ties with the U.S., mending fences post the visa ban with visits to Washington and initiatives like the Quad alliance to counter China. Relations with Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, deepened through energy deals and cultural diplomacy, earning him awards like the UAE’s Order of Zayed. Modi’s “Neighborhood First” policy fostered SAARC cooperation, though tensions with Pakistan and China persisted, highlighted by the 2019 Balakot airstrikes after a terror attack. At home, the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 stripped Jammu and Kashmir of special status, integrating it fully into India, a move hailed by supporters as correcting historical anomalies but decried by critics as undermining federalism.
Re-elected in 2019 with an even larger majority, Modi’s second term tackled the COVID-19 pandemic decisively. India administered over 2 billion vaccine doses, exporting to 100 countries under Vaccine Maitri, saving an estimated 4.2 million lives per a Lancet study. Economic recovery followed with Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), injecting trillions in stimulus and positioning India as the fifth-largest economy by 2022. Infrastructure boomed: over 100,000 kilometers of highways built, high-speed rail projects launched, and renewable energy capacity tripled to 180 gigawatts, aligning with Modi’s 2070 net-zero pledge at COP26. Social welfare expanded; PM-KISAN provided direct income support to 120 million farmers, while Ayushman Bharat offered health insurance to 500 million poor citizens. The ban on triple talaq empowered Muslim women, and the Ram Temple inauguration in Ayodhya in 2024 fulfilled a long-standing BJP promise, symbolizing cultural resurgence.
Yet, Modi’s era has not been without strife. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, fast-tracking citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from neighboring countries, sparked nationwide protests over perceived discrimination against Muslims. Farm laws in 2020, intended to liberalize agriculture, led to year-long farmer agitations, forcing their repeal in 2021. Allegations of democratic backsliding grew, with media censorship, arrests of activists under stringent laws like UAPA, and a perceived erosion of minority rights. The 2024 elections saw the BJP lose its majority, relying on NDA allies for Modi’s third term sworn in June 2024, signaling voter pushback on unemployment and inflation. By 2025, India navigated a brief India-Pakistan conflict post a Kashmir terror attack, resulting in a ceasefire under Modi’s oversight, underscoring ongoing security challenges.
On a personal level, Modi’s life remains austere and disciplined, reflecting his RSS roots. He sleeps just four to five hours nightly, starts days with yoga and meditation, and follows a vegetarian diet heavy on fruits, khichdi, and herbal teas. Fitness is paramount; he practices pranayama and walks briskly, crediting these for sustaining his rigorous schedule. Hobbies include photography and writing; he authored books like “Jyotipunj” on inspirational leaders. Modi rarely discusses his family, maintaining distance from siblings while honoring his late mother Heeraben, who passed away in 2022. His estranged marriage underscores a life devoted to nation-building over personal ties.
At 75, Modi’s legacy is a tapestry of progress and polarization. Supporters laud him for lifting 250 million out of multidimensional poverty, per NITI Aayog, and propelling India toward a $5 trillion economy by 2027. Critics decry a shift toward Hindu majoritarianism, with reports of rising communal incidents and press freedom declines. Globally, Modi is a towering figure, ranked among the world’s most powerful leaders, yet his personalized diplomacy highlights vulnerabilities. As birthday greetings flood in from leaders like Netanyahu and Tobgay, and the BJP’s Sewa Pakhwada launches welfare drives, Modi vows continued service. Whether steering India through geopolitical perils or domestic reforms, his next years will test if the “Vikas Purush” can bridge divides while sustaining growth. In a nation of 1.4 billion, Modi’s story remains India’s story: one of aspiration, achievement, and unresolved tensions.
