Modi at 75: A decade of transformation, digital revolution, and deep public connect make him the people’s Prime Minister, blending policy with empathy.
New Delhi:
Three years after India marked its 75th year of independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi steps into his own milestone—turning 75 on Wednesday. The journey of a boy from Vadnagar’s railway station to becoming India’s most powerful political leader in decades has been one of transformation not just for him but for the country he leads.
In his more than 10 years in office, Modi has reshaped India’s political landscape, introduced sweeping social programs, and overseen a digital revolution that has redefined daily life for millions. Yet, beyond the statistics and policies, his legacy is also deeply personal: he is a Prime Minister who has mastered the art of connecting with people.
A Decade of Transformation
When Modi led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power in 2014, he achieved what no leader had done in 30 years—a single-party majority. In 2019, he returned with an even bigger mandate, cementing his place as one of India’s most dominant leaders in modern history.
His tenure has coincided with India’s digital leap forward. Street vendors and small shopkeepers now accept payments through UPI (Unified Payments Interface), making India the global leader in real-time digital transactions. Affordable data has powered an internet revolution, bringing education, healthcare, and commerce to remote corners.
Initiatives like Jan Dhan bank accounts, direct benefit transfers, and FASTag on highways have made everyday transactions smoother and more transparent. Meanwhile, the Jan Aushadhi Kendras have brought affordable medicines to the masses.
Perhaps most visibly, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan transformed sanitation. Ten years ago, many households lacked toilets; today, villages across India boast cleaner, healthier living conditions. The Prime Minister often highlights another milestone: the establishment of a passport office in every district, turning what was once a symbol of privilege into a common citizen’s right.
The People’s Connection
If Modi’s governance has been about scale and systems, his politics has been about Jan Sampark (connection) and Jan Samvedna (empathy). He has often emphasized symbolic gestures that carry emotional weight.
At the Kumbh Mela, he washed the feet of sanitation workers, underlining dignity of labor. Every Diwali, he spends time with soldiers at the border, calling them his “family.” In 2018, he broke protocol at the Red Fort, stepping down to interact with schoolchildren, later giving his handkerchief to one overwhelmed by the heat.
When ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 mission stumbled in 2019, he embraced a tearful K. Sivan, sending a message to the nation that science, too, needs compassion. In Jhabua, he surprised thousands by joining in a tribal dance, blending the political with the cultural.
And then there is his signature radio program, “Mann Ki Baat”, where Modi has spoken directly to citizens over 100 times. No other Prime Minister has built such a sustained tradition of intimate communication, bridging the gap between power and people.
The Wit and Wordsmith
Beyond policy, Modi has wielded wit and humor as tools of politics. In Parliament, he once quipped to the Opposition: “If I start answering you point by point, I’ll become like Google search,” evoking laughter across party lines.
When Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury repeatedly interrupted him, Modi remarked that he was inadvertently promoting the government’s “Fit India” campaign by jumping up so often. And in a lighter moment outside Parliament, he became a meme-maker when he asked a worried mother if her son’s gaming problem was due to “PUBG.” The remark went viral, cutting across generations.
Yet, Modi is not just a politician or orator—he is also a published poet. His verses, often reflective and philosophical, reveal an inner world few see. “Abhi to suraj uga hai…” (“The sun has only just risen”) he once wrote, symbolizing his belief that India’s brightest days lie ahead.
Legacy at 75
As Narendra Modi turns 75, his legacy already seems secure. He is credited with transforming governance into something more direct and accessible, while simultaneously embedding himself into the personal and cultural lives of citizens.
What makes him stand out is not just the policies he has announced but the style with which he has led—mixing the roles of leader, teacher, poet, and performer. He can unveil a digital policy one moment, console a scientist the next, tease a teenager about video games, or recite a couplet to describe his vision for India.
As he enters his 76th year, the question is less about what he has done and more about how he has done it—through empathy, symbolism, and relentless communication with the people.
Narendra Modi remains, above all else, the people’s Prime Minister—a leader who has combined power with personal touch, policy with poetry, and governance with grassroots connection.
