Modi through biographers' eye

Glimpses of the PM-elect from books written by Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay and Andy Marino

Narendra Modi stands out from the current crop of politicians with his powerful and often dramatic oratory and his direct connect with the masses. This trait can be traced to his childhood and his love for the theatre. Back then, he enjoyed playing the role of Jogidas Khuman, a Robin Hood-type character popular in Gujarati folklore, writes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay in his book Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times.

Through his formative years, Modi would disappear for short periods; often an annual ritual that he termed “meet myself programme”. During this time, he would “spent (sic) time only with himself and went away to remote places without informing anyone about his whereabouts.”

“I used to go away during Diwali. When people celebrated, I would be somewhere away in a remote place, far away from any person—all by myself. I went alone, and only went to places where I would not find another human being—places like a jungle or some barren or abandoned place. I carried only a little to eat—some snacks to last for three to five days—I just chose a place where I could get water to drink. I carried only a little food—only the bare necessities—so that I did not feel that I had not eaten anything,” Mukhopadhyay quotes Modi as saying in the book. He never told anyone about his whereabouts and the last time he managed such a getaway was in 1995-96 to the Gir forests in Gujarat.  Asked what he did during those escapades, Modi had said, “I did nothing. That is what I did—nothing. Just think.”  Modi saw himself as a politician way back in 1979, at a time when he was only in the RSS. The Sangh had entrusted him with the task of documenting the activities of its leaders during the Emergency. During that period Modi met senior leaders like Dattopant Thengdi, the founder of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch. At that time, Modi is known to have told his associates that he would be a chief minister one day, revealing his political ambitions way back then.

The book also gives a glimpse of Modi’s literary side, he has written 20-odd books, including  poetry in Gujarati. Modi prefers ghar ka khana  (home-made food) but likes wearing good clothes, including expensive linen kurtas, Bulgari spectacles and prefers Mont Blanc pens.

In a book authored by Andy Marino, Narendra Modi; A Political Biography, the author touches upon the controversial issue of the 2002 riots,  and quotes Modi as saying, “I feel sad about what happened but no guilt. And no court has come even close to establishing it.” Modi at that time had resolved to step down at the BJP National Executive in Panaji on April 12, 2002, but was prevailed upon by his party not to do so.

Marino says, “He no longer wanted to be the chief minister after the riots because he had decided it was unfair on the people of the state who had been subjected to extreme abuse because of him.”

As for his famed “development” agenda, for Modi development in Gujarat symbolises his model of  "Modernisation without westernisation.”