Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, October 7, that he is driven by a mission to do ‘seva’ (service) rather than personal ambition. The 76-year-old Modi said this in his address at a ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha’ gathering at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on a special day—one that marked 25 years of him serving as the head of government.
October 7 marks a rare milestone in Indian politics as it completes 25 years since Modi first took the oath of public office, beginning in 2001 as chief minister of Gujarat. A quarter of a century has passed since then. Modi is currently serving his third term as India’s Prime Minister.
Looking back on his journey, Modi said he was filled with thankfulness, including toward his critics, whom he credited with teaching him a lot. As he was addressing the gathering organised by his party BJP, a large protest demonstration organised by the Opposition parties was on in New Delhi, not very far from Modi’s venue.
BJP’s ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha’ was held under the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ to mark 25 years of Modi’s public service. The PM was given a grand reception at the event.
Also read: Hero pilot Smit Machchhar was hit and cut not with a knife but a crash axe usually kept in cockpit
Recalling the day October 7, 2001, when he was sworn in as Gujarat’s chief minister, Modi said he could not have foreseen reaching this point. Twenty-five uninterrupted years leading a government, he said, were possible only because of the people’s steady support. He thanked the citizens of India, BJP, NDA and fellow politicians who share a deep faith in democracy.
Looking back on his school years in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Modi said he was always among the first students to reach his class, with an eagerness to learn from his teachers whom he respectfully recalled, taught a wide range of lessons. That eagerness, he noted, stayed with him through life, and he still thinks of himself as a student who tries to pick up something new each day.
Also watch VIDEO: Chilling CCTV footage of Bengaluru law student Amrutha’s stabbing by her lover’s brother
“Every crisis tested my patience, every success expanded my responsibilities, and every achievement gave me the courage and determination to move toward greater goals,” said Modi.
“I am grateful to every person and every experience that taught me something. Those who taught me taught me humility. Those who brought me down taught me how to rise again. My supporters encouraged me, while my critics taught me to look within. Those who stood by me showed me the power of trust,” said the PM.
Also read: Odisha govt tells top court Dara Singh’s remission plea in Graham Staines murder case is rejected
Among the experiences that taught him the most, PM Modi named the Bhuj earthquake of 2001, which instilled perseverance during reconstruction, the Chandrayaan mission, which showed him how to recover from failure, and the Covid pandemic, which underlined the power of the nation’s collective awareness.
Modi also credited the media, saying it encouraged him to press ahead through highs and lows alike. Serving a nation steeped in culture and great thought, he stressed, has consistently given him strength.
As Modi marked this milestone, greetings continued to pour in from every corner of the world, with global leaders extending their warm wishes on his 25 years in public service.
