Strategic Missteps, Not Modi’s Declining Brand, Behind BJP’s Election Challenges.
SHARAN SETTY,
Aug 22, 2024.
Swarajya Magazine.
Modi Brand After 2024.
https://guide-india.blogspot.com/2024/10/modi-brand-after-2024.html
10 May 2014 - Latest Biography sketch of Narendra Modi on a TV Channel - Newsxlive
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Date of Birth 17 September 1950
Narendra Modi - Brief Biography
Narendra Damodardas Modi was born on September 17, 1950, at Vadnagar, Northern Mehsana District Gujarat. Narendra Modi completed his schooling in Vadnagar.
Modi started as a Tea-Seller on Ahmedabad Bus Station.
He joined Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) and by working sincerely to achieve the objectives of the organization as a full time member, termed as pracharak, he became a secretary in Bharatiya Janata Party. From there, he joined the Government of Gujarat as Chief Minister. He won three elections in Gujarat as Chief Minister and today, he is the Prime Minister Candidate of BJP in the forthcoming elections for Lok Sabha. Despite his poor economic background and social status as a member of other backward caste, he achieved something many Indians at his social level could not. In the process he also brought respect to his organization RSS. RSS was accused of upper caste bias. The elevation of Modi due to his personal achievement first demolishes that accusation. Modi was supported by RSS in his efforts. Due to Modi's success, many more RSS pracharaks can now come into more active social and political life and can dream of something big.
Narendra Modi is now the PM Candidate for Bharatiya Janata Party for the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections
A Bollywood biopic may come on Modi - 22 August 2013
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-22/news-interviews/41436641_1_narendra-modi-boxer-mary-kom-general-elections
Narendra Modi - Life and Times - Details
Modi's father ran a teashop at the Vadnagar railway station and Modi used to help his father in the mornings at the railway station, and when the bell rang at the school, he used to cross the railway track to reach the class. Modi started selling tea in helping his father when he was six years old. Thel tea was sold to passengers whenever an odd train came into the small Vadnagar station.
On Diwali day in 1958, Narendra Modi presented himself as a bal swayamsevak (child member of RSS) to Vakil Saheb, a state level functionary in RSS in Vadnagar Shakha.
Modi attended Bhagavatacharya Narayanacharya High School, a co-ed Gujarati-medium institution situated at the entrance to the old city of Vadnagar.
At age of 18, Modi decided to set off and wander in the Himalayas. The only source of information for Modi’s travels during this time is Modi himself: His family had no idea of his whereabouts.After two years, he returned and moved to Ahmedabad and work at his uncle Babubhai’s canteen at the city bus stand.
Thus, Modi started his career as a Tea-Seller on Ahmedabad Bus Station. He began work in the staff canteen of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC). subsequent to this, he set up his own teacart on a cycle near Geeta Mandir. Some pracharaks used to have tea at his cart after they returned from their morning shakha
Soon he wound up his teacart and moved to the RSS State Headquarters Hedgewar Bhawan as an assistant. His daily routine, according to Modi himself was making tea and breakfast for the pracharaks in the morning, cleaning up the entire building, consisting of eight or nine rooms and washing the clothes of Vakil Saheb (State Prachark).
He stayed there till he became a full–time pracharak of the RSS. Modi became a pracharak in the RSS in 1971.
As a prachark, he was given charge of Sangh's student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), in Gujarat. Modi was appointed as the RSS pracharak in-charge for Gujarat of the Sangh’s student front, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a position he held through the Emergency. Modi organised agitations and covert distribution of Sangh's pamphlets during the Emergency.
During emergency, Modi graduated in political science from Delhi University After emergency, he completed M.A. in political science as an external student from Gujarat University.
Modi worked as a ''pracharak'' in the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh where people remember him as a docile and humble man.
Narendra Modi's abilities and leadership qualities were seen in the early days of his student life when he became the student leader of Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad. He played a prominent role in the anticorruption movement in 1974 in Gujarat.
During the anti emergency movement, Modi successfully stayed underground and organized number of activities. His abilities were recognized by many during this period.
In 1978, one year after the end of the Emergency, Modi was appointed as the RSS pracharak in-charge for six districts in central Gujarat. Three years later, at the young age of 31, he was promoted to become the liaison between the Sangh and all its frontal organisations across the whole of Gujarat.
Modi worked as a ''pracharak'' in the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh where people remember him as a docile and humble man.
in 1987, when he was appointed as the organisation secretary for Gujarat. Thus, he entered politics in 1987 by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was responsible for the success of BJP in Ahmedabad Municipal Elections.
Within a year, he was elevated to the level of General Secretary of the Gujarat unit of the party. BJP organised a series of roadshows, beginning with two statewide campaigns in which Modi played a key behind-the-scenes role: the Nyay Yatra in 1987 and the Lok Shakti Rath Yatra in 1989. In 1990, when the BJP president LK Advani began his Ayodhya Rath Yatra from the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, Modi facilitated the first stretch of the campaign. Modi received his first national assignment, as the organiser of the Ekta (Unity) Yatra undertaken by the BJP’s President Murli Manohar Joshi from the southern tip of Tamil Nadu to Srinagar.
In 1995 he was made the National Secretary of the party in-charge of five major states in India – a rare distinction. He traveled extensively through out the world, which helped him to develop a global perspective.
During his tenure in New Delhi as the BJP''s national spokesman in the late 1990s, he went to the US for a three-month course on public relations and image management. He is a good learner and his course on public relations now helps him to get the publicity he desires.
In 1998, a few days after Atal Bihari Vajpayee took office as prime minister, Modi was promoted to the post of the national party’s organisation secretary: the bridge between the BJP and the RSS for all of India.
In 2001, BJP entrusted him with the responsibility of taking over as the CM of Gujarat. On 7 October 2001, Modi was appointed the Chief Minister of Gujarat. "For the RSS, Modi’s installation was a significant accomplishment: for the first time in its history, a fulltime pracharak had become a chief minister," wrote a magazine. He won elections in Gujarat as chief minister in 2002, 2007 and 2012 and He is the Chief Minister of Gujarat now.
On 13 September, 2013, the Parliamentary Board of BJP declared him to be the PM Candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections
Under Modi, there was high growty in agriculture in Gujarat. In their book, High Growth Trajectory and Structural Changes in Gujarat Agriculture, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) professors Ravindra Dholakia and Samar Datta explained Gujarat’s agricultural success thus: “It is fully endogenous, systematically led by long-term vision and comprehensive strategy requiring solid commitment and dedication to the cause, political will to pursue market-oriented reforms of policies and institutions, interdepartmental and inter-ministerial coordination and cooperation, and a responsive and entrepreneurial farming community.”
Narendra Modi's Activities during Emergency
Due to Janta Morcha govt headed by Babubhai Patel in Gujarat, people did not face the tremendous excesses of Emergency in Gujarat. Many activists had come and stayed in Gujarat and worked for restoring democracy in the country.
Like other RSS pracharaks, Narendra Modi was also assigned the responsibility of making arrangements for the movement, gatherings, meetings, distribution of literature etc. Narendra Modi worked actively with Nathbhai Zagda and Vasant Gajendragadkar.
Congress govt banned RSS and jailed its leaders. Senior RSS leader Keshvrao Deshmukh was arrested in Gujarat. The moment Modi realized that Keshavrao was arrested, he escorted another senior RSS man Nathalal Zagda to safe place riding him on a scooter.
Also during emergency Mrs. Indira Gandhi had decided to censor the independent press. Several journalists were arrested under MISA and DIR. It appeared as if there was total blackout of true and correct information. Besides this several prominent political opponents were imprisoned. It appeared that dissemination of information would be impossible. But it was during this time that Narendrabhai and several RSS pracharaks took responsibility of fulfilling this herculean task. Narendra Modi used innovative ways to spread information and distribute literature.
Since RSS was banned, RSS leaders asked swayamsevaks become members Jan Sangharsh Samitis and carry on activities. It was at this time Narendrabhai felt the need to support the families of those swayamsevaks who had decided to contribute fully for the movement. Narendra Modi bhai took the initiative of identifying people who would support the families of swayamsevaks. Modi conducted the anti emergency movement successfully remaining underground. Many confidential meetings were organized in Maninagar and Narendra Modi did this task wonderfully.
Members of Jan Sangharsh Samiti used to do public reading of Constitution, law and other literature to inform people. Like many other RSS pracharaks, Narendra Modi also provided support to Jan Sangharsh Samiti.
Narendra Modi was also involved in supplying information to leaders who were imprisoned by the govt. He was master of disguise and despite there was risk of his arrest he used to disguise and went to prison and supplied crucial information to leaders in jail. Not even once could the police recognize Narendrabhai. In those days a magazine named ‘Sadhna’ decided to show courage against emergency and censorship. Narendra Modi promoted the circulation of Sadhna.
In days of emergency pracharaks of RSS including Narendrbhai were instrumental in many movements against the excesses of the Indira govt. In those days RSS supported Sangharsh Samiti organized ‘MuktiJyoti’ yatra. It was bicycle yatra in which many pracharaks participated and took out this yatra on cycle and went from one place to another spreading message of democracy.
It was in emergency only that people became aware of brilliant skills of Narendra Modi. While he worked as selfless pracharak, he also ensured that organization and other pracharaks didn’t face financial problem. Modi also ensured that true and correct information about excesses of emergence also reach to Indians living in other countries. Today we all have experienced the benefits of good governance of Narendrabhai but it is also important to acknowledge his contribution as a selfless karyakarta in emergency.
Source: http://www.narendramodi.in/emergency-gujarat-and-narendra-modi/
Narendra Modi - Election Campaigns
Ahmedabad Municipal Election Campaign
In 1987, Ahmedabad Municipal elections, Modi showed his skills in election campaigning.
1995 Gujarat Assembly Election
Working together, Modi, Vaghela and Patel mobilised more than 150,000 workers from the RSS, VHP and ABVP for a training programme just before the elections in February 1995, and the effort paid off handsomely. The BJP won 121 seats.
2012 Gujarat Assembly Election
On 17 September 2011, his birthday, Narendra Modi began a three-day fast in Ahmedabad under the banner of Sadbhavana (goodwill) On the first day of the fast, full-page advertisements appeared in major newspapers all across the country. That morning, his smiling picture greeted voters in every state, accompanied by a message of goodwill in their mother tongue: there were ads in Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Assamese, and Oriya.
At the Ahmedabad fast, Modi announced that he would fast for a single day in each of the state’s 26 districts. He used the Sadbhavana roadshows as a campaign for the assembly elections.
Why Modi Became Darling of BJP and RSS Cadres?
In the past decade, as Modi triumphed in two consecutive elections and the national party suffered two defeats, he became the standard for success in the BJP
Narendra Modi's Campaign Details as Prime Minister Candidate of BJP
May 2014
8 May 2014
Narendra Modi was denied permission to campaign in a rally in Varanasi city. The district magistrate did not give permission and also delayed permission for other programmes. BJP in protest cancelled all its programmes went ahead with a Dharna in Varanasi and Delhi. Narendra Modi only visited BJP office in Varanasi on that day. Earlier to his visit to Varanasi, he addressed a rally in Azamgarh and Rohiniya, a part of Varanasi constituency.
5 May 2014
Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Amethi from where Rahul Gandhi is seeking reelection and Smt. Smirti Irani is contesting on BJP ticket.
December 2013
27 December
Narendra Modi was again declared not guilty in 2002 Gujarat riots. Modi wrote a blog post the next day.
This is the first time I am sharing the harrowing ordeal I had gone through in those days at a personal level.
http://www.narendramodi.in/satyameva-jayate-truth-alone-triumphs/
October 2013
6 October 2013 - Completion of 12 years as CM of Gujarat.
Gujarat chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi, who took over the office of chief minister on October 7, 2001, will complete 12 years at the helm of the state’s governance.
September 2013
The Rise of Narendra Modi - IBN Live - 14 September 2013
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13 September
Narendra was declared the PM candidate for the coming Lok Sabha Elections by BJP
Narendra Modi was searched one billion times on Google
http://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2013/9/21/Nation-wants-Modi-PM.aspx?NB=&lang=4&m1=&m2=&p1=&p2=&p3=&p4=&PageType=N
Rally at Chattisgarh
Rally at Rewari, Haryana, addressed Ex Servicemen
Addressed NRIs through video conferencing
25 Sep
Participation in Karyakarta Mahakumbah, Bhopal
26 Sep
Participation in rally at Trichy, Tamil Nadu
27 Sep - Participation in Maa Amritanandamayi Centenary Celebrations
30 Sep 2013 Modi visited Mumbai and he was given a grand reception at Mumbai airport by 25,000 persons.
Modi addressed International Advertising association India Global Marketing Summit.
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The speech was well appreciated by advertising specialists. Sam Balsara said, Modi is a true marketing genius and terrific communicator. He said, if his impromptu views on building brand india could be so well thought then I guess his views on economy, education, rural poor and so on would change the face of India. I think we need to give him a chance.
Subash Kamath of BBH said. He spoke from a branding, advertising and marketing point of view, far more insightfully than many ad gurus.
According Piyush Pandey, without being a marketing person, he wounderfully captured the soul of communication.
July 2013
12 July 2013
Interview with Reuters Correspondents
http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2013/07/12/interview-with-bjp-leader-narendra-modi/
Interesting question
How will you persuade minorities including Muslims to vote for you?
All the citizens, all the voters, are my countrymen. So my basic philosophy is, I don’t address this issue like this. And that is a danger to democracy also. Religion should not be an instrument in your democratic process.
June 2013
9 June 2013
Narendra Modi address after being the responsibility of National Poll Panel Chief
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/full-text-of-narendra-modi-speech/1/279291.html
Rajnath Singh announced that Narendra Modi will be the national poll panel chief for BJP for 2014 lok sabha elections
http://www.narendramodi.in/shri-narendra-modi-appointed-chairman-of-bjp%E2%80%99s-2014-lok-sabha-election-campaign-committee/
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-bets-on-modi-for-2014/article4797144.ece
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-09/news/39849895_1_rajnath-singh-bjp-workers-bjp-cadres
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/narendra-modis-future-is-bright-but-it-wont-be-without-obstacles-855681.html
2012
December 2012
26 December 2012
Modi won the Gujarat Elections for the third time and took oath as Chief Minister for the fourth time.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/gallery/narendra-modi-gujarat-chief-minister-swear-in-ceremony/1/8491.html
2001
Gujarat chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi, who took over the office of chief minister on October 7, 2001, will complete 12 years at the helm of the state’s governance.
Modi writes poems in Gujarati
Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India
Narendra Modi As Prime Minister of India - 2014
Narendra Modi As Prime Minister of India - 2015
Budget 2015-16The budget has innovative features. Supporting and promoting 58 million micro unit entrepreneurs providing employment to 128 million people even though many of them are farmers is a very good idea. Already all of them must have acquired Aadhar cars and also Jan Dhan accounts. Once they are identified as entrepreneurs and the employment they are providing is known, just encouraging them provide one more job would mean another 50 million jobs. The digital information system will make implementing new schemes more easy as feedback can be obtained faster and instructions can be given faster. It is very nice that Modi proved his ability to influence the entire country very quickly through his jan dhan scheme.
After Mahatma Gandhi, Modi is the person to influence the mass of the country that way into a positive action when he is not in power and also when he came into power.
Narendra Modi As Prime Minister of India - 2015
PM Narendra Modi at mid-term is good enough for re-election in 2019: Swaminathan Aiyar
By Swaminathan A Aiyar, | Jul 20, 2016,
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/pm-narendra-modi-at-mid-term-is-good-enough-for-re-election-in-2019-swaminathan-aiyar/articleshow/53294995.cms
2024
Ram Temple in Ayodhya was started.
Narendra Modi started as favourite for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Many opinion polls give him 350+ seats fir BJP alone.
BUt things are not that simple. The opposition parties allege EVM manipulation. There are number of issues on which he is being criticized.
Corruption is one such issue.
The Iceberg of Corruption in India - Is It an Issue under Analysis by Public, Social Activists, Politicians and Academicians?
Narendra Modi - Biography in Hindi - Narendra Modi - Biography in Telugu - Narendra Modi Biography in Gujarati
Narendra Modi - English Speeches - Narendra Modi English Interviews -
Bibliography
Horoscope and Prediction for Narendra Modi in 2013-2014
http://www.astrosage.com/celebrity-horoscope/narendra-modi-horoscope-2013.asp
Frontline - 28 June 2013 - Rise of Modi
http://www.frontline.in/books/rise-of-modi/article4794570.ece
http://narendramodi-gujarat.blogspot.in/
Career timeline of Modi
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/07/11/narendra-modi-political-career-timeline-idINDEE96A0AQ20130711
Caravan article on Modi - 10 pages 2012
http://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/emperor-uncrowned
2002 Assembly election campaign issues - Front Line September 2002
http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl1919/19190300.htm
2001 Frontline - article
http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1821/18210300.htm
A Pracharak as a chief minister - Frontline October 2001
http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl1821/18210310.htm
Ekta Yatra - 1991-92
http://www.narendramodi.in/ekta-yatra-standing-up-for-a-united-india/
Related Articles
Modi's (BJP's) Social Media and Mobile Campaign
http://guide-india.blogspot.in/2013/07/india-parliament-lok-sabha-elections.html
Foreign Media on Narendra Modi
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323846504579075263628439416.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/world/asia/indian-vote-off-to-a-violent-start.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/13/india-prime-minister-modi/2810249/
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-13/world/42036802_1_narendra-modi-visa-prime-ministerial-candidate
July 2013
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/narendra-modi-the-man-behind-the-mask-who-wants-to-be-indias-prime-minister-8683841.html
Updated 17.3.2024, 21 July 2016, 6 March 2015, 16 May 2014
