Speaking at the ‘Seva Jyoti’ programme at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the capital, held to mark the completion of 25 years of continuous service as head of government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday renewed his resolve to build a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, telling an audience, “We will do it, we will do it,” as he looked back on 25 years as head of government.
A message of gratitude
He thanked every person and every incident that taught him something along the way. He spoke about how both good and bad experiences had shaped him. Well-wishers, he added, gave him encouragement, while critics pushed him to look within. Those who backed him showed him the power of trust, and those who opposed him helped him understand the power of democracy. The Prime Minister named a few events that left a mark on him. The Chandrayaan mission taught him to rise from failure. He spoke of countless swayamsevaks who guard India’s cultural soul and live by the spirit of serving Bharat, reminding themselves that they are servants of humanity. He saluted every Swayamsevak and Karyakarta who continues to serve the nation with commitment and devotion. He had been involved in elections but had never contested one. He added that he never chased electoral prominence and never thought about what he would become.
The 2001 Bhuj earthquake taught him to stay steadfast in reconstruction. Many people regard 25 unbroken years in executive office as an achievement, Modi said, but for him it is neither a matter of personal glorification nor an occasion for it. He recalled that at 50, he was serving tribal communities in forests and mountain areas and had chosen organisational work in the BJP.
Modi said that when he looks back, what he feels most is gratitude. “Whoever brought me victory taught me to be humble; whoever made me fall taught me to stand back up again,” he said. Modi said he has never felt alone in his journey. His political record, he said, was that of an organisational worker. His upbringing and values, he said, taught him to live for a mission, not personal ambition.
