Modi and his mother Heeraben - a Saga of hardship that shaped PM's life

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has never hidden his strong bonding with his mother, Heeeraben, and her influence on his life-- though he has had his immediate family members always kept away from his political life.

But it was not until she turned 100 on June 18 this year that he chose to go public with his interactions with her and the lessons she imparted to him, which left an indelible mark on him.

Firstly, Modi never forgot his background because of the struggles of his mother and her attempts to shield him and his brothers from the stress she was undergoing on account of poverty.

Modi believed that he owed his penchant for punctuality, cleanliness and striving for perfection to her who, despite the trying circumstances under which she raised him and his siblings, never compromised on these matters.

Like all elders of that time, she inculcated in Modi respect for every morsel of food and other resources that must never be allowed to go to waste. Also, one always had to follow healthy practices when it came to eating and diet.

Heeraben also left a deep impression on Modi when it came to non-possessiveness for material things. She kept nothing for herself, neither clothes nor jewellery.

More than anything else, Modi was also deeply touched by her love and attitude towards him.

"Since childhood, I have noted that my mother not only respects others’ choices but also refrains from imposing her preferences. In my own case especially, she respected my decisions, never created any hurdles, and encouraged me. Since childhood, she could feel that a different mindset grew inside me. I used to be slightly different compared to my brothers and sisters," Modi wrote in a blog on June 18 to mark her birthday.

Heeraben knew her son was different?

Modi could never forget that she often had to make special efforts to accommodate "the special needs of my distinct habits and unusual experiments. However, she never considered this a burden and never expressed any irritation."

As the PM recalled, "for instance, I would often abstain from salt for a few months, or refrain from consuming any grains for a few weeks only having milk. Sometimes, I would decide to avoid sweets for six months. In winters, I would sleep in the open and bathe with cold water from an earthen pot. Mother knew that I was testing myself and did not object to anything. She would just say, ‘It’s alright, do as you wish please.’"

Modi's most touching moment with her was when he chose to leave home and wander in search of higher pursuits. 

"When I decided to leave home, Mother already sensed my decision even before I told her. I would often tell my parents that I wanted to go out and understand the world. I would tell them about Swami Vivekananda and mention that I wished to visit the Ramakrishna Mission Mutt. This went on for days. Finally, I revealed my desire to leave home and asked them for their blessings.

"My father was extremely disheartened, and in irritation, he told me, 'As you wish.' I told them that I would not leave home without their blessings. However, my mother understood my desires, and blessed me, 'Do as your mind says.'”

Modi recalled that "to assuage my father, she asked him to show my horoscope to an astrologer. My father consulted a relative who knew astrology. After studying my horoscope, the relative remarked, 'His path is different. He will go only on the path the Almighty has chosen for him.' A few hours later, I left home. By then, even my father had come to terms with my decision and gave me his blessings."

The PM remembered that, before he left home, she fed him curd and jaggery, for an auspicious new beginning.

New beginning for Modi and return to Gujarat

The PM recalled that "she knew that my life would become extremely different henceforth. Mothers may be extremely adept at controlling their emotions but always find it hard when their child leaves home. Mother was teary eyed but there were immense blessings for my future."

When Modi went back to Gujarat to become CM, his mother had hoped that she would stay with him. But her son preferred to be alone in his official capacity.

"As soon as I landed there, I went straight to meet Mother. She was extremely ecstatic and inquired if I was going to again stay with her. But she knew my answer! She then told me, “I don’t understand your work in the government, but I just want you to never take a bribe.”

After moving to Delhi, Modi realised that his meetings with his mother were even fewer than before. "Sometimes when I visit Gandhinagar, I would call on her for a short while. I didn’t get to meet her as often as I used to earlier. However, I have never felt any discontent from my mother over my absence. Her love and affection remain the same; her blessings remain the same. Mother often asks me “Are you happy in Delhi? Do you like it?”

Heeraben came to Delhi with her son

Heeraben came to stay with Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the official residence of the PM once in 2016.

Modi used to take time off his busy schedule to spend some time with her and show her around the garden at his official residence. But she insisted on going back to Ahmedabad after a few days.

What is the big takeaway that Modi believes his parents gave him?   

"If I look back at my parents’ lives, their honesty and self-respect have been their biggest qualities. Despite struggling with poverty and its accompanying challenges, my parents never left the path of honesty or compromised their self-respect. They had only one mantra to overcome any challenge - hard work, constant hard work! In his life, my father never became a burden on anyone. My mother too tries to ensure that - she does her own chores as much as possible. Today, whenever I meet my mother, she always tells me “I don’t want to be served by anyone, I want to go with all my limbs working.”

Modi did not mince words in saying that "in my mother’s life story, I see the penance, sacrifice, and contribution of India’s matrushakti. Whenever I look at my mother and crores of women like her, I find there is nothing that is unachievable for Indian women. Far beyond every tale of deprivation, is the glorious story of a mother, far above every struggle, is the strong resolve of a mother."

Today, as Modi recounted, many years later, whenever people asked her if she is proud that her son has become the country’s PM, his mother always gave an "extremely deep response." She used to say, “I am as proud as you are. Nothing is mine. I am a mere instrument in the plans of God.”

When she worried for Modi's life

Modi pointed out that she never accompanied him for any government or public programme. 

"She has accompanied me on only two occasions in the past. Once, it was at a public function in Ahmedabad when she applied tilak on my forehead after I had returned from Srinagar where I had hoisted the national flag at Lal Chowk completing the Ekta Yatra led by Dr Murli Manohar Joshi. That was an extremely emotional moment for my mother because a few people had died in a terror attack in Phagwara at the time of the Ekta Yatra. She became extremely worried at that time. Two people then called to check on me. One was Shraddheya Pramukh Swami of Akshardham Temple, and the second was my mother. Her relief was palpable."

The second instance was when Modi first took oath as Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2001. The oath-taking ceremony was the last public event that she attended with Modi. "Since then, she has never accompanied me to a single public event."