UNRAVELING THE EMPATHETIC, SENSITIVE SIDE OF NaMo!

PM MODI: A BEACON OF LIGHT IN A SEA OF DESPAIR - Kirron Kher, Actor and MP Lok Sabha

The year gone by was very tough for me. I was extremely sick and my treatment was going on at a Mumbai hospital. During that toughest phase of my life, he called me up at least two to three times in order to take a health update. These phone calls from him used to boost me up no end because every time he would call, he would motivate me and assure me that I was going to get okay. Not just this, he would tell me not to worry even about the smallest of things. I was concerned throughout of the fact that because of my illness I was missing the Parliamentary sessions, and this is something that I shared with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister also. Modiji came to know about this and he said to me over phone “You should not worry about anything but your health. I am hundred percent sure of the fact that you will emerge out of this completely fine and healthy.”

I don’t have words to express how relieved I used to feel after speaking with him. His aura is so gentle and reassuring that whoever gets to meet him is touched by his soothing presence. Haven’t you observed PM Modi getting emotional at times? That is because he is a very soft-hearted person. When he delivers the farewell speeches, it is not just words that he is articulating. The words come straight from his heart and he is overcome with emotion whenever it is a poignant moment. While bidding farewell to Ghulam Nabi Azadji, he spoke about the Gujarati tourists killed by terrorists in Kashmir. Remembering that, Modiji almost choked with tears and grief. These traits about his personality clearly bring out the soft side of an apparently tough administrator. Modiji is resolute and tenacious on the outside and is soft and tender from within. He is a sensitive human being who worries about the well-being of his people and that’s his top priority!

MODIJI BRINGS SUCCOUR TO A DISTRESSED SOUL - Nita Sevak, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Gujarat

I was once travelling to Dhandhuka, Gujarat along with Narendra bhai for a programme. We used to travel in buses in those days. All of a sudden, a very old woman, climbed aboard and found a seat for herself. When the conductor asked her for the ticket, she mentioned to him what her destination was. The conductor, however, bluntly told her that the bus did not stop there and that she must get off the bus. The woman still requested the conductor to drop her off at her destination as it was very difficult for her to board another bus. But the conductor would not budge!

Narendra bhai, at that point got up and had a word with the conductor. He rebuked the conductor “Is this bus only for you and your staff ? Are you going to harass the public in this way?” Narendra bhai advised the conductor to correct his attitude towards people and told him that buses ply for the convenience of the public and not to make life more difficult for them. In a little while, Modiji made the conductor stop the bus at the point where the old lady wanted to get down and helped her alight the bus. Then he got back to the conductor and said to him “Kyun Hero, have you now understood how you need to behave with people? In case you have not, I will lodge a complaint against you. You must learn to respect the aged and those who are in need of help. People who need our support are worthy of love and respect and we must help them with all our heart. Our intentions should be pure!” This is a lesson I will never forget. Any encounter with people in distress melts Modiji’s heart and the courage in him ensures that justice is meted out to those who have been dealt an unfair hand.

MODIJI SLOWED DOWN HIS JEEP TO KEEP PACE WITH AN INJURED JOURNALIST - Dipak Jagtap, Journalist, Gujarat

Once, Narendra Modi was holding a parade march in an open jeep on 15th August, as you know, the media moves in front of the cavalcade to shoot the movements. Unfortunately, during the shooting, I met with an accident and suffered a leg injury. I was walking with a limp and was trailing behind the other journalists who were walking at a much faster pace. Imagine now, Modiji observed from his jeep that I was injured and was in pain and that I could not shoot the video from in front of his jeep like other journalists. So he gestured towards me to slow down. He said “Please calm down. It is risky for you to cover the moving jeep and don’t try to catch up with others.” Not just this, he even slowed down his jeep for me!

I managed to shoot what I had to cover and later on, I thanked him from the bottom of my heart for his kind gesture. Though I was injured, I was touched by the concern Modiji showed for me. His greatest qualities are his keen sense of observation and empathy. Even today, I feel pride when I recall that day. It was a moment of honour for me when the PM himself took cognizance of my suffering and comforted me with his kindness.
TO BE CONTINUED...

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA AND SHWETA SHARMA