Modi completes 25 years in public service, says he still considers himself a student

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed 25 years in public life and public service. To mark the occasion, a "Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha" was held at the IGI Stadium in New Delhi, where Modi spoke openly to the gathering about his feelings.

Modi said he first took oath as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001. He said he had never dreamt that such a phase would come in his life. He said all of this was the fruit of the unceasing blessings of the people, and stressed that in elections the people had always chosen him to serve.

Expressing gratitude to the country, the Prime Minister said, "This country has given me a great deal. The yearning to learn and a fresh curiosity have always been an inseparable part of my life. Even today I consider myself a student. May God give me the strength to work even more. For me, the people are a form of God. I too have a duty to this country, so that I can serve my countrymen even more, day and night. Whatever I am today, whatever post or responsibility I hold, the greatest contribution to it is that of the people of the country."

Speaking about the morning of the event, Modi said, "This morning I went to the Shree Vinayak temple for darshan. There I prayed to God for the whole country, for 140 crore Indians and for myself too. May God give me enough strength and ability to work for my country with even newer energy." He also recalled his school days. He said that when he went to school in Vadnagar, the teachers taught lessons in different ways, and his name was always among the students who reached the class first.

Speaking of events on his journey, the Prime Minister said, "Every success in my life expanded my sense of responsibility, while every achievement gave me the courage and passion to move towards bigger goals. The Morbi flood showed me the way to throw myself into service day and night and taught me the true spirit of service."

Recalling past struggles, Modi said, "The 50th year of my life was spent serving tribals in the forest. I spent my life in the mountains and later chose the path of organisation in the Bharatiya Janata Party. My political report card was only that of a worker who did organisational work. I had got many elections fought, but had not contested a single election myself. If I had had a liking for shining in electoral politics, I would have entered the fray much earlier. But I never felt alone. Crores of volunteers, who regard service to Bharat Mata as the ultimate goal of life and who are guardians of India's cultural soul, were always with me."

The Prime Minister emphasised that the event was not merely to revisit old memories but a day to infuse new energy into resolutions. He then asked the gathering to raise a new slogan. "Speak with me! Top 3 economy, top 3 economy, Aatmanirbhar Bharat! We will show it by doing it," he said, and once again put before the countrymen his resolve to take India into the world's top three economies.