Gujarat Election: Spinning A Win

The Bjp Has Some Headaches In Gujarat, But Narendra Modi Is, As Always, The Balm. The State Unit Is Looking To The Prime Minister To Work His Charm Once Again

- Nandini Oza

She stands in a dingy room she calls home, grinning despite the obvious lack of facilities. For Narmadaben Prajapati, in her mid-60s, the monthly rent of ₹700 gets her more than just a room in a narrow lane in Vadnagar—it gets her the room that Narendra Modi was born in. “I am happy to have come here,” she says, scrutinising some electrical work that is going on.

This home belonged to the prime minister’s aunt. His family home, in a nearby lane, was sold off some time ago.

Prajapati separated from her husband 35 years ago, and now earns by cooking and cleaning in neighbourhood homes. “People like you come. People keep coming,” she remarks, adding that Modi is doing a good job. “I have seen him as a young boy.”

Every house in this north Gujarat town has a Modi story. School, shakha, tea stall, marriage and eventual departure, these are episodic stories that would fit nicely into a Netflix show.

The tea stall, where a young Narendra would help his father out, was moved to Delhi’s Rail Bhawan last month. Its replica is likely to be placed at the Vadnagar station.

Shyamaldas Modi and Shambhu Thakor, in their 70s, recall days with their now-famous friend. “He was brave as a child also. He would jump in the small lake that had many crocodiles. Once he even brought one home,” claims Thakor, who manages a family-owned tea stall.