In 2001, Atal ji identified Narendra Modi as a bright and dedicated individual committed to the organization, society, and the nation, despite lacking prior experience in holding positions of power. Since then, Narendra Modi’s ascent from Chief Minister of Gujarat to Prime Minister in 2014 has seen remarkable achievements over the past decade.
I first encountered Atalji’s mindset, principles, and demeanour back in 1972 during my tenure as a correspondent at Hindusthan Samachar. At the time, there were only a handful of Jan Sangh MPs, among whom he stood out as a compelling orator and a seasoned leader known for his humble and warm disposition.
He resided at 1 Firoz Shah Road, while coincidentally; I lived in a section of the bungalow belonging to my Rajya Sabha MP from Ujjain, Sawai Singh Sisodia, at 5 Windsor Place (now the location of the Women’s Press Club) at the opposite end of the same road. During that era, establishing phone contact between these residences was somewhat challenging, although meeting political leaders for various activities wasn’t overly difficult.
This story is from the December 24, 2023 edition of The Sunday Guardian.
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This story is from the December 24, 2023 edition of The Sunday Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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