As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76, his childhood years in Vadnagar, Gujarat, have come into focus through the fond recollections of his school-day friends, Dolat Khan Pathan and Shamaldas Modi. Marking the milestone birthday and 25 years since he first assumed government office, his lifelong acquaintances shared personal stories reflecting ordinary beginnings, shared struggles, and enduring bonds.
Key Memories and Anecdotes from Vadnagar
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Shared Roots and Hardships:
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Dolat Khan Pathan, who studied alongside PM Modi from Class 4 to Class 7 at Prerna School during the 1960s, recalled growing up in neighboring households in Vadnagar.
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Both came from families with limited financial means, walking to school together while navigating everyday childhood realities.
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The RSS Registration Memory (1961):
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Pathan recounted an instance from 1961 when the two young boys wanted to join the RSS but lacked the required one-rupee registration fee.
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PM Modi visited Pathan’s home to ask his mother for the money, while Pathan approached PM Modi’s mother, Heeraben, for the same.
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Although Pathan’s fee was returned three days later due to his Muslim background, PM Modi initially declared he would not stay without his friend until urged otherwise.
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Literary and Extracurricular Pursuits:
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Their friendship involved participating in debates and reading. Pathan noted that PM Modi was inspired to visit the library and read newspapers following a school debate on former Gujarat Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta.
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A Decades-Long Bond:
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The connection persisted into adulthood. During a 2009 meeting in the Gujarat Chief Minister’s office, PM Modi warmly recalled their shared childhood, jokingly offering Pathan “half of Gujarat” upon retirement.
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Shamaldas Modi’s Tribute:
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Another childhood friend, Shamaldas Modi, marked the occasion with a letter comparing their bond to the traditional friendship of Krishna and Sudama.
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He praised PM Modi’s early determination and expressed gratitude for the significant development and cultural recognition Vadnagar has received over the years.
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