THE assessment of the performance of Mr. Narendra Modi as head of the Government cannot be done on the basis of how many days he has been holding the high office first as Chief Minister and later as Prime Minister. The fact that he has held the highest office in the State or Central Governments for as many as 8931 days and the count is still on, does demonstrate his longevity, all right. But more importantly, it showcases a fulfilling career at the helm complete with innovation, integrity and insightfullness not just in governance but also in offering the people leadership on the widest possible range of issues. His success in politics, therefore, must be assessed from not the number of days in office, but by the number of ideas he produced and implemented impacting the lives of common people. Just a few days ago, as he spoke at the farewell of a few Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament, Mr. Modi had said that politics had no full-stop. His words assumed a great authenticity because Mr. Narendra Modi knows all too well how politics can be a great tool to achieve high-quality socio-economic justice and equality.

 

As a young boy who started working with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a volunteer, Mr. Narendra Modi has been practising what was preached in the RSS -- an inclusive activity that rose above petty considerations. As a base-level volunteer, as a grass-root worker, as a young political activist walking a rising trajectory of service and dedication to national cause, Mr. Narendra Modi followed to the hilt what he believed and what he had been taught in the RSS. Each of those contributions reflects so correctly in his long and successful political career. There is no full-stop, and the road ahead is long and arduous -- a reality Mr. Modi has never forgotten even for a moment. His relentless pursuit of higher and finer performance, thus, is a non-stop activity that will go on whether he is in the Government or not. Absolute people-orientedness is Mr. Narendra Modi’s speciality -- and the people do not miss it. They realise that the man has not lived a single day for himself. He has availed no holiday -- even for a day -- and he has not allowed himself to be engaged in his personal family at the cost of the work as the head of the Government. Even when his mother passed away, he attended the funeral and then immediately proceeded to fulfill his commitments as Prime Minister.

 

And he has spent each festival -- such as Diwali or Holi -- with the men in uniform at some distant place, sending to the nation the message of his unwavering commitment to the cause of the people and the nation, beyond politics. His success has been phenomenal, to say the least. But what counts most is the relentless pursuit of excellence that strengthens his claim to fame as India’s longest serving head of the Government. He lives like a rishi -- all the time dedicated to the task at hand, all the time thinking about what to do next to help the larger Indian society. Ideas emerge from him one after another -- in an uninterrupted flow that often amazes people, ordinary or extra-ordinary.

 

It is not without reason that Mr. Narendra Modi has endeared himself not just to the Indian community in the country and abroad, but also to the international community because of the virtue he brings along -- of openness, of sincerity, of transparency, of clarity of thought and action, and no-nonsense promotion of India’s national interests (which are above anything else). By the time he will complete his third term as Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi will have added another 1,000 days to his record as Head of the Government. Common people of India do not understand much about such numbers. For, all they know is that Mr. Narendra Modi should continue as Prime Minister and national leader as long as he wishes and as long as his health permits him to do so. And this wish stems from only one point -- the people know Mr. Narendra Modi’s value and worth.