I was not at the 1993 Hindu conference in Washington. But I had several memorable encounters with Modi in New York, New Jersey, Trinidad, and India before he became General Secretary of the BJP and Chief Minister of Gujarat in late 2001 and subsequently as CM and PM. Modi came to Guyana extending a trip he had made to Trinidad at a Hindu conference at which several Guyanese were present including this writer. He was guest of Ravi Dev, Swami Aksharananda, and others. Much water has flown under the bridge since his only visit to Guyana in 2000. Little would Modi have known that his next visit would be as the head of the world’s largest democracy. His visit is eagerly anticipated with grand welcome planned at several events.
Modi encountered Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean people when he was a student and a pracharak (volunteer) in India and when he attended programs of Gujaratis in New York and New Jersey that Dharamdatt Durjan (formerly of Mahaica) and a few other Guyanese, including this writer, would patronize; he was a deeply religious man, a devotee of Goddess Durga. Modi was a devoted social worker (a Hindu pracharak) who volunteered his time to assist others as was his training and commitment to the organization he belonged. When others blanked him, treating him as a pariah and bashing him with a lot of anti-Modi propaganda, I visited the Gujarat booth at PBD in January 2003 (Delhi), 2004 (Delhi), 2005 (Mumbai), and several other PBDs when he was CM as well as PM. Bharrat Jagdeo was the Chief Guest at PBD 2004. Gujarat had one of the largest booths at PBDs and Modi engaged everyone including critics and detractors. (As an aside, I stand to be corrected that Narendra Modi is the only individual who attended all PBDs – a gathering of Indians from the diaspora; next January would be the 18th edition).
My multiple encounters of Modi found him to be charming, personable, affable, remarkable, telegenic, articulate, brilliant, a star, and a man of substance. In NY and New Jersey, Gujaratis flocked to him. As CM and at Gujarat booth in India, he knew what he wanted for his state; he was development oriented and encouraged people to invest in Gujarat. There were beautiful glossy brochures advertising the state that was open for investment. Modi himself appeared at ease interacting with guests or the public who visited the booth. He made comments that evoked laughter or smile and he laughed quite a lot. I visited Gujarat several times and was very impressed with the development of the state under CM Modi leadership. Under his tenure (2001-14), Gujarat was and remains the most developed state with the highest standard of living and quality of life. It was also the safest state in India. Women used to fear going out during the dark prior to Modi becoming PM. During his tenure and till now, females have felt safe going out at all hours of the day or night. He was an outstanding politician, a man who cares for his people and who is not about self.
Modi has become the most followed political personality on social media. Modi has carved a place in the minds, thoughts, and heart of Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbeans who engaged him.
