Addressing the ‘Seva Jyoti’ programme at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the national capital, Modi said the milestone was an occasion for gratitude as much as it was a reminder of the responsibility ahead.
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“Today, when I look back, only a feeling of gratitude emerges. I am grateful to every person and every incident that has taught me something or the other,” he said.
Modi said the different phases of his journey had taught him lessons in humility, resilience, trust and democracy.
“Whoever brought me victory taught me to be humble; whoever made me fall taught me to stand back up again. Well-wishers encouraged me, and critics taught me to delve deep within myself. Whoever supported me showed me the power of trust; whoever opposed me made me understand the power of democracy,” he said.
The Prime Minister also credited the country’s grassroots workers and swayamsevaks for ensuring that he never felt alone during his years in public life.“I have never felt that I am alone. There are countless swayamsevak who are guardians of India’s cultural soul, with one sole purpose: to serve Bharat. They live by this spirit and remind themselves every moment: “We are sevaks. We are servants of humanity.” I respectfully salute every Swayamsevak and Karyakarta who continues to serve the nation with commitment and devotion,” he said.
Looking back at some of the defining moments of the past 25 years, Modi cited the 2001 Bhuj earthquake, the Chandrayaan mission and the Covid-19 pandemic as experiences that had shaped his approach to governance.
The Bhuj earthquake, he said, “taught me to remain steadfast in reconstruction”, while Chandrayaan “taught me to rise from failure”. The Corona pandemic, he said, “made me realize the importance of the nation’s collective consciousness.”
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He also acknowledged the role of the media in his journey, saying it had inspired him “to move forward amidst bitter-sweet experiences.”
Modi said his service to India had drawn strength from the country’s civilisational heritage and its tradition of intellectual and spiritual thought.
“From the Vedas to Vivekananda, the nation that has continuously practised great thoughts, the nation whose cultural heritage spans thousands of years, the nation that restored humanity’s faith in mankind—while serving such a nation, I have never once felt alone,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the 25-year milestone should not be viewed merely as an occasion to recall the past, but as a moment to renew the commitment to the country’s future.
“This day is about reiterating that promise; it is a day to express that resolve which says, ‘We will definitely achieve it.’ We will achieve it; we will do it, we will do it, we will do it,” he said.
Modi’s journey as the head of a government began on October 7, 2001, when he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He became Prime Minister in 2014 and has remained in office since then.
The ‘Seva Jyoti’ programme was attended by senior leaders, dignitaries and thousands of workers who gathered to mark the completion of his 25 years in government.
