Modi completes 25 years in public service across various government roles

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed 25 consecutive years as the head of government across various capacities, a milestone described as special in democratic governance. In recognition of this achievement, Modi has been congratulated for his 25 years of service, with observers noting his distinctive approach to leadership that blends both administrative and spiritual dimensions.

Modi's journey toward public service began early in his life. At seventeen, he left home and travelled across India, spending time in the Himalayas. Influenced by Swami Vivekananda and his encounters with different communities and traditions, his life oriented itself toward service. Throughout his career, the external forms of his roles changed—from pracharak to organiser, from Chief Minister to Prime Minister—yet the underlying commitment to service remained constant. As his positions changed, they functioned as different instruments through which this purpose found expression.

A formative experience in Modi's commitment to public service came during the devastating 1979 Morbi flood, which followed the failure of the Machchhu dam. Modi worked as a volunteer in the aftermath of this disaster. Years later, he recalled this experience when visiting landslide-affected Wayanad in 2024, reflecting on how that early encounter shaped his approach to governance and crisis response.