The Man, The Policies: What Makes Modi Special

The prime minister wants India's strong presence in the emerging new global system

- SHASHI SHEKHAR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will turn 75 this week. It's a diamond jubilee for a man who spent his formative years in anonymity, dedicated his middle years to organizational work, and has thereafter been at the zenith of power: from Gandhinagar to New Delhi.

Till a few weeks ago, 17 September was being seen not just as his birthday but also a kind of D-Day in a political suspense thriller. The question was: will Modi resign? Those waiting with bated breath got their answer on 28 August.

On that day, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said, "I never said I will retire or someone else should retire." Returning the favour, the prime minister in an article on 11 September wished Bhagwat on his 75th birthday.

Across the political world, many prominent leaders like Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Pinarayi Vijayan and Sharad Pawar have continued to hold power well into their late 70s and 80s. However, the BJP's L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were relegated to a "margdarshak mandal" once they crossed 75, likely since they lacked Modi's popularity and fitness.