Narendra Modi to his Ministers: How not to celebrate my birthday

September 17 was an auspicious day in India. Not only was it Ganesh Chaturthi, but it also happened to be the birthday of India’s beloved Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. So, as is tradition, one would have expected not only his party (BJP), but the entire country to shower extravagant blessings on its favourite son. But, hold your horses, because Modi had a diktat for how not to celebrate his birthday, a diktat that was supposed to have been followed to the ‘T’.

The message was clear- the BJP top management was not to make Modi’s birthday a national event. After all, it is for dynastic parties like the Congress to put up posters in every street corner wishing their “young” Vice-President a happy one! For once, perhaps, Modi-fans and sycophants, agreed. Some people might say, “Thank God for small mercies”, maybe this dissuaded Mallika Sherawat from reprising her Marilyn Monroe-act and singing “Happy Birthday, Prime Minister”.

But such diktats do little to subdue the indomitable spirit of the young and enterprising. A company that promotes hygienic sanitation in India and builds toilets printed birthday cards to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday with a call for “janm-divas samaroh” (a birthday get-together). A young and very enterprising minister; who has been in the eye of storm recently, for his politically incorrect statements; was the chief guest of this get together and unveiled a 365 kg jumbo ‘laddu’ to mark the special day. But this Minister of State with Independent Charge of a couple of ministries was quick to dub the event as a conference to mark the organizer’s achievements in the Swachh Bharat Mission; a programme close to the birthday boy’s heart.

Another event, another young minister but the same date: September 17. This young and dynamic Minister of State decided to mark the PM’s birthday by calling it “an auspicious day”. Though he was quick to add that it was Ganesh Chaturthi as well as Vishwakarma puja that were being celebrated on the same day. But the minister wanted to make sure that his birthday wish was conveyed to the right man, so he decided to make the auspicious day remark again, the moment he saw his boss, the Cabinet Minister walk into the conference. After all, his boss is known to enjoy Narendra Modi’s confidence and have his ear. But seasoned politician that his boss is, he chose not to acknowledge the birthday remark of his junior minister.

Maybe one should follow the First Citizen of India’s example and just take to Twitter for birthday wishes.

Image credit: Indiatimes