Jashodaben practised Sadbhavna for 20 years
In the five decades after theirmarriage, Modi and Jashoda lived diametrically different lives. Modi is an ambitious politician, fighting tooth and nail for the top job of India. Jashoda, who retired five years back as a teacher, lives a quiet, spiritual existence marked by long hours of prayer and pilgrimages. (PTI photo)
AHMEDABAD: While Narendra Modi undertook Sadbhavana fast in 2011 to soften his image of being a hardliner and warm up to minorities, Jashoda Modi, who was recently acknowledged by the chief minister as his wife, practiced Sadbhavana for nearly two decades.
For 19 years (till she retired in 2009) Jashodaben taught children of the minority community in Rajosana, a village where Muslims comprise 60% of the population. Sarpanch of the village, Rafiq Basan, says that Jashodaben was a loving teacher who never discriminated between Hindu and Muslim children. "She used to keep Ma Santoshi fast on Fridays and would lovingly distribute prasad of gud-chana (jaggery and roasted horse-gram) to Muslim children. If a child was not well and missed school, she would visit him or her at home," says Basan. She was married to Narendra Modi in 1968. Later, however, her husband left home to join the RSS. Forty-six years later, Modi has formally accepted Jashoda as his wife in the nomination papers submitted to the Election Commission for theLok Sabha elections.
In the five decades after their marriage, Modi and Jashoda lived diametrically different lives. Modi is an ambitious politician, fighting tooth and nail for the top job of India. Jashoda, who retired five years back as a teacher, lives a quiet, spiritual existence marked by long hours of prayer and pilgrimages.
Interestingly, despite having no contact with each other, Modi and Jashoda have similar habits.
Both husband and wife are ardent devotees of Ma Amba. Modi and Jashodaben both fast during the nine days of Chaitri and Sharad Navratri living only on water and lime water.
Even during his gruelling schedule as the BJP's star campaigner for the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi fasted on the nine days of Navratri only on lime water. Jashoda too fasted during Chaitri Navratri without consuming any food, and praying for Modi to become PM. Modi has confessed to winding up his day with a dialogue with Mataji each night. These have been produced in the form of a book called 'Saakshibhaav'.
Jashoda's brother, Kamlesh Modi, says Jashodaben has complete faith in Ma Amba. "She gets up at 4 am to pray and continues till 11 am. If she has been publicly accepted as Narendra Modi's wife, it is the fruit of her prayers," says Kamlesh Modi. Jashoda is also known to keep Modi's picture in thetemple at her home.
Ashok, another brother of Jashoda, says that his sister is a very simple woman who epitomizes sacrifice made without expecting anything in return.
"She owns four odd sarees. She has never asked for more. Our family had asked her to consider remarriage but she had flatly refused saying that probably she was not destined to have a conventional happy marriage," said Ashok.
For 19 years (till she retired in 2009) Jashodaben taught children of the minority community in Rajosana, a village where Muslims comprise 60% of the population. Sarpanch of the village, Rafiq Basan, says that Jashodaben was a loving teacher who never discriminated between Hindu and Muslim children. "She used to keep Ma Santoshi fast on Fridays and would lovingly distribute prasad of gud-chana (jaggery and roasted horse-gram) to Muslim children. If a child was not well and missed school, she would visit him or her at home," says Basan. She was married to Narendra Modi in 1968. Later, however, her husband left home to join the RSS. Forty-six years later, Modi has formally accepted Jashoda as his wife in the nomination papers submitted to the Election Commission for theLok Sabha elections.
In the five decades after their marriage, Modi and Jashoda lived diametrically different lives. Modi is an ambitious politician, fighting tooth and nail for the top job of India. Jashoda, who retired five years back as a teacher, lives a quiet, spiritual existence marked by long hours of prayer and pilgrimages.
Interestingly, despite having no contact with each other, Modi and Jashoda have similar habits.
Both husband and wife are ardent devotees of Ma Amba. Modi and Jashodaben both fast during the nine days of Chaitri and Sharad Navratri living only on water and lime water.
Even during his gruelling schedule as the BJP's star campaigner for the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi fasted on the nine days of Navratri only on lime water. Jashoda too fasted during Chaitri Navratri without consuming any food, and praying for Modi to become PM. Modi has confessed to winding up his day with a dialogue with Mataji each night. These have been produced in the form of a book called 'Saakshibhaav'.
Jashoda's brother, Kamlesh Modi, says Jashodaben has complete faith in Ma Amba. "She gets up at 4 am to pray and continues till 11 am. If she has been publicly accepted as Narendra Modi's wife, it is the fruit of her prayers," says Kamlesh Modi. Jashoda is also known to keep Modi's picture in thetemple at her home.
Ashok, another brother of Jashoda, says that his sister is a very simple woman who epitomizes sacrifice made without expecting anything in return.
"She owns four odd sarees. She has never asked for more. Our family had asked her to consider remarriage but she had flatly refused saying that probably she was not destined to have a conventional happy marriage," said Ashok.
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