Narendra Modi, first PM to move to official bungalow without family
Narendra Modi will be the first Prime Minister who will move into
the official residence of the Prime Minister of India without his
family. Till now all the other 14 Prime Ministers have had a family or
at least have had some family members who moved in with them.
The 7 Race Course Road has been the official residence of India's
Prime Minister since Rajiv Gandhi's tenure. The first Prime Minister
Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru lived at the magnificent Teen Murti Bhawan till
his death in 1964. His successor Lal Bahadur Shastri continued to live
at a modest bungalow in Janpath. Both the houses were later converted
into memorial cum museums.
Indira Gandhi lived at a modest 1 Safdarjang Marg, where she was
assassinated in 1984. Her predecessors Morarji Desai and Charan Singh
also lived in their humble government accommodations.
Till now all the other 14 Prime Ministers have had a family or at least have had some family members who moved in with them.
During Nehru's tenure, his daughter Indira Gandhi officiated as his
hostess at the PM's house. Morarji Desai, a widower had children. PV
Narasimha Rao, another widower, also had his children along with him.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the only bachelor Prime Minister till date, had
his adopted daughter with him at the PM's official residence.
The assasination of Indira Gandhi's by her body guards prompted
the government to establish the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) to
guard the Prime Minister and his/her family members. Her son Rajiv
Gandhi was the first Prime Minster to get the SPG security cover.
According to reports, Narendra Modi's wife and mother are also
expected to get the SPG security as the rules of the SPG makes them
eligible for the security cover. Both his wife and his mother live in
Gujarat.
Modi has a small team of highly efficient and loyal personal
assistants. Badri, his personal cook for over 12 years is considered
extremely close to him and has already visited the PM's official
bungalow to check if everything is in place for his master. Like most
Gujaratis Modi, too, is a strict vegetarian and Badri is considered to
be good at preparing delicious Gujarati food. He will be the in charge
of the kitchen and will be busy making dhoklas and khakras at the PM's
house.
Normally, the cooks from government run India Tourism Development
Corporation (ITDC) hotels work at the PM's residence. However, most
PM's bring their own cook who is assisted by the ITDC staff members.
Modi is not the first vegetarian Prime Minister. There have been
many vegetarian Prime Ministers in the past. Lal Bahadur Shastri was a
strict vegetarian. Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who was also a
Gujarati, was also a vegetarian. Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao were
also vegetarians. HD Deve Gowda, too, is also a strict vegetarian.
Modi's two other most trusted assistants Dinesh Singh and OP
Thakur have moved to the national capital with him. Retired IAS officer
Kailasanathan, who was his Principal Secretary when he was the chief
minister, is likely to be his Principal Secretary in the PM's Office
(PMO).
According to Modi's close aides, he does not have many personal
belongings. He is fond of gadgets and his laptop, tab, iPod, etc, which
have been carefully packed and sent to New Delhi.
Modi reads newspapers and monitors TV channels and their websites
on his tab. He always keeps a copy of 'Ramacharitamanas' in his vehicle
and is likely to continue with this habbit even after he takes charge
as the Prime Minister.
His security staff members believe that the holy book protects
him from his enemies. According to Gujarati media reports, Modi has not
spent a single paisa from his salary as the Gujarat Chief Minister in
the last 13 years and he has decided to spend the money on the education
of the children of his staff at the Gandhinagar secretariat.
Modi also does not keep the mementos and other gifts with him. He
auctions them and donates the money for the education of girls in
Gujarat. One thing is sure that the PM's residence will be different
from Monday.
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