Flurry of events mark PM Modi’s 75th birthday celebrations

The national capital on Wednesday witnessed a flurry of events marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, with the Delhi government, BJP leaders, and cultural institutions organising programmes ranging from blood donation camps and service drives to exhibitions and inaugurations.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led the celebrations with a ‘Seva Sankalp Walk’ on the Kartavya Path that saw the participation of MPs, MLAs, councillors, and thousands of young people. A mega blood donation camp organised on the spot collected 1,157 units of blood, the highest ever at a single site in the city.

Gupta described the walk as a reaffirmation of commitment to the Prime Minister’s vision, calling Modi a “beloved leader whose tireless efforts are driving India toward self-reliance and global leadership.”

The day also saw the launch of the Sugamya Delhi Abhiyan at Central Vista premises, with the Chief Minister flagging off the NAMO Sugamya Rath. Gupta said her government was committed to making the city fully accessible for persons with disabilities by 2047, when India marks 100 years of independence.

At the Thyagaraj Stadium, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated 17 new schemes in health, education, energy, and social welfare, with Chief Minister Gupta announcing that 75 schemes would be launched in the capital within 15 days.

The Delhi Legislative Assembly hosted an exhibition, “Service is the Resolve, India First the Inspiration – 75 Years, An Experience and An Exhibition”, inaugurated by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra. The exhibition retraced Modi’s journey from childhood to becoming a global statesman, highlighting key initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swachh Bharat, Digital India and Vocal for Local.

The same exhibition was also inaugurated at the central park in Connaught Place by union health minister and national BJP president JP Nadda.

The Delhi Secretariat marked the day with the national launch of a women’s health programme, “Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan”, attended by Union Minister Anupriya Patel, who highlighted the government’s achievements in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

Elsewhere, BJP leaders and organisations contributed to the festivities. Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal, in collaboration with CAIT and the Luv Kush Ramlila Committee, organised a massive service programme at Red Fort, distributing 1,250 artificial limbs and assistive devices to differently-abled persons, along with health checkups, sarees and school supplies for women and children.

Former Union Minister Vijay Goel celebrated by distributing toys to children in slum areas, unveiling a 30-foot cutout of Modi alongside a symbolic tree depicting 75 landmark schemes.

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) opened its exhibition inspired by Modi’s radio programme Mann ki Baat, while 50 blood donation camps were also organised across the city by Akhil Bharatiya Terapanth Yuvak Parishad (ABTYP).

From cultural performances and folk dances to service activities and inaugurations, Delhi turned into a stage of gratitude and celebration, with leaders and citizens coming together to honour the Prime Minister’s life, leadership, and vision on his milestone 75th birthday.

From childhood tales to Op Sindoor: Exhibition traces Modi’s life journey

From his childhood days as “little Naru” penning a play against discrimination, to leading the Ekta Yatra across 14,000 km, resisting the Emergency while underground, and steering India as its Prime Minister through initiatives such as Swachh Bharat and Operation Sindoor — an exhibition inaugurated at the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday attempts to present a sweeping canvas of Narendra Modi’s journey.

The exhibition, titled “Service is the Resolve, India First the Inspiration – 75 Years, An Experience and An Exhibition,” coincides with the PM’s 75th birthday. It has been displayed at two venues — the Delhi Assembly and Central Park in Connaught Place.

The experience begins right at the entrance of the Assembly exhibition, where visitors are greeted with cutouts of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, designed as a selfie point. With nearly 10 such selfie stations across the premises, each embedded with QR codes, the exhibition blends traditional storytelling with modern interactivity. A quick scan on a mobile phone brings up short films and clips explaining the themes of panels such as Ram Aa Gaye, Veerta Se Vijay, Swachh Bharat, Khelo Ka Utsav and Gujarat Ko Duniya Se Jod Raha.

Inside, the exhibition unfolds Modi’s life in chapters. In the section titled Vikashil Prarambhik Jeevan, curators note: “Bachpan se hi chote Naru ne sahanubhuti aur netritva ke gun dikhaye. Unhone bhedbhav ke khilaf ‘Peela Phool’ natak likha aur uska manchan bhi kiya.” The panels describe how the young Modi would frequent his village library, where books on Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Shivaji left a lasting impression.

Another highlight is the portrayal of the 1991 Ekta Yatra, where Modi is credited with organising a march from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, culminating in the hoisting of the national flag at Lal Chowk. The exhibition notes that this event strengthened nationalist sentiment within the BJP and later inspired the abrogation of Article 370. — TNS