Among students who reached class first: PM recalls Vadnagar school days

Taking a trip down memory lane, PM Narendra Modi recalled his school days in Vadnagar as he marked 25 years as head of a government. The journey began when Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001.New Delhi,Oct 7, 2026 11:30 ISTI am still a student, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said emphatically on Tuesday as he marked 25 years of continuous service as head of government. The eagerness to learn, PM Modi said, was instilled in him in his childhood. Taking a trip down memory lane, PM Modi recalled his school days in Vadnagar."I remember that when I used to go to school in Vadnagar, our teachers used to teach us various lessons in different ways. And my name was always among the students who reached the class first," PM Modi said in his address to BJP leaders and workers.The Prime Minister emphasised that eagerness to learn eventually became a part of his life and continues even after 25 years at the helm of a government. The journey began when he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001."That eagerness to learn became a part of my life, and even today, I consider myself a student. I try to learn something new every day," he further said. The 78-year-old began the day by visiting Shri Vinayak Mandir in New Delhi's Sarojini Nagar and offering prayers to Lord Ganesha. "I asked God that my ability to learn should never diminish. The more I learn, the greater my ability to do something for the country will become," PM Modi said.Born in Vadnagar, a small town in Gujarat's Mehsana district, Modi spent much of his childhood there before joining the RSS. He quickly rose from a grassroots worker in the BJP to a key party strategist. In 2001, he became the Gujarat PM - a post he held for more than 12 years - before leading the BJP to a decisive victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.PM MODI'S 'WE WILL DO IT' SLOGAN On Wednesday, the Prime Minister attributed his long political journey to the continued trust of the people."Whatever I am today, wherever I stand, and in whatever role I serve, the biggest contribution belongs to the 'janata janardhan'," PM Modi said.He also quipped that his critics also had a role in his journey. "Those who opposed me taught me the power of democracy. My critics taught me to look within myself," he said.The Prime Minister also renewed his 'Viksit Bharat' call with a new slogan - "we will do it".Reiterating his commitment to building a developed and self-reliant India, PM Modi said, "Viksit Bharat by 2047, we will do it; hosting the Olympics, we will do it; setting foot in space, we will do it."- Ends