Irregular in class, active in politics, aggressive’
Chief Minister Narendra Modi’ teachers recall how they granted him his academic term at Gujarat University even though he was short of attendance in MA part 1
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, September 06, 2013(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20130906201309060233083592f5253b8/%E2%80%98Irregular-in-class-active-in-politics-aggressive%E2%80%99.html
Gujarat University teachers had come to the rescue of Narendra Damodar Modi, then a master’s student of political science, when he fell short of attendance and faced losing an academic year. He was granted the term, and he followed his teachers’ counsel to become an external student if he wanted to complete MA programme. On Teachers’ Day, Modi’s guru recall how he had showed sparks of a good politician.
JAYANTI PATEL, 92, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Narendra Modi was heavily into RSS and related activities and attended few classes. I didn’t even grant him term, but other teachers were soft on him and his term was somehow granted. I recall him as an aggressive student and gave enough indication that one day he would do anything for power. He was not close to me, but during Emergency we spent some time together to protest against it.
He expressed several controversial views at that time, but I cannot share them with you today because I don’t remember the context in which they were made. It can’t be denied that he is a good speaker and very good with rhetoric. He catches certain terms and idioms, even from his opponents, and uses them to his advantage. I never tried to meet him after he became the chief minister. In fact, I don’t consider him my student. There is a huge gap between his value system and mine. He forgets all those who helped him or whom he used in his mission.
SIDDARTH BHATT, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
I remember Narendra Modi as a very well mannered student who respected his teachers. He was very much into political activities and with RSS work, so he was not regular with classes. There is a lot of difference between Modi of 1970s and today. He was very assertive right from the beginning. I realised early that he had very good leadership qualities. He has proved himself. I consider him to be the best chief minister of Gujarat so far.
DINESH SHUKLA, 75, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
I remember he had fallen short of required attendance in MA part 1 when he was our student at the department. All teachers came together to grant him the term and he could write examination. He was intelligent, but was involved with RSS work like a workaholic. We all counselled him and advised him to become an external student as he would not be able to have the required attendance to complete the programme. He heeded to our advice. After 2002 communal violence, some of us wrote criticising his administration. He never contacted us since.
MT DESAI, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Narendra Modi was a good student, though he was a regular student at the department only for a year. He was well behaved. Though he used to speak less, but was good at making speeches. I had realised that he had all the qualities of making a good politician, which he ultimately became. He is doing well as a CM. I am sure, he will prove to be a good prime minister, too.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, September 06, 2013(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20130906201309060233083592f5253b8/%E2%80%98Irregular-in-class-active-in-politics-aggressive%E2%80%99.html
Gujarat University teachers had come to the rescue of Narendra Damodar Modi, then a master’s student of political science, when he fell short of attendance and faced losing an academic year. He was granted the term, and he followed his teachers’ counsel to become an external student if he wanted to complete MA programme. On Teachers’ Day, Modi’s guru recall how he had showed sparks of a good politician.
JAYANTI PATEL, 92, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Narendra Modi was heavily into RSS and related activities and attended few classes. I didn’t even grant him term, but other teachers were soft on him and his term was somehow granted. I recall him as an aggressive student and gave enough indication that one day he would do anything for power. He was not close to me, but during Emergency we spent some time together to protest against it.
He expressed several controversial views at that time, but I cannot share them with you today because I don’t remember the context in which they were made. It can’t be denied that he is a good speaker and very good with rhetoric. He catches certain terms and idioms, even from his opponents, and uses them to his advantage. I never tried to meet him after he became the chief minister. In fact, I don’t consider him my student. There is a huge gap between his value system and mine. He forgets all those who helped him or whom he used in his mission.
SIDDARTH BHATT, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
I remember Narendra Modi as a very well mannered student who respected his teachers. He was very much into political activities and with RSS work, so he was not regular with classes. There is a lot of difference between Modi of 1970s and today. He was very assertive right from the beginning. I realised early that he had very good leadership qualities. He has proved himself. I consider him to be the best chief minister of Gujarat so far.
DINESH SHUKLA, 75, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
I remember he had fallen short of required attendance in MA part 1 when he was our student at the department. All teachers came together to grant him the term and he could write examination. He was intelligent, but was involved with RSS work like a workaholic. We all counselled him and advised him to become an external student as he would not be able to have the required attendance to complete the programme. He heeded to our advice. After 2002 communal violence, some of us wrote criticising his administration. He never contacted us since.
MT DESAI, FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Narendra Modi was a good student, though he was a regular student at the department only for a year. He was well behaved. Though he used to speak less, but was good at making speeches. I had realised that he had all the qualities of making a good politician, which he ultimately became. He is doing well as a CM. I am sure, he will prove to be a good prime minister, too.
