PM Modi at 25 years in power: The man who enrolled him in Jana Sangh recalls
Synopsis
The man who enrolled a young Narendra Modi into the Jana Sangh for just 25 paise — and later walked him into the RSS — has broken his silence on what set Modi apart: an almost photographic memory of people and events. Ambalal Koshti's recollections, shared as Modi marks 25 years heading a government, offer the rarest of things — an eyewitness account of how India's most dominant political figure was first drawn into public life.
Key Takeaways
Ambalal Koshti enrolled a young Narendra Modi into the Bharatiya Jana Sangh for a membership fee of just 25 paise .
Koshti first met Modi at a dharna at a Gujarat State Transport Corporation facility, where Modi used to frequent a canteen run by his relatives.
Koshti later facilitated Modi's entry into the RSS , taking him to the Sangh office where an official known as Vakil Sahib accepted him.
The two conducted shakhas together at Kankaria and Sarangpur Keri Pitha , played kabaddi, and cycled together in their early years.
Koshti describes Modi's most remarkable quality as an exceptional memory — 'whatever he did even once, he would remember it throughout his life.' The account was shared on 7 October 2026 , as Modi completes 25 years as the head of a government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's extraordinary memory — recalling people, conversations, and events spanning decades — stands out as one of his most defining personal traits, according to Ambalal Koshti, the man who first introduced a young Modi to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later facilitated his entry into the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Koshti shared these recollections on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, the day Modi completed 25 years as the head of a government.
A Meeting at a Dharna That Changed History
Koshti traced his first encounter with Modi to a dharna staged at a facility of the Gujarat State Transport Corporation, near a canteen run by Modi's relatives. A young Modi, still a student, struck up a conversation with Koshti during the protest. 'It was because of that dharna that I met Modi ji in his childhood. During his student days, he spoke with me, and I felt that this brother was ready to work with us,' Koshti recalled.
The two subsequently became friends. About 25 days after their first meeting, Modi visited Koshti's home — and walked away a formally enrolled member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, having paid a membership fee of just 25 paise. At the time, Koshti served as the general secretary of the Kankaria ward.
From Jana Sangh to the RSS
After working with the Jana Sangh for a period, Modi expressed a desire to join the RSS and sought Koshti's help. Koshti took him to the Sangh office, where an office-bearer known as Vakil Sahib was in charge. 'He spoke with him and said, 'I will keep this boy here, and if there is any problem, I will tell you,'' Koshti recalled of that pivotal meeting.
The two went on to work side by side at the Sangh office in Kankaria and at Sarangpur Keri Pitha, conducting shakhas together. 'At that time, I also worked together with Narendra bhai at the Sangh office. We played kabaddi together, travelled around together on a bicycle. Along with travelling together, we continued doing various work for the Sangh,' Koshti said.
A Life of Simplicity in the Early Years
Koshti painted a picture of stark simplicity that characterised those formative years. 'His food and eating habits were also very simple. There was hardly anything. What would we eat? Dry roti, khichdi, or whatever was available at someone's place; we would have that as a light meal. There was a lot of poverty at that time; what could we do?' he said.
Notably, Koshti said that in those days he moved from person to person, trying to build the strength of the Jana Sangh and the RSS, without any inkling of what the future held for the young man he had enrolled for 25 paise.
The Memory That Defines Modi, Says Koshti
'As far as his speciality is concerned, there is one thing: his memory. His biggest speciality is that whatever he did even once, he would remember it throughout his life. He remembers it even today,' Koshti said, describing it as Modi's most exceptional personal quality.
On the occasion of Modi completing 25 years as a government head, Koshti offered heartfelt blessings. 'I give him many, many blessings that my lifespan may also be added to his lifespan. May he make this country shine even more. May he illuminate his life in a beautiful way across the entire world. This is my hope,' he said.
As Modi marks this milestone, first-hand accounts like Koshti's offer a rare, ground-level window into the ideological and personal formation of one of India's longest-serving political figures — and raise the question of how that foundational RSS discipline has shaped his governance decades later.
Point of View
And that context is worth keeping in mind. But their historical value is real — few living figures can speak to Modi's pre-political formation with such specificity, right down to the 25-paise membership receipt. What is striking is how the RSS's emphasis on discipline, memory, and relationship-building that Koshti describes maps almost directly onto the governing style Modi has displayed at the national level. The deeper question mainstream coverage rarely asks: how has that RSS organisational culture — forged in shakhas and cycling trips in Gujarat — shaped the centralised decision-making architecture of Modi's governments over 25 years?
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ambalal Koshti and what is his connection to PM Modi?
Ambalal Koshti is a veteran Sangh activist from Gujarat who introduced a young Narendra Modi to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later helped him join the RSS. He formally enrolled Modi as a Jana Sangh member by collecting a membership fee of 25 paise, at a time when Koshti served as general secretary of the Kankaria ward.
How did Ambalal Koshti first meet Narendra Modi?
Koshti first encountered Modi at a dharna staged at a Gujarat State Transport Corporation facility, near a canteen run by Modi's relatives where the young Modi used to spend time. Struck by Modi's willingness to work for the Sangh, Koshti befriended him, and Modi visited his home about 25 days later to formally join the Jana Sangh.
What quality does Ambalal Koshti consider PM Modi's most distinctive?
Koshti singles out Modi's memory as his most exceptional trait, saying 'whatever he did even once, he would remember it throughout his life.' He noted that Modi still recalls events and people from those early decades.
Why is this account significant on 7 October 2026?
7 October 2026 marks PM Modi's 25th year as the head of a government — first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and now as Prime Minister. Koshti's recollections were shared to mark this milestone, offering a rare first-hand account of Modi's formative years in the Jana Sangh and RSS.
What was life like for Modi during his early RSS days, according to Koshti?
Koshti describes conditions of considerable simplicity — meals of dry roti, khichdi, or whatever was available, shared with other Sangh workers. The two conducted shakhas together, played kabaddi, and cycled around Gujarat on Sangh work, with little material comfort.
