Anup Jalota wishes PM Modi on 76th birthday, calls him 'permanent Prime Minister'
Synopsis
Veteran devotional singer Anup Jalota marked PM Modi's 76th birthday with an unusually personal tribute — wishing the Prime Minister a 100-year life and expressing a desire for him to remain India's 'permanent Prime Minister,' even while acknowledging such a thing is constitutionally impossible. The remark captures the intensity of public affection that surrounds Modi's birthday each year.
Key Takeaways
Veteran singer Anup Jalota wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 76th birthday on 17 September 2026 .
Jalota expressed a desire for Modi to remain India's 'permanent Prime Minister,' calling it a heartfelt but practically impossible wish.
He credited Modi with raising India's global standing, citing respectful treatment of Indian passport holders at immigration counters abroad.
Jalota prayed for the Prime Minister to live to 100 years old .
Anup Jalota , known as the 'Bhajan Samrat,' has had a career spanning over five decades as a devotional singer.
Veteran bhajan singer Anup Jalota on 17 September 2026 extended warm birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 76th birthday, expressing a heartfelt desire for the leader to remain India's 'permanent Prime Minister' — a sentiment he acknowledged was constitutionally impractical but emotionally genuine.
Birthday Wishes and Prayers
Conveying his greetings, Jalota said: 'Many, many happy returns of the day to our respected and beloved Modi ji on his 76th birthday. I pray to God that you live to be 100 years old, and may the countdown to those 100 years begin from today. Forget the past.'
He further added: 'You have done so many good things for the country.' The singer was effusive in his praise, describing the Prime Minister's contributions as transformative for ordinary Indians.
On India's Rising Global Stature
Jalota credited Prime Minister Modi with elevating India's international image, drawing on his personal experiences while travelling abroad. 'When we travel abroad and stand in an immigration queue in another country, when we present our passport, it says "Bharat/India" on it. The immigration officers smile. Many people even ask us, "How is Mr Modi? People respect us. Modi ji, you have earned respect for us in the world,"' he said.
The singer added that while artists earn recognition through their craft, the broader respect India now commands globally is a separate and significant achievement. 'Being a citizen of a country that is now receiving a different kind of respect is something else altogether. I want to thank you for that,' said Jalota.
The 'Permanent Prime Minister' Sentiment
In perhaps his most striking remark, Jalota articulated what he called a widely shared feeling among Indians. 'My heart wishes that you remain the permanent Prime Minister of this country. I know that this is practically not possible, but all of us feel so safe and happy with you as our Prime Minister that it is our heartfelt wish that you remain the permanent Prime Minister,' he said.
The statement reflects a broader pattern of public figures voicing strong personal support for Modi around his birthday, which is observed each year on 17 September. Modi, born in 1950, is serving his third consecutive term as Prime Minister following the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) electoral victories.
Who Is Anup Jalota
Anup Jalota, widely known as the 'Bhajan Samrat,' is one of India's most celebrated devotional singers, with a career spanning over five decades. He has been a prominent cultural voice and has previously spoken out on social and political matters, making his birthday tribute to the Prime Minister a notable public endorsement from the entertainment world.
As PM Modi marks another year, tributes from across India's cultural, political, and social spectrum are expected to continue through the day.
Point of View
But Jalota's 'permanent Prime Minister' formulation stands out — it is simultaneously a declaration of emotional loyalty and an implicit critique of democratic term limits, even if framed with a self-aware disclaimer. The remark about passport respect at foreign immigration counters is a recurring motif in pro-Modi public discourse, reflecting how India's changing global positioning is being felt at the level of individual experience. What is worth noting is that such testimonials, coming from cultural icons, carry soft-power weight that political speeches alone cannot manufacture.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PM Modi's 76th birthday significant in 2026?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76 on 17 September 2026, marking another year of his third consecutive term in office. His birthdays typically draw widespread tributes from political figures, celebrities, and cultural icons across India.
What did Anup Jalota say about PM Modi on his birthday?
Anup Jalota wished Modi a long life of 100 years and expressed a heartfelt desire for him to remain India's 'permanent Prime Minister,' while acknowledging it is practically not possible. He also praised Modi for raising India's global respect.
What did Anup Jalota say about India's image abroad?
Jalota said that when Indians present their passports at foreign immigration counters, officers smile and ask about Modi, reflecting a new level of global respect for India. He credited Modi personally for this change in how Indian citizens are perceived internationally.
Is Anup Jalota's 'permanent Prime Minister' wish constitutionally valid?
No. Jalota himself acknowledged that the idea is 'practically not possible' under India's democratic and constitutional framework, which holds general elections every five years. His remark was framed as an expression of personal sentiment rather than a political demand.
