Swami Brahmaviharidas, spokesperson of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, on 7 October 2026 congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 continuous years in public office, describing the milestone as a celebration not of personal achievement but of democratic ideals. The remarks, posted on social media platform X, drew widespread attention ahead of Modi's landmark anniversary spanning his tenures as Chief Minister and Prime Minister.

Key Remarks by Swami Brahmaviharidas

In his post, Swami Brahmaviharidas said: '25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's years in office, without a break, continuous and ceaseless, it's not just about celebrating a personal milestone; it's about celebrating the ideals of democracy. It's unthinkable, unimaginable that a person can remain in public office, first as Chief Minister and second as the Prime Minister of a nation.'

He contextualised the feat within India's scale, noting that such uninterrupted service is 'not possible in a large country like India, which is more than 1/6th of the world and democratic in all its processes.' He added that 'holding office continuously is a great celebration not just for the Prime Minister but for the whole of India and everybody who celebrates democracy.'

A Leader Who 'Never Took a Holiday'

Swami Brahmaviharidas underscored what he called an extraordinary personal commitment to public service. 'We have a leader who hasn't taken a single holiday in 25 years,' he said. 'Imagine that: no golf, no beach, no time for himself, a leader who never spent a day for his own family because he considers India his very own family.'

He described the 25 years without personal time as 'a unique celebration for a human being,' framing Modi's tenure as an expression of selfless national service rather than political ambition.

The Spiritual Legacy of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Swami Brahmaviharidas also invoked the memory of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the late spiritual leader of BAPS, recalling the guidance he reportedly offered Prime Minister Modi during a moment of frustration. According to Swami Brahmaviharidas, Modi once confided that opposition to a school opening had left him feeling like 'renouncing everything.'

Pramukh Swami Maharaj's counsel, as recounted by Swami Brahmaviharidas, was: 'Remember, if you are doing good things and they are selfless for the nation, never get tired, never retire, and never expire from the enthusiasm that we possess.' That advice, he suggested, became a guiding principle for the Prime Minister's continued public life.

A Global Dimension to the Tribute

Broadening the tribute beyond India, Swami Brahmaviharidas said the entire world owed gratitude to Modi. 'A true leader is not just one who makes his own country great, but he is a leader who makes the whole world great,' he remarked, positioning Modi's leadership as a force for global convergence at a time of widespread geopolitical uncertainty.

He concluded with a message of affirmation: 'Those who love you will always love you, and those who ignore you adore you secretly, for the hard work, great work, and the ceaseless service you do.'

Context and Significance

The tribute comes as PM Modi marks a quarter-century of uninterrupted elected office — a run that began with his first term as Chief Minister of Gujarat and continued through three consecutive terms as Prime Minister. Few democratic leaders globally have held elected executive office without interruption for this length of time, making the milestone notable in both domestic and comparative political contexts. The tribute from a prominent religious figure based in Abu Dhabi also reflects the soft-power dimension of India's diaspora and interfaith relationships in the Gulf.