Narendra Modi was born into a Gujarati family that practices Hinduism and he openly identifies as a Hindu. He became involved with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as a child and that early connection with Hindu nationalist groups has shaped how religion features in his public life.
Quick Profile: Narendra Modi
| Full Name | Narendra Damodardas Modi |
| Birth Date | 17 September 1950 (age 75 as of 2025) |
| Birth Place | Vadnagar, Bombay State, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Current Office | Prime Minister of India (since 26 May 2014) |
| Previous Offices | Chief Minister of Gujarat (Oct 2001 – May 2014) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
What religion is Narendra Modi?
Narendra Modi was born into a Gujarati family that practices Hinduism. He has publicly identified himself as a Hindu nationalist, once saying, “I’m a born Hindu. You can say I’m a Hindu nationalist”. He was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization at age eight and later became a full-time worker for the RSS.
In his personal and public life Modi often emphasizes Hindu traditions, he regularly participates in temple ceremonies, leads festivals, and advocates policies aligned with Hindutva ideology. For instance, he presided over the 2024 consecration of India’s Ram temple in Ayodhya, chanting verses and offering flower petals at the deity’s feet. In February 2024 he also opened a new BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, where he performed Hindu water rituals in the presence of local dignitaries. These events underscore the visible role of Hindu practices in his persona. At the same time, as prime minister of secular India, Modi has stated that development and national pride are compatible with Hindu identity; he says there is no contradiction between nationalism and progress.
Early Life
Narendra Modi was born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, a town in Gujarat, India, to a family of modest means. His father, Damodardas Mulchand Modi, ran a tea stall and was involved in municipal politics; his mother’s name is Heeraben. Modi was the third of six children. As a child he assisted at his family’s tea stall and also helped sell tea on trains. He received his basic education in Vadnagar and earned a Master’s degree in Political Science from Gujarat University (after first completing a BA at Delhi University). In his youth, Modi lived briefly as an itinerant ascetic (sadhu) in northern India before returning home. Notably, Modi joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) a Hindu volunteer organization early in life. He was recruited into the RSS at age eight and served as a full-time RSS worker from 1971. This RSS background deeply influenced his outlook and paved the way for his entry into politics.
In his late teens, Modi was in an arranged marriage. At age 18 he married Jashodaben Chimanlal Modi, who was 17 at the time. The couple separated soon after; they never formally divorced and have no children. Modi remained a bachelor and devoted himself to political activism. These personal details were not widely acknowledged for decades, but Modi did disclose his marriage when he filed election nomination papers in 2014. He later commented that he had kept the marriage secret so that he could serve as an RSS pracharak (full-time worker), since at the time celibacy was a requirement for that role.
Political Career
Modi’s formal political career began when he joined the BJP in the 1980s, on assignment from the RSS. He quickly rose through the ranks of the BJP’s Gujarat unit. By 1998 he was a national general secretary of the BJP. Modi’s first major break came in 2001 when the incumbent Chief Minister of Gujarat resigned after a major earthquake. Modi was chosen to replace him. He became Chief Minister of Gujarat in October 2001 and remained in that post until May 2014. Under his leadership, Gujarat experienced rapid economic growth and investment; however, his tenure was also marked by controversy. In early 2002, after a train fire in Godhra killed Hindu pilgrims, communal riots broke out across Gujarat. Critics alleged that Modi’s administration failed to stop the violence against Muslims (and in some reports even tacitly encouraged it). Modi has consistently denied these charges, and multiple inquiries including a Supreme Court-monitored investigation found no prosecutable evidence against him.
Modi became prominent on the national stage when the BJP selected him as its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general election. In May 2014 Modi led the BJP to a landmark victory, the party won an outright majority in the Lok Sabha (the first party since 1984 to do so). He took office as India’s 14th Prime Minister on 26 May 2014. During his first term, Modi launched a series of ambitious initiatives (see Major Policies below) and pursued an aggressive development agenda. The BJP was re-elected with an even larger majority in 2019.
In the 2024 general election Modi’s coalition (the National Democratic Alliance) won enough seats to form government, but for the first time since 2014 the BJP did not have a standalone majority. Modi was nonetheless again sworn in as Prime Minister in June 2024, leading a coalition government. His long tenure has made him India’s longest-serving PM since Jawaharlal Nehru. During this period, India’s economy became one of the world’s largest and Modi’s personal approval ratings have generally remained high. His political career has been defined by a blend of Hindu nationalist messaging, pro-development rhetoric, and centralization of power within his leadership.
Political Ideology and Beliefs
Narendra Modi is widely regarded as a proponent of Hindu nationalism, often referred to by the term Hindutva. Analysts note that his early life in the RSS imbued him with a Hindu-centric worldview. The ideology of his BJP party is explicitly rooted in the idea that India is fundamentally a Hindu civilization. Modi himself has said that there is no conflict between economic development and Hindu-nationalist identity, famously stating, “You can say I’m a Hindu nationalist” and insisting he is focused on progress for India.
Observers describe Modi’s style as a form of right-wing populism, he emphasizes Hindu symbols (like rebuilding the Ram temple), strong leadership, and national pride. At the same time, he often frames his agenda in inclusive-sounding slogans. His campaigns have repeated slogans such as “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (literally “together with all, development for all”), though critics argue these slogans have not always translated into protections for minority groups. Supporters say his vision is one of a culturally revitalized India that preserves its traditions while modernizing its economy. Critics, however, contend that his brand of nationalism has marginalized India’s secular and pluralistic fabric.
Internationally, Modi has described himself as a global leader championing a Hindu view of social harmony (“one earth, one family”) without rejecting other beliefs. In practice, his government has pursued what it calls a policy of multi-alignment, strengthening ties with Western democracies while also engaging with historical partners.
Personal Life
Narendra Modi’s personal life has been relatively private. He married Jashodaben Modi in 1968 as a teenager, but left the marriage soon afterwards. They have been legally married but lived separately since. Modi has no children. He resides in the official Prime Minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. Colleagues and biographers describe him as ascetic and disciplined. He is known to be a vegetarian and practices yoga regularly; in fact, he led the effort to have June 21 declared as International Day of Yoga at the United Nations.
Modi is fluent in Gujarati, Hindi, and is conversant in English. He maintains a rigorous schedule and often wakes up early for meditation. Despite his global profile, he has no close kin in politics. During the COVID-19 pandemic and at other times, Modi has been noted for his modest lifestyle (for example, praying in an empty train compartment in 2017) rather than indulgence.
Trivia
- First post-independence-born PM: Modi (born 1950) is the first Indian prime minister born after India’s independence in 1947.
- He has been listed repeatedly in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and ranked by Forbes as one of the world’s most powerful leaders.
- He has the distinction of having over 100 million followers on Twitter and being one of the most active world leaders on social media (often using it for official announcements).
- Modi delivered a speech in perfect French during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, impressing many international observers with his language fluency (he speaks Gujarati, Hindi and English; French was learned for that speech).
- By 2024 he became India’s longest-serving prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru, serving more consecutive years than any other leader.
