PM Modi recalls Muslim boy who lived in his family home

Ahmedabad: In his emotional blogpost commemorating his mother Hiraba entering her 100th year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentions a Muslim boy who became an integral part of his household at Vadnagar in Gujarat’s Mehsana district in the early seventies. The boy was fortunate enough to enjoy familial love. He pursued his studies there and forged a lifelong friendship.

This is #Abbas Bhai, whom PM @narendramodi mentioned in his blog today. Abbasbhai has retired from Gujarat govt s food and civil supplies department and lives in #Sidney #Australia with his family. PM Modi recalled him in his blog that he wrote on his mother's 100th birthday. pic.twitter.com/ur60eiphkw

— Deepal.‏‎‎Trivedi #Vo! (@DeepalTrevedie) June 18, 2022

In his blog spot PM Modi states, “After the untimely death of my father’s close friend who stayed in a nearby village, my father brought his friend’s son, Abbas (Ramsada), to our home. He stayed with us and completed his studies. Mother was as affectionate and caring towards Abbas as she was towards all of us siblings. Every year on Eid, she prepared his favourite dishes.” He now lives in Australia with his son. Times of India reported.

While staying in Modi’s family home, Abbas completed his matriculation with excellent grades. He was the classmate of PM’s brother Pankaj Modi. As the school in Kesimpa village, where Abbas lived, did not offer classes beyond fifth grade, PM Modi’s father Damodardas, a grocer, had convinced the family of his deceased friend, Miyanbhai Ramsada to send Abbas to stay with his family in Vadnagar for further studies.

In his book on PM Modi, Abbas mentions the crucial role PM Modi’s family played in his life and career.

Decades later, Abbas met the future PM when Modi was Gujarat CM. Reminiscing about the old times, the two spent a long time together.