Narendra Modi’s unstoppable rise Sep 17, 1950: Narendra Damodardas Modi, third of six children, born in town of Vadnagar, in state of Gujarat 1965: India- Pakistan war breaks out over majority Muslim state of Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir. Teenager Modi serves tea to soldiers at Vadnagar train station as they travel north Jammu and Kashmir AFGHANISTAN CHINA PAKISTAN INDIA Delhi Balakot Ayodhya Gujarat 400km 250 miles 1971: Joins Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteer organisation 1974: Participates in mass protests against economic crisis and corruption in public life in Gujarat. Protests broaden Modi’s worldview on social issues 1980: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) founded 1983: Modi receives MA in Political Science as external student at Gujarat University 1987: Modi joins BJP 1988: Appointed general secretary of Gujarat BJP – strengthening party’s influence in state Dec 1992: Thousands of Hindu hardliners, from groups including BJP and RSS, raze 465-year-old Babri Masjid mosque (below) in Ayodhya. Rioters claim mosque occupies site of birth place of Hindu deity Ram. Ensuing riots result in over 2,000 deaths 1995: BJP wins 121 seats in Gujarat’s 182-member legislative assembly. Modi is made national secretary of BJP and rises quickly up party ranks 1998-2001: Modi serves as BJP general secretary Jan 2001: Magnitude seven Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat kills more than 20,000 people. Chief minister of Gujarat, Keshubhai Patel, is forced to step down Oct: Modi is selected as Patel’s replacement Feb 2002: Riots break out after 59 Hindu pilgrims die in train fire in town of Godhra. Hindu mobs kill over 1,000 people, mainly Muslims. Modi is accused of not doing enough to quell violence Jul-Dec: Modi resigns as chief minister but wins decisive re-election victory 2005: U.S. State Department denies Modi’s diplomatic visa over 2002 riots 2007: BJP wins Gujarat assembly elections with 117 of 182 seats. Modi serves as chief minister for third time 2008: Modi persuades Tata Motors to move factory to Gujarat to build its low cost Nano car Dec 2012: Modi wins fourth successive term as chief minister of Gujarat 2013: Modi is chosen as leader of BJP’s campaign for upcoming elections to Lok Sabha – lower house of Parliament May 2014: Modi sworn in as 14th Prime Minister of India. U.S. lifts visa ban – President Barack Obama invites Modi to visit Oct: Launches Clean India sanitation campaign to give half of India’s 1.3 billion people access to toilets within five years 2015: Modi launches Digital India to make government services available electronically via improved online connectivity 2016: Introduces Goods and Services Tax. GST replaces federal and state taxes, making business easier, and brings millions of businesses into tax net 500- and 1,000-rupee banknotes banned in bid to cut crime and fight tax evasion Feb 2019: Pulwama suicide attack results in death of 40 Indian troops. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group claims responsibility. Modi authorizes attack on Balakot terrorist camp in Pakistan May: Modi re-elected as PM. Lok Sabha approves Citizenship Amendment Act, granting residency rights to persecuted religious minorities. Act excludes Muslims Modi featured in Time magazine Supreme Court orders contested Ayodhya land to be handed to trust to build Ram Mandir Hindu temple Feb 2020: Four days of riots in Delhi sees Hindu mobs attack Muslims, 53 people are killed May: Indian and Chinese troops clash along Sino-Indian border Sep: Modi’s farm reform bills lead to protests. Bills repealed in 2021 2021-22: More than 720 million people are vaccinated during Covid-19 pandemic Jan 22, 2024, Ayodhya: Modi inaugurates Ram Mandir temple ahead of nationwide elections Sources: Associated Press, CNN, Economic Times, The Hindu, India Today, Reuters, United Nations Pictures: Getty Images, Moving Pixels Company, Manish Bardia, Biswarup Ganguly © GRAPHIC NEWS