New Delhi: Narendra Modi will be the first Prime Minister who will move into the official residence of the Prime Minister of India without his family. Till now all the other 14 Prime Ministers have had a family or at least have had some family members who moved in with them.
The 7 Race Course Road has been the official residence of India's Prime Minister since Rajiv Gandhi's tenure. The first Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru lived at the magnificent Teen Murti Bhawan till his death in 1964. His successor Lal Bahadur Shastri continued to live at a modest bungalow in Janpath. Both the houses were later converted into memorial cum museums.
Indira Gandhi lived at a modest 1 Safdarjang Marg, where she was assassinated in 1984. Her predecessors Morarji Desai and Charan Singh also lived in their humble government accommodations.
During Nehru's tenure, his daughter Indira Gandhi officiated as his hostess at the PM's house. Morarji Desai, a widower had children. PV Narasimha Rao, another widower, also had his children along with him. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the only bachelor Prime Minister till date, had his adopted daughter with him at the PM's official residence.
The assasination of Indira Gandhi's by her body guards prompted the government to establish the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) to guard the Prime Minister and his/her family members. Her son Rajiv Gandhi was the first Prime Minster to get the SPG security cover.
According to reports, Narendra Modi's wife and mother are also expected to get the SPG security as the rules of the SPG makes them eligible for the security cover. Both his wife and his mother live in Gujarat.
Modi has a small team of highly efficient and loyal personal assistants. Badri, his personal cook for over 12 years is considered extremely close to him and has already visited the PM's official bungalow to check if everything is in place for his master. Like most Gujaratis Modi, too, is a strict vegetarian and Badri is considered to be good at preparing delicious Gujarati food. He will be the in charge of the kitchen and will be busy making dhoklas and khakras at the PM's house.
Normally, the cooks from government run India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) hotels work at the PM's residence. However, most PM's bring their own cook who is assisted by the ITDC staff members.
Modi is not the first vegetarian Prime Minister. There have been many vegetarian Prime Ministers in the past. Lal Bahadur Shastri was a strict vegetarian. Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who was also a Gujarati, was also a vegetarian. Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao were also vegetarians. HD Deve Gowda, too, is also a strict vegetarian.
Modi's two other most trusted assistants Dinesh Singh and OP Thakur have moved to the national capital with him. Retired IAS officer Kailasanathan, who was his Principal Secretary when he was the chief minister, is likely to be his Principal Secretary in the PM's Office (PMO).
According to Modi's close aides, he does not have many personal belongings. He is fond of gadgets and his laptop, tab, iPod, etc, which have been carefully packed and sent to New Delhi.
Modi reads newspapers and monitors TV channels and their websites on his tab. He always keeps a copy of 'Ramacharitamanas' in his vehicle and is likely to continue with this habit even after he takes charge as the Prime Minister.
His security staff members believe that the holy book protects him from his enemies. According to Gujarati media reports, Modi has not spent a single paisa from his salary as the Gujarat Chief Minister in the last 13 years and he has decided to spend the money on the education of the children of his staff at the Gandhinagar secretariat.
Modi also does not keep the mementos and other gifts with him. He auctions them and donates the money for the education of girls in Gujarat. One thing is sure that the PM's residence will be different from Monday.
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