<div><em>Suchetana Ray</em></div><div> </div><div>How do celebrate birthdays for political leaders? This could be a question putting a lot of people in dilemma. But not Narendra Modi! Not one to give in to any confusion especially about important events like birthdays, Narendra Modi wanted no hullaballoo around September 17. The clear message from the BJP top management was not to make Modi’s birthday a national event. After all, it is for dynastic parties like the Congress to put up posters in every street corner wishing their “young” Vice-President a happy one! </div><div> </div><div>For once, perhaps, Modi-fans and sycophants, agreed with his detractors: How autocratic! He will now decide how his “bhakts” celebrate his birthday? Some people might say, “Thank God for small mercies”, and maybe this dissuaded Mallika Sherawat from reprising her Marilyn Monroe-act and singing “Happy Birthday, Prime Minister”.</div><div> </div><div>But such diktats do little to subdue the indomitable spirit of the young and the enterprising. A company that promotes hygienic sanitation in India and builds toilets printed birthday cards to mark the Prime Minister’s birthday with a call for “janm-divas samaroh” (a birthday get-together). A young and very enterprising minister; who has been in the eye of storm recently, for his politically incorrect statements; was the chief guest of this get together and unveiled a 365 kg jumbo laddu to mark the special day. But this Minister of State with Independent Charge of a couple of ministries was quick to dub the event as a conference to mark the organiser’s achievements in the Swachh Bharat Mission; a programme close to the birthday boy’s heart. </div><div> </div><div>Another event, another young minister but the same date: September 17. This young and dynamic Minister of State decided to mark the PM’s birthday by calling it “an auspicious day”. Though he was quick to add that it was Ganesh Chaturthi as well as Vishwakarma puja that were being celebrated on the same day. But the minister wanted to make sure that his birthday wish was conveyed to the right man, so he decided to make the auspicious day remark again, the moment he saw his boss, the Cabinet Minister walk into the conference. After all, his boss is known to enjoy Narendra Modi’s confidence and have his ear. But seasoned politician that his boss is, he chose not to acknowledge the birthday remark of his junior minister. Maybe one should follow the First Citizen of India’s example and just take to Twitter for birthday wishes.</div>
