How Arnab, Amitabh and Mukesh Ambani wished Modi on his birthday

September 17 was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday and this year he turned 66.

As becomes his simple but grandeur-loving personality, he celebrated the occasion in style, visiting an upheaval-torn Gujarat, cutting a massive cake and well, detaining the Dalit youth leader Jignesh Mevani well in advance. But such is life.

"Testimonials" poured in wishing Modi'ji on his birthday, and they were from every Indian worth a headline, a Twitter war or the introduction in a lengthy oped jubilating or bemoaning the state of the Indian union. All that admiration, just one day before the Uri attack, was well in time.

Whether it's Indian media's commander-in-chief Arnab Goswami, or India Inc's Mukesh Ambani, or Bollywood's evergreen Big B, or tennis ace Sania Mirza - everyone had a heartfelt story to share about the current prime minister of India.

We give you some of the choicest ones. You can read the rest in the link provided at the end.

Arnab Goswami

As a journalist, I have had the opportunity of interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for over 16 years now.

My interaction with him started in the years that he was based in New Delhi as BJP general secretary and I was covering the party as a beat reporter.

Two things which struck me greatly were his accessibility and his simple lifestyle.

Always willing to chat with reporters sitting in the lawn in 11 Ashoka Road, Shri Modi’s entire personal belongings could probably be packed in a couple of suitcases.

In those years, he shared a room in the party headquarters where we were welcome for a clarification and a conversation.

Around that time, I got my first big break in anchoring when I was asked to anchor one episode of the Big Fight, a popular show in those days. The subject was Kashmir, and I called Shri Modi to ask if he would join in.

There were three panelists on that episode on Kashmir, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq of the Hurriyat, G Parthasarthy the seasoned diplomat and Shri Narendra Modi representing the perspective of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government.

The clarity with which Shri Modi challenged the Hurriyat’s perspective was remarkable. I got a massive response for that episode and recently, on a flight from Mumbai to Delhi, Mr Parthasarthy and I recollected the episode as a reflection of the depth and conviction of Shri Modi’s views on issues concerning national security.

At a personal level, I must share that each time I have had the privilege to interview the Prime Minister, his humility and warmth while interacting with my TV crew has been heart-warming.

He makes it a point to interact and thank each cameraperson, researcher, technician and producer. He obliges requests for pictures, and leaves a deep impression on the crew every time by thanking them for their effort.

On the occasion of his birthday, I would like to wish Prime Minister Narendra Modi health, happiness and many many more years in the service of our nation.

***

Amitabh Bachchan

My dearest honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji,

On your birthday, I send you, on behalf of my family and myself, our best wishes, and I pray to God for your health and your long life.

I first met you at your official chief ministerial residence in Gujarat. Your house was very simple, and your room even simpler... I was seeking tax exemption for my film Paa. You said you'd watch the film... then the ride together to the theatre in the car, watching the film, sharing a meal with each other and coming back home...

And just like that, the talk on Gujarat Tourism, and the adieu...

Astonishing!

Within a week, Gujarat Tourism officials landing in Mumbai with all the information and visiting me, and then, in a matter of a few days, we got cracking with the work! Amazing!

During the work, I put forward my condition that I would not want to be interrupted by any political figures at the shooting site. As long as I worked, not a single politician was in sight, no one came or interfered...

Amazing!

Whenever I was in Gujarat, for whatever work, the first phone call was always yours. "Welcome. If you need anything, do call me. It's very hot outside, do relax every now and then, and keep drinking water..."

Amazing!

Months later, as the Gujarat Tourism work ended, you suddenly landed up at my hotel, to thank me. Gifted me a picture of the Dwarka temple, and bid goodbye...

Amazing!

You were elected the prime minister, entered Parliament, your ideas, announcing many a government scheme, personally monitoring them all, holding a mirror to India on the global stage and awakening the world at large to the importance of India ...!

Not surprising at all...!

Recognising me from a distance at any wedding or cultural function, and asking me most wonderfully touching questions, such as: "During Uttarayan you flew kites on the terrace and cut your fingers; how are you now, okay?"

Not surprising at all...!

Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, TB, Hepatitis B, financial secirity for farmers and the common man, Save Water campaign, Toilets First campaign - and awakening the country to these wonderful ideas of yours ...!

Not surprising at all...!

Never was there such eanestness and eagerness on these issues before, and how you familiarised the country and society with these lovely notions of yours...!

Now, not in the least astonishing...!

Now, it's our collective goal...!

And yet, if every citizen of India doesn't participate in these programmes, there will be disappointment, but there will also be surprise...!

Dearest Modiji, on this birthday of yours, let everyone be under the spell of this wonder and surprise emanating from you, that's my prayer to God...!

With love and warm wishes,

Amitabh Bachchan

(This post appeared in Hindi and has been translated by DailyO.)   

***

Mukesh Ambani

Most Respected Shri Narendrabhai,

I join all the 125 crore Indians in wishing you a very happy 66th birthday.

At 66, you are India’s youth icon and an admirable role model for global leaders to emulate.

You motivate India’s aspirational youth with your boundless energy and tireless work. Your vision of India’s technology-driven transformation has created unprecedented hope in all Indians and tremendous respect for India abroad.

Your life is an inspiration to many generations of Indians.Your idea of India has been nurtured by the teachings of Gandhi and Vivekananda, your actions governed by the likes of Ambedkar and Sardar Patel.

And, the vision of a strong, vibrant, tech-savvy, entrepreneurial and modern India is very much your own.

Hence on this day, I sincerely wish and pray that you have a hundred years of service to India and Indians.

With warm regards,

Mukesh Ambani

***

Sania Mirza

It was a great privilege to meet India's dynamic Prime Minister, Narendra Modi Ji twice in my life.

I got the opportunity to visit him after winning the US Open in 2014 and then met him along with the rest of the medal winners of the Asian Games a few months later. I have to admit that on both these occasions I was floored by Mr Modi's oratory skills, razor sharp memory and vision for all-round development.

The Prime Minister is very open to new ideas that can raise the stature of our country. He was thrilled with my performances for India at the world level and extremely pleased with my efforts in trying to produce more Grand Slam champions through the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy that I have set up in my city of Hyderabad. His enthusiasm is infectious and I felt more motivated to achieve my dreams after each of my two meetings with him.

He surprised me when he enquired about my sister, Anam, who he had met many years ago when he was the Chief Guest at a National Pistol Shooting competition in Ahmedabad in which she had participated. It was amazing that he still remembered her after all these years.

As an Indian belonging to the sporting fraternity, I was delighted to learn that the Prime Minister, Mr Modi is taking a very special interest in the development of sport in our country. The setting up of the Olympic Task Force with an eye on the next three Olympics to be held in 2020, 2024 and 2028 is a giant step in the right direction that is bound to provide a major boost to sport in India.

I wish the Prime Minister success in realizing the dreams of all Indians and wish him a wonderful birthday.

Sania Mirza

***

Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed

I have had a few occasions to meet the Prime Minister where the discussions obviously revolved round the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the problems it has historically been faced with.

But it was actually my father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who introduced me to him through his impressions of the personality of Mr Modi.

Mufti sahib too had the time to meet the Prime Minister only on a couple of occasions during the 10 months of their short but challenging association. He would often express his confidence about the intent and the capacity of Mr Modi to lead the process of settling the problem in this part of the country once for all which has been a challenge for all Prime Ministers since the independence.

When Mufti sahib finally entered into an alliance with the BJP at the end of a two month long negotiations between our parties, he believed that his lifelong mission of building bridges between Kashmir and Jammu and with rest of the country would receive a head start with such a bold arrangement that he called the North Pole South Pole handshake.

His belief rested on his assessment of Mr Modi as the most powerful Prime Minister after Mrs Indira Gandhi who not only had received a decisive mandate but also possessed the courage to take decisions and inspire people to accept them. My own impressions are no different.

These days Kashmir is again passing through a very difficult phase of its history. There is no dearth of people who attribute it to the very unexpected but pragmatic and bold alliance between BJP and PDP.

On his birthday, I extend my warmest greetings to the Prime Minister and wish him many happy returns of the day, I am sure with his support and under his leadership we will be able to turn a new page in the painful history of J&K.

It is in adversity Mufti Sahib would look for opportunities. And I am sure we will be able to achieve the real objectives of our association: peace with dignity for all regions and communities of our beautiful land.

Mehbooba Mufti

Chief minister, Jammu and Kashmir.

[The birthday wishes appeared first in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's website.]