Know about the monk who put Narendra Modi on path to become PM

Swami Atmasthananda, 98, president of the Belur-headquartered Ramakrishna Math and Mission who died this Sunday, will be remembered as the monk who advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take to politics. A few words by this monk changed the course of PM Modi's life.

Swami Atmasthananda had arrived in Rajkot in Gujarat in 1966 to head the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram there. A young Modi, inspired by Swami Vivekananda, reached the ashram to take sanyasa. When Modi expressed his desire to become a monk, after spending some time in the ashram, Swami Atmasthananda told him that sanyas was not for him and his work was among people and not in seclusion.

During a visit to Belur Math in 2013, Modi, then Gujarat chief minister, had said: "I had the fortune of spending time with Swami Atmasthanandaji during my childhood. I have received a lot of affection from him. He has been by my side and supported me at every crucial juncture of my life."
Not many know that Modi had a 'prasadi' flower in his jacket pocket when he took oath as prime minister on May 26, 2014. The flower, a symbol of divine blessing, had arrived along with a letter addressing him as Narendrabhai, from Swami Atmasthananda in Belur.

In that letter, Swami Atmasthananda wrote to the newly elected PM Modi: "I am eagerly looking forward to your visit to Belur Math as the Prime Minister of India. I am happy to learn that you have got a thumping majority. Sri Ramakrishna has given you the opportunity to serve the people of India irrespective of caste, creed and religion." And PM Modi did visit him at the ashram a few months later.

PM Modi tweeted after Swami Atmasthananda's death: "The demise of Swami Atmasthananda ji is a personal loss for me. I lived with him during a very important period of my life."

The demise of Swami Atmasthananda ji is a personal loss for me. I lived with him during a very important period of my life. pic.twitter.com/eY3TKU41Xf

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 18, 2017

His following tweets read: "Swami Atmasthananda ji was blessed with immense knowledge & wisdom. Generations will remember his exemplary personality. Whenever I would visit Kolkata, I would always make it a point to seek the blessings of Swami Atmasthananda ji. As President of Ramakrishna Mission set up by Swami Vivekananda, Swami Atmasthananda ji worked tirelessly & spread its influence globally."

Swami Atmasthananda ji was blessed with immense knowledge & wisdom. Generations will remember his exemplary personality.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 18, 2017

Whenever I would visit Kolkata, I would always make it a point to seek the blessings of Swami Atmasthananda ji.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 18, 2017

As President of Ramakrishna Mission set up by Swami Vivekananda, Swami Atmasthananda ji worked tirelessly & spread its influence globally.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 18, 2017