Sardarji, Batuk Bhai, Swamiji – all these were names that Narendra Modi was addressed by as he disguised himself during the dark days of the 1975 Emergency to ensure he stayed out of police custody. Known as the “master of disguise” during those days, Modi managed to evade arrest by taking on different identities and helped the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) spread the message of resistance.
During the Emergency, the RSS wanted that its most active and effective karyakartas should remain outside jail and under the radar so that the underground resistance could continue.
During the 21 months of Emergency, Modi covered the entire Gujarat to make people aware of their rights and to spread the campaign of resistance against the draconian Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government. It was during his journeys to Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot that Modi invented a new identity – ‘Batuk Bhai’.
Modi also disguised himself as Swamiji, wearing saffron-coloured clothes. On one occasion, an Acharya from the Swaminarayan Sampradaya visited the worker’s house where Narendra Modi was staying in those days. Relatives introduced Narendra Modi to the Acharya as ‘Swami Ji’, who was visiting from Udaipur. After exchanging pleasantries, a debate ensued between the genuine Sanyasi and the individual who had become ‘Swamiji’ due to circumstances.
On a crucial occasion, it became imperative to establish contact Vishnubhai Pandya and others who were incarcerated in Bhavnagar Jail. Since secret communication was not feasible, it was decided that Narendra Modi would personally visit the jail and engage in the necessary discussions. For an underground operative, approaching the prison posed a severe risk, akin to facing death.
In September 1976, Narendra Modi reached Bhavnagar after meticulous preparations. He entered the jail premises under the guise of ‘Swamiji’ to attend a meeting with inmates. ‘Swamiji’ successfully obtained permission to meet his ‘followers’. After spending an hour inside, conducting a ‘satsang’ discreetly without any attendees, the ‘Swamiji’ emerged from the jail unharmed.
During this struggle, Modi also assumed the disguise of ‘Sardarji’ with a turban on his head. He grew used to hearing Sardarji jokes loudly uttered by his fellow college students. Several children from known families along with their friends came to visit ‘Sardarji’.
It was due to these disguises that the police and other authorities were never able to pinpoint his location, often arriving several days or hours after he had already departed.
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