Disguises, Dissent & Fight Against Emergency: New Book Reveals Modi's Underground Years

News18

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The book to be released by Amit Shah on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency features the 'compelling role' that Modi, then a young RSS Pracharak, played against tyranny
Narendra Modi adopted many disguises—of a Sikh wearing a turban, one sporting a French beard, and introducing himself as 'Swamiji' and Batuk Bhai—to evade the police during the dark days of the Emergency, a new book has revealed.
The book, 'The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader', will be released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday on the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency. Published by Bluekraft Digital Foundation, the book will feature the 'compelling role" that Modi, then a young RSS Pracharak, played in the fight against Emergency. A special foreword of the book has been written by former prime minister HD Devegowda.
Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
Based on first-person anecdotes from associates who worked with a young Modi, and using other archival material, the book is a first-of-its-kind that creates new scholarship on the formative years of a young man who would give it his all in the fight against tyranny. Emergency Diaries paints a vivid picture of Narendra Modi fighting for the ideals of democracy and how he has worked all his life to preserve and promote it. This book is a tribute to the grit and resolve of those who refused to be silenced, and it offers a rare glimpse into the early trials that forged one of the most transformative leaders of our time.
In an introduction of the book, it is said in the mid-1970s, as India was caught in the iron shackles of the Emergency, democracy was in captivity, and Narendra Modi, then a young Pracharak of the Sangh, along with several other prominent leaders and karyakartas, found himself on the front lines of a covert resistance against the autocratic regime of Indira Gandhi. This compelling narrative delves into his untold experiences during one of the darkest periods in Indian democracy.
From distributing banned literature to organising undercover meetings, PM Modi's journey during the Emergency offers a unique, ground-level perspective on the struggle against authoritarianism, as per the publishers.
When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum. I am… https://t.co/nLY4Vb30Pu — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
The book invites readers to witness Modi's clandestine operations, his narrow escapes, and his unwavering commitment to restoring democracy as he navigates through a landscape of fear and repression.
Drawing from Modi's memoir, 'Sangharsh Ma Gujarat', and other first-hand accounts, the book illuminates a pivotal moment in India's history and unveils a formative chapter in the life of a leader who would later assume the responsibility of holding the highest office in the world's largest democracy, the publishers say.
'It's a tale of resilience, ingenuity, and relentless dedication to preserving democratic ideals and institutions enshrined in our Constitution—a testament to how the resolve of the masses, led by diligent young karyakartas like Modi, shaped one of the most important movements that reshaped a nation's destiny," the book adds.
First Published:
June 25, 2025, 09:08 IST