Mumbai: On the eve of ‘Mathrubhasha Divas’ Mumbai BJP Gujrati Cell has launched a coffee table book on Indian Prime Minister and fellow Gujrati, Shri Narendra Modi in one of the largest ever congregations of the community in the country. The coffee table book titled ‘Narendra Modi – A Visionary Prime Minister’ contains over 300 rare pictures compiled over a period of thirty years. Edited by renowned Gujrati writer, Shri Aashu Patel and photographed by ace lensman, Shri Dilip Thaker, the book was released bilingually in English and Gujrati.
“Attended by over fifteen thousand Gujratis, this is one of the largest book launches in the annals of Indian history,” says Shri Bhargav Patel, President, Mumbai Gujarati Cell, BJP. “What makes it doubly significant is that Gujrati community is usually disinterested in politics. But the taking of office of the Prime Minister by Shri Narendra Modi has enthused the community. This is a welcome change in their mindset,” he added.
Union Minister for Human Resources Development (HRD), Smt Smriti Irani launched the book at NSE Ground at a function packed to capacity in the presence of BJP National Vice President, Shri Purushottam Rupala and Members of Parliament (MPs) Shri Paresh Rawal, Shri Kirit Somaiyya, Shri Gopal Shetty, Smt Poonam Mahajan and other dignitaries from the field of politics, business, entertainment and glamour.
The launch was accompanied by grand musicals by singing superstar Falguni Pathak, Preeti-Pinki, Parthiv Gohil and others alongside entertainment programmes by Dilip Joshi and cast of Tarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chasma and other performances.
“I can say confidently that this book is a class apart. Narendrabhai himself will be surprised with many of the photographs clicked by Dilip Thaker. Photographs of ribbon cutting and speeches have been published many times. But the moods, temperaments, activities and settings showcased in the book are stunning. Even if we keep aside the photographic skills, the range of pictures by itself astonish the senses,” says Aashu Patel who has edited the book besides having written twenty four other books in Gujarati including the bestseller ‘Madam X’ which is being made into a movie by Tigmanshu Dhulia and Anurag Kashyap.
“The project has been very close to our hearts, especially because we have trailed Mr. Modi’s colorful journey in politics until eventually, his appointment as the PM of India. So we thought it’d be a great idea to share some of the little known and lighter shades of our PM’s life and times with everyone. Hopefully, people will love this book as much as we’ve enjoyed working on it,” says Mr. Dilip Thaker. “This coffee-table book is by far my greatest achievement. It has some rare photographs of Narendrabhai depicting his journey from Vadnagar, a small village in Gujarat to 7 Race Course in New Delhi.”
The English version of the book is published by the leading publishing house - Pentagon Press and the Gujarati version, by Navbharat Sahitya Mandir, one of the largest publishers in Gujrati. The coffee table book is the 25th book of writer-journalist, Aashu Patel and the first of photo-journalist, Dilip Thaker.
“We are glad that we have been able to launch the book in such a grand manner as is deserved by the subject of the book and the painstaking detailing provided by the author and photographer while conceiving the book,” Concludes Shri Bhargav Patel.
