Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Teacher Recalls Modi’s Sharp Memory, Courage And Crocodile Story
Narendra Modi’s former teacher, H C Patel, talked about Modi’s school days.
Patel said Modi learned quickly and remembered things well.
Modi gave speeches and joined many school activities.
He once acted as Jogidas Khuman in a play that raised money for a school wall.
A large audience applauded his performance for about 10 minutes.
Patel also said Modi attended RSS meetings and respected people from different religions.
Modi liked swimming and once brought a baby crocodile home from a pond.
His mother told him the crocodile’s mother would miss it, so he returned it.
Modi also helped his father sell tea near the railway station.
The BJP organized service activities and other events for Modi’s birthday and public-service milestone.
Former teacher H C Patel described Narendra Modi as a sharp, quick-learning student in Vadnagar.
Patel recalled Modi delivering speeches, participating in school activities and playing Jogidas Khuman in a fundraising performance.
Modi reportedly attended RSS shakhas, respected people of different religions and sometimes shared meals with a Muslim classmate.
Patel said Modi enjoyed swimming, helped his father sell tea and returned a baby crocodile to a pond after his mother’s advice.
The Bharatiya Janata Party planned rallies, prayers, a blood donation camp and a nationwide cleanliness campaign for Modi’s 76th birthday and 25 years in public service.
- Who
- Narendra Modi, former teacher H C Patel and the Bharatiya Janata Party; Amit Shah and Nitin Nabin were named in the planned programmes.
- What
- Patel recalled Modi’s school years, while the BJP announced events marking Modi’s birthday and 25 years in public service.
- When
- Patel taught Modi from June 1965 to May 1967; the reports concerned Modi’s 76th birthday on September 17.
- Where
- The recollections concern schools and Sharmishtha lake or pond in Vadnagar, Gujarat; planned events included Vadnagar, Varanasi, Ujjain and New Delhi.
- Why
- The BJP was marking Modi’s birthday and his completion of 25 years in public service.
- Former teacher
- H C Patel said he taught Modi Mathematics and Science; reports differ on whether the classes were 10 and 11 or 11 and 12, and identify the school by different names.
- Teaching period
- Patel taught Modi from June 1965 to May 1967 in Vadnagar.
- School performance
- Patel said Modi played Jogidas Khuman in a fundraising play and received applause lasting about 10 minutes from an audience reported as around 10,000 people.
- Crocodile story
- Patel said Modi brought a baby crocodile home from Sharmishtha lake or pond and later returned it after his mother’s advice.
- Family tea stall
- Patel recalled Modi helping his father, Damodardas Modi, sell tea near the school and Vadnagar railway station.
- Public-service milestone
- The celebrations marked Modi’s 25 years in public service.
- Planned programmes
- The BJP announced a bike rally, puja, blood donation camp and nationwide cleanliness campaign.
