New Delhi, 26 May (H.S.): Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday launched Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s book *‘Apnapan’* at a formal event. Published by Prabhat Prakashan, the book is based on Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s 35 years of experiences with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on his personality, leadership style, and working methods.

The launch ceremony was attended by former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, along with several other dignitaries.

During the event, former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu remarked that whenever discussions arose regarding the Prime Minister’s position, he would often say that “Modi” stands for “Making of Developed India.” He stated that the confidence with which India is progressing today reflects this very idea in practice. He further noted that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India’s global identity has become significantly stronger.

Naidu also emphasized that Indian civilization, Indianness, and cultural self-confidence have gained renewed global recognition. Referring to the Padma Awards, he said that earlier such honors were often perceived as being limited to a select elite section of society. However, under Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “recognize the unrecognized,” ordinary individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to society are now being honored.

He expressed particular satisfaction that even farmers and other hardworking citizens are now receiving national recognition, describing it as a shift that makes India’s social recognition system more equitable. According to him, this leadership places the role of common citizens at the center of nation-building.

Naidu also shared an anecdote, stating that during informal discussions among senior leaders regarding the Chief Ministership of Madhya Pradesh, he had proposed Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s name. Later, with the collective approval of leaders such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L. K. Advani, the decision proved to be the right one.

He added that although some had initially expressed concerns about the political situation in Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan earned trust through his simplicity, service-oriented approach, and effective communication. He particularly highlighted initiatives like the “Ladli Lakshmi Yojana” as examples of people-centric governance. Over time, Chouhan built deep trust among youth, women, and families, leading people to affectionately call him “Mama,” a term reflecting emotional connection, trust, and protection.

Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, in his address, stated that the democratic spirit of India is rooted in villages, fields, labor, and the lived experiences of ordinary people. He said that leadership becomes truly impactful only when it understands the ground realities and the struggles of the common man.

He described *‘Apnapan’* as an extension of such a humane, people-centric approach to leadership. Deve Gowda further added that the true strength of a public figure lies in compassion, patience, and a spirit of service. He emphasized that a leader becomes a true people’s leader only when they deeply feel the language, concerns, and struggles of the public.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, speaking on the occasion, said that understanding a great leader requires more than evaluating achievements; it is equally important to observe how that leader treats ordinary workers, farmers, the poor, and those at the last mile of society.

He expressed that “Apnapan” represents the quality of leadership that distinguishes a person in a crowd and makes people feel that even someone in a position of power remains connected to the pulse of their lives. He further noted that long-term association reveals the true values of any individual—whether they merely perform public duties as a role or live them as a form of service and discipline.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar