PM Modi's heartwarming 'Didi' moment with Asha Bhosle: A bond like no other

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Following the passing of renowned singer Asha Bhosle, the "Modi Archive," a digital platform dedicated to the life, struggles, and journey of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has shared the story of their meeting with Asha Bhosle. It includes conversations, personal memories, and various public occasions.

A social media post by 'Modi Archive' narrates how Asha Bhosle once personally contacted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone, talking about her Gujarati roots and expressing her feelings.

The post reads, "Asha Bhosle's voice gave identity to the music of independent India. She recorded over 12,000 songs over eight decades. Yet, she called a Chief Minister she had never met and told him that her mother was a Gujarati. She said that the development of Gujarat was her duty and responsibility. When she hung up, a friend of hers whispered, "Asha Ben, our Modi Bhai is a very nice man."

Regarding the first meeting between PM Modi and Asha Bhosle, the post reads, “She was deeply touched by that first meeting. There was much more to come. They (Narendra Modi and Asha Bhosle) met face-to-face in 2013 at the inauguration of the Deenanath Mangeshkar Super Speciality Hospital in Pune. This hospital was built in memory of her father, who had passed away due to lack of proper treatment. Before taking his seat on the stage, Narendra Modi turned to her and asked simply, 'Didi, how are you?' He was the Chief Minister, and there were all the formalities of government work around him. Yet, he called her 'Didi' first. That day, he (PM Modi) said something to her that she will never forget.”

According to the Modi Archive, as he was leaving, he folded his hands and said, "Didi, I'm leaving. We'll meet again." From that day on, she began to consider him her younger brother. Her ten-year-old grandson was also present in Pune that day. Not knowing that grand predictions shouldn't be made in front of the Chief Minister, he looked at Narendra Modi and confidently declared, "There will be a landslide victory."

Narendra Modi listened to her and smiled. After that meeting, life went on as usual, and ten years passed. At another event, his granddaughter sat next to the Prime Minister. She expected him to be polite to her, but maintain a certain distance. She asked, "Do you remember me?" He immediately replied, "Once I meet someone, I never forget them." Then he asked about her brother.

The post said, "Asha Bhosle said her granddaughter was astonished. The Prime Minister, who leads 1.4 billion people, remembered a ten-year-old boy he met just once, ten years ago, while walking. It may seem like a small story, but if you think about it, it's actually a very big story."

In October 2015, Asha Bhosle lost her son, Hemant, who died suddenly of cancer in Scotland. According to the Modi Archive, she wrote a letter to the Prime Minister at the time, apologizing for not being able to attend his event in Delhi. He responded with warmth and sympathy.

He wrote, "Dear Asha Bhosle Tai, I am deeply saddened by the passing of your son. My thoughts are with you in this hour of grief."

In 2016, Asha Bhosle visited Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh. She went there as part of a government initiative launched by Prime Minister Modi, aimed at bridging the gap between soldiers and civilians deployed in the country's most remote and difficult locations. She tied Rakhi to the soldiers there, one by one. She said that when she returned home, her heart was filled with deep emotions.

In April 2022, Prime Minister Modi received the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award at the Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai. A post from the Modi Archive reads, “He, who generally never accepts honors, made an exception this time. He said this clearly, “I generally avoid such ceremonies, but when an award is named after an elder sister like Lata Mangeshkar, it becomes my duty to accept it, because the Mangeshkar family has a great affection and a right on me.” He dedicated this award to every Indian.”

During an event on October 5, 2024, Asha Bhosle praised Prime Minister Modi for granting Marathi the status of a "classical language." She became emotional while delivering a speech in her mother tongue. In 2025, on PM Modi's 75th birthday, Asha Bhosle recorded a video message. She said, "It's difficult for us to even manage a household. PM Modi is managing such a large country. He wakes up at 4 a.m. and does yoga. I love his discipline. I've never heard him say anything bad about anyone. I think he's a very kind person. Even when others say harsh things about him, he just smiles. He nods. He says, 'Yes, say as much as you want.' This is a huge thing."

Born in 1933, Asha Bhosle witnessed the rise and fall of many leaders, a perspective few Indians have. In a statement, Asha Bhosle said, "I have seen all our Prime Ministers. Today, at the age of 90, I have concluded that India has prospered greatly in the last 10 years." Asha Bhosle passed away on April 12 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She was 92.