It was just past midnight on 25th June 1975 when India, the world’s largest democracy, saw its foundations shaken by one of the most severe political clampdowns in its independent history. Then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, facing intense legal and political pressure after the Allahabad High Court declared her 1971 election victory invalid due to corrupt practices, took a step that would change the nation’s trajectory for 21 long months. Rather than accept the court's verdict, Indira Gandhi declared a national Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution—effectively freezing democracy to cling to power.

What followed was a dark and painful chapter. Basic civil liberties vanished almost overnight. Over 1,00,000 citizens were arrested under preventive detention laws, without trial or proper legal process. The government weaponised the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) to crush dissent. The media, which should be the lifeblood of democracy, was gagged—pre-censorship orders were enforced, and editors were told exactly what to print—or not print. The streets saw the brutal suppression of student protests, and anyone who dared to challenge the government’s authority was dragged to jail. One of the strongest social and cultural organisations in India, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was also banned on 4th July 1975, less than ten days after the Emergency was announced.

Amid this climate of fear, where leaders were imprisoned and public speech was paralyzed, a young 25-year-old full-time RSS Pracharak from Gujarat emerged quietly but courageously. His name: Narendra Modi. While senior RSS leaders were being thrown behind bars, Modi went underground, becoming a key part of the resistance movement. He helped organize a decentralized, low-profile but powerful opposition. His contribution wasn’t from atop a stage or in front of cameras—it was on the ground, in secret meetings, through coded communications, and by supporting the families of those imprisoned. In doing so, he not only helped build a silent revolution but also laid the foundations of his own evolution as a leader of national importance.

Who is the real “fascist” – Those who imposed the Emergency or Narendra Modi, who played a role in the resistance?

Politics in India often has a strange memory—and an even stranger irony. The Congress party, which once imprisoned over one lakh citizens, banned the RSS, muzzled the press, and turned the Constitution into a personal tool for power, today throws around words like "fascist" with remarkable ease. The most repeated target of this accusation? Narendra Modi, the very man who resisted the Emergency and its real fascist tendencies.

Since 2014, the year Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, the Congress Party has led a continuous smear campaign, trying to brand him with the very traits their own leadership had once displayed. Rahul Gandhi, the heir of the dynasty, has tried—unsuccessfully—to portray Modi as another dictator. In 2014, before Modi even assumed office, Rahul Gandhi called him “Hitler”. Back then, it was shocking how easily some so-called intellectuals accepted that comparison without question. Since then, Congress leaders have regularly thrown around terms like “autocrat”, “dictator”, and even compared Modi to Hitler.

The irony couldn't be deeper. In 2023, Rahul Gandhi again made the claim that India had become a fascist country under Modi’s leadership. Yet, in the real fascist regime of 1975, while Congress was “blacking out headlines and switching off democracy,” Modi was distributing underground literature, hiding from arrest, and helping the families of those jailed.

In one of the more recent examples of this political hypocrisy, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge declared, “The INDIA Bloc will continue to fight against the fascist rule of the BJP led by Modi.” That kind of comment, if spoken during the real Emergency in Indira Gandhi’s time, would have resulted in an immediate jail sentence. Interestingly, Kharge had also compared Modi to Hitler in 2018, showing how this strategy of name-calling has been consistently repeated despite historical facts.

Here’s a reality check: Modi has never suspended fundamental rights. People are free to criticise him—and they do, loudly and openly. The press operates freely, and opposition leaders speak against him without fear of arrest. He hasn't jailed students or opposition leaders in bulk. That was Indira Gandhi, who deployed the police to crush dissent and censored the press. Modi has never run the country on unconstitutional whims—but Indira Gandhi certainly did.

But in today’s politically convenient retelling, those who resisted authoritarianism are now labelled as tyrants, while the ones who actually imposed tyranny call themselves the guardians of democracy. If opposing a regime that shut down Parliament, the press, protests, and personal freedom is what Congress now calls “fascism,” then yes, Narendra Modi was indeed a fascist—of the truest kind. One who fought fascism, not with slogans, but from the shadows, carrying the Constitution in his pocket and courage in his heart.

So the real question remains—who is the actual fascist? The one who imposed the Emergency, jailed citizens, and killed dissent, or Narendra Modi, who played a quiet yet significant role in resisting it?

Modi’s call to duty – The making of an underground leader

When the Emergency was declared in 1975, Narendra Modi was not an unknown face in Gujarat’s political and social circles. Just a year earlier, in 1974, he had gained recognition through the Navnirman Andolan, a powerful students’ movement that led to the downfall of the Congress government in the state. This made him a key target in the eyes of the ruling regime. But more than just a participant, Modi had stood out as a strategist, someone who could mobilize crowds and execute plans effectively.

He wasn’t new to discipline either. In 1972, Modi had become a full-time Pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). By the time the Emergency was imposed, he had already committed himself completely to the organisation and its ideology. What made Modi stand out during this period was not just his loyalty, but his maturity, discretion and adaptability, qualities that made him a vital part of the underground network working to resist the Emergency.

Modi maintained close ties with several senior Sangh stalwarts, including Laxmanrao Inamdar (popularly known as Vakil Saheb), Keshavrao Deshmukh, and Vasant Gajendragadkar. He was also connected with the Lok Sangharsh Samiti, a broader anti-Emergency movement that included iconic leaders like Nanaji Deshmukh and Dattopant Thengadi. He received clear instructions: “keep the organisation alive, ensure communication, and avoid arrest at any cost.” It was a dangerous responsibility—but one that Modi carried with precision and resolve.

A master of disguises – How Modi became untraceable

As soon as the Emergency was declared, police forces across India, including in Gujarat, were placed on high alert. Gujarat had long been a hotbed of Sangh activity, and Indira Gandhi's government viewed it as a critical region to dominate. The intelligence agencies monitored all known RSS members, and surveillance was stricter than ever.

Yet, against all odds, Narendra Modi managed to evade arrest for the entire duration of the Emergency. His secret? Disguise, creativity, and complete focus on the mission. Modi didn’t just hide—he transformed.

He assumed a wide range of personas to stay ahead of the police. At times, he dressed up as a Sadhu in saffron robes, at other times, as an elderly Sikh man wearing a turban, or even as a street vendor selling incense sticks. On one occasion, he moved around as a college-going ‘Sardarji’—blending in effortlessly with crowds.

In a high-risk assignment in Mumbai, Modi posed as the son of Makaran Desai, a name that carried weight and legitimacy. This clever cover helped him navigate the city freely, as Desai would later become a BJP leader. Modi had carefully designed the plan himself.

Perhaps one of the most daring moments was his visit to Bhavnagar jail, where he came disguised as a Swamiji. His mission was to meet political prisoners like Vishnubhai Pandya and other jailed leaders. Claiming he was there for a satsang, he was allowed entry without suspicion. Inside the prison, he conducted what appeared to be a spiritual gathering, but in reality, it was a coded discussion on strategy. After an hour, he left the jail just as he had entered—undetected and successful.

The strategist of codes, printing presses, and cyclostyle machines

Resistance needs communication, and communication under dictatorship is a battlefield in itself. For someone like Narendra Modi, whose mission was to keep the organisation active and informed, developing secure ways to spread messages was crucial. But it wasn’t just about whispering words—it was about printing, distributing, and moving information under the nose of a regime that was watching everything.

He played a critical role in acquiring and operating cyclostyle machines—early printing devices used to create pamphlets that exposed the truth behind the Emergency. These secret publications condemned the clampdown, reported on the government’s brutalities, and called upon citizens to defend democracy.

The logistics were precise. The materials weren’t handed out openly. Pamphlets were hidden in tiffin boxes, stacked in luggage, or discreetly left at local barber shops where the curious would quietly pick them up. Even saints, priests, and spiritual speakers were involved in transporting these materials to rural areas, far beyond the reach of Delhi’s power corridors.

To keep things unpredictable, Modi developed coding systems. Phone numbers were jumbled using digit-swapping. Meetings were disguised as religious events—a gathering would be labeled “Satyanarayan Puja,” and RSS sessions were dubbed “Chandan Ka Karyakram.” Even the way slippers were arranged outside a house—normally a sign of Sangh discipline—was altered to confuse the police. Modi's attention to such small details kept many operations safe and running.

Mobilising leaders, building escape networks

Narendra Modi wasn’t just handling paper—he was coordinating people and leadership too. Senior leaders of the resistance, including George Fernandes, V. M. Tarkunde, and Dattopant Thengadi, frequently travelled to Gujarat to regroup and strategize. Modi took charge of these visits—setting up secret meeting spots, arranging safe houses, and building fallback plans.

Each part of the operation was compartmentalized. Volunteers in charge of escorting leaders often didn’t know who they were moving or why—a safety measure that ensured no one person could reveal the full plan if captured. Escape routes were planned down to the second, and decoys were always available in case of emergency.

There’s one story that highlights Modi’s cool-headedness. During a meeting, police arrived with a tip-off. Modi was dressed as a Sikh youth. He remained composed, answered their questions casually, and redirected them elsewhere. The police left, unaware that the man they were hunting was standing calmly in front of them.

Fighting a regime is one part of a revolution—but keeping the morale of the people alive is another. Narendra Modi worked relentlessly to make sure the families of jailed RSS swayamsevaks were not abandoned. He would personally travel, make discreet visits, and ensure that they had food, money, and medical care.

He became more than an organiser—he was a support system, a source of courage in the middle of fear.

In Porbandar, when senior volunteers had been arrested and the morale of the younger ones dropped, Modi addressed them directly. His message was simple but powerful: “Even if you are alone, it does not matter. One person is enough if his intent is right. Democracy must win.”

His efforts didn’t stop there. Medical students were assigned as carriers, using their student status to move pamphlets without suspicion. Even children were used to deliver messages, as no one would suspect them. It was a carefully crafted ecosystem of resistance, and at the centre of it was a man who refused to bow down.

A poet in the storm

In the thick of one of India’s darkest political periods, Narendra Modi did more than resist—he reflected. Amidst the underground work, escape missions, coded meetings, and survival struggles, Modi turned to his diary, pouring into it the feelings of an entire generation that was fighting for the soul of the nation.

He penned a powerful poem, a piece that didn’t just describe events but captured the raw energy, unwavering spirit, and painful sacrifices of the movement against the Emergency. Written originally in Gujarati, the poem served as a mirror of that moment in history, and it echoed the courage of the silent revolutionaries.

Here is the original text of the poem as written by Modi:

जब कर्तव्य ने पुकारा तो कदम कदम बढ़ गये
जब गूंज उठा नारा ‘भारत माँ की जय’
तब जीवन का मोह छोड़ प्राण पुष्प चढ़ गये
कदम कदम बढ़ गये

टोलियाँ की टोलियाँ जब चल पड़ी यौवन की
तो चौखट चरमरा गये सिंहासन हिल गये
प्रजातंत्र के पहरेदार सारे भेदभाव तोड़
सारे अभिनिवेश छोड़, मंजिलों पर मिल गये
चुनौती की हर पंक्ति को सब एक साथ पढ़ गये
कदम कदम बढ़ गये

सारा देश बोल उठा जयप्रकाश जिंदाबाद
तो दहल उठे तानाशाह
भृकुटियां तन गई
लाठियाँ बरस पड़ी सीनों पर माथे पर
कदम कदम बढ़ गये

The translated essence of this poem reads:

When duty called, we marched without fear.
When cries of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ echoed,
we left the comfort of life and offered our breath.
Step by step, we marched.
Troops of youth marched ahead,
shaking thrones and cracking doors.
Watchmen of democracy rose, shedding divisions.
Reading the challenge line by line, we marched.
The nation roared ‘JP Zindabad’.
Tyrants trembled, batons fell.
But on our chests and heads, we bore them.
Step by step, we marched.

It wasn’t just a poem. It was a prophecy. The lines described exactly what was unfolding: a nation rising from silence, youth standing firm, and tyranny being shaken at its roots. It revealed the inner thoughts of a young patriot who was living and breathing the very revolution he was writing about.

Sangharsh Ma Gujarat – Writing the resistance

When the Emergency ended in 1977 and India breathed free again, Narendra Modi did not put away those memories. He chose to document them, not as a personal diary but as a historical record. The result was a remarkable work titled “Sangharsh Ma Gujarat”, which he wrote in just 23 days, entirely without the help of any reference material.

The book turned out to be one of the most detailed and honest regional accounts of the Emergency. It covered the local efforts, the underground movement, and the courage of countless unsung heroes across Gujarat. The title translates to “Struggle in Gujarat”, but its message echoed across all of India.

The cover of the book became symbolic. Inside, pages carried raw truths—like the one titled: ‘मीसा’ का कोड़ा बरसा, which refers to the brutal use of MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) by the government to silence the voices of dissent. Modi’s writing was not emotional outburst; it was a carefully constructed archive of what India had endured.

The book was launched by Babubhai Patel, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and it soon gained recognition at international platforms for its authenticity and depth.

Modi’s role was also recorded in another publication: “Aapatkal Ke Senani”—which chronicled the journey of underground fighters and organisers who risked their lives during the Emergency. It highlighted Modi’s meticulous work and bravery while managing the shadow operations that kept resistance alive.

Legacy of a fighter who refused to be silenced

The Emergency wasn’t just a political event for Narendra Modi—it was a defining crucible. It was the furnace in which many of his present-day political philosophies were shaped. His faith in decentralisation, rapid crisis handling, and people-first messaging was not born in air-conditioned offices. It was built on the ground, in hiding, in struggle, and through encounters with real danger.

While others chose silence, Modi chose strategy. While some surrendered to fear, he mobilised courage. In prison visits masked as religious rituals, in late-night escapes, and in handwritten pamphlets slipped into lunch boxes, Modi kept democracy alive when it was gasping for breath.

This chapter of his life is not simply a personal story—it is a national lesson. His actions were not about gaining political capital but about safeguarding the spirit of free India. In those times when every door could mean arrest and every mistake could cost lives, he stayed committed to his mission.

So, when today’s critics attempt to define him in a few political slogans or borrowed comparisons, they overlook the decades that shaped the man behind the office.

The story of Narendra Modi during the Emergency is not just about survival. It is about bold resistance, unshakable values, and a young man’s decision to enter the shadows rather than stay silent. A story that didn’t just produce a leader—but shaped an entire generation’s understanding of what it means to fight for India’s democratic soul.