“We Will Do It”: I Live for a Mission, Not Personal Gains — PM Modi

We will do it; we will live for the country; we will die for the country. Our mission will be to put the nation first; we will overcome all challenges and make India “Vikasit Bharat” by 2047. Post is "not merely a responsibility" but "devotion to the country. I am a person who lives not for ambition or personal gains; I live for a mission,” the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing a large gathering in New Delhi on the occasion of completing 25 years in electoral politics.

Addressing the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha', PM Modi said, "Today is not just a day for memories; it is a day to fill our resolutions with new energy. It is a day to reiterate that promise, to express that determination which says, 'We will do it!'" Just as Barack Obama, in his election speech, said, “Yes, we can do it,” Modi listed various missions to be achieved, like hosting the Olympics, making India a quantum and AI hub, sending Indians into space, making India Atmanirbhar, and making India a global manufacturing hub, and said we will do it, which was repeated by the people of all ages who gathered at the celebration.

Recalling what he said from the ramparts of Red Fort, he said Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas will remain his mantra, and this determination will take the country to new heights. Recalling the teachings of the Gita, he said for him what matters is working in mission mode, not worrying about the outcome. “My job is to do Karma without anticipating any return for me in person.”

He said for him the continuous journey of 25 years as the head of government is a matter of personal glorification. “Twenty-five years ago, at the age of 50, I was serving tribal communities in the forests, spending my life in the mountains, and had chosen the organisational path in the Bharatiya Janata Party. My political report card was that of a worker in the organisation. I had never fought an election before," he said.

PM Modi said that if he had wanted to make a mark in politics, he could have entered the electoral field much earlier; however, that was not his temperament.

"I never thought about what I would become in life or what would happen to me, because the education and values I received since childhood taught me that I have been a person who lives not for ambition, but for a mission," he further said.

"Whatever responsibilities I was given, I continued to fulfil them. The sole purpose of my life was selfless action for the country. For me, action is everything; action is my duty. The Gita has taught us -- 'Karmanyevadhikaraste' -- My right is over my actions, and therefore, I consider action my duty," he added.

"For me, action is not merely a responsibility; it is my devotion to the country," the Prime Minister said. Modi said that "if these 25 years are to be assessed, it should not be based on where I have reached, but on how far my country has reached".

"The country gave me the opportunity, people gave me their trust, circumstances taught me lessons, which is why I am getting the opportunity for unbroken service to my countrymen," he added.

Recalling the period when he took over as the chief minister of Gujarat, Modi said that he was inexperienced and did not know how the administration works or where and why files get stuck. But he said he had the determination to serve the people, and every day was a challenge for him. It was the trust of the people and the experience he had as a social worker that guided him.

Modi said, "I made this faith my strength. I took decisions by taking the people along, formulated policies with the people and implemented them with the people. Taking the people along, I followed the same mantra and said, 'We will do it! We will do it!'" he added.

Every crisis has been a test of my patience; every success deepens my sense of responsibility even now: PM Modi said, apparently referring to the challenges he has been facing as PM both internally and globally.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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