Wishes from Sri M Yes, I have had the privilege of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi four times personally but before I get to that, many happy returns of the day Prime Minister. May you steer the nation to fullfill its vast potential. Finally we have a Prime Minister who has risen from the ranks, no silver spoon at birth and therefore feels the pulse of the common man and works hard too. A Cabinet Minister close to him the other day described him as a “Karma Yogi with a difference who not only works tirelessly but keeps others on their toes.” The results are there to see: the economy is looking up to the discomfort of our neighbours, considering that bringing about order from the inherited chaos is no cake walk. Problems are there of course. Some which have simmered below the surface for years have now erupted explosively, the violence in Kashmir for instance, the intolerance debate, the ugly aspects of cow vigilantism etc. to the delight of certain elite who cannot stomach a former tea-boy becoming a Prime Minister. May I bring it to your attention that whenever churning takes place like the Samudra Manthan of old, the poison appears first before Amrit, (nectar) is produced. We wait for the Amrit and are confident that it will certainly manifest itself. Now my personal meetings with the PM. The first meeting was in Ahmedabad when he was still the Chief Minister of Gujarat. My Autobiography, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master in its Gujarati translation was being launched. Sri Narendra Modi was to be officially nominated are the BJPs Prime Ministerial candidate and he had to leave for Delhi in the evening. So i was invited to his residence in Gandhi Nagar in the morning. He personally welcomed me cordially and considering that i was virtually a nobody, I was taken aback by his courtesy and composure. For a man who was going to be the Prime Minister, he was pretty cool. When i shared that i was launching a marathon walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir for communal harmony, he encouraged me and said he would help us in Gujarat. I remember saying that he would probably be in Delhi at that time to which he smiled and preferred not to comment. The next meeting was a month after he became Prime Minister. I was leaving for the USA and had asked for a meeting. I congratulated him. Again very cordial and quite at home in 7 Race Course Road. Just the two of us, no aides or secretaries. We talked. He was eager to take up his responsibilties seriously. The third was during the BJP National Executive in Bangalore. The Padyatra was passing through Bangalore. He met me at the Raj Bhavan. This time he made kind enquiries about my health and how the walk was doing even offering sterling advice. The forth meeting was again at 7 Race Course Road. The Walk was nearing Delhi. That was the time the intolerance debate was splashed daily in the media. He showed serious concern and once again wished me luck in trying to bring about communal harmony. However, the most moving instance was that as soon as the Walk entered Gujarat, at 6 30 in the morning my assistant said the PMO was trying to get in touch. Imagine my pleasant surprise when the line got connected and the Prime Minister spoke directly: "Aaap ko Gujarat mae swagath hai. Sab theek hai? Aap ka saehhat kaisa hai. " That the Prime Minister of a vast country like ours, with myriad responsibilities and responsibilities should keep track of the Walk and knew the precise moment when it entered Gujarat apart from the fact that he thought it good to speak to a politically insignificant person like me speaks for itself. I attribute it to the humane side of a man who some seek to demonise. Now on the occasion of his 66th birthday and the third year of his government, I wish him all the best but one request: As a gesture of goodwill on your birthday Sir, will you please step in personally and initiate a dialogue to resolve the terrible violence between the Right and the Left, in Northern Kerala, my home state and perhaps do the same in Kashmir. As far as Kerala is concerned i know for a fact that both sides are willing to talk. Its time to end this stalemate and only you the PM can do it from K to K (Kerala to Kashmir) Sir. Happy birthday once again