Prime Minister Narendra Modi's younger brother Pankaj Bhai Modi has been one of the main organizers of Gujarat's tableau

Gopendra Nath Bhatt

During the full dress rehearsal parade of the main parade of the 76th Republic Day in New Delhi and the preview of tableaux in Delhi Cantt, Gujarat's tableau has been attracting everyone's attention for a special reason.

This special reason is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's younger brother Pankaj Bhai Modi...!

Pankaj Bhai Modi has been an exhibition officer in Gujarat's Information Department for many years and even after retirement, he has been providing his services on contract. He often comes to New Delhi as a part of Gujarat's tableau. Even when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Pankaj Modi used to do his work quietly.

Very few people would know that Pankaj Modi has been the main organizer of Gujarat's tableau for the last several years and has been performing his duties without any publicity. He has been answering questions asked by journalists in a casual manner during the preview programme of tableaux at the stadium located in Delhi Cantt. Due to his contribution, Gujarat's tableau has been receiving awards as well as appreciation from almost everyone. During his stay in New Delhi, he stays in Gujarat Bhavan like other officers and never lets anyone feel that he is the younger brother of the country's Prime Minister.

On the 76th Republic Day celebrations of the country, on 26 January, in the main parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, the tableau of Gujarat state, which has been included in the 30 tableaux including those of 15 states, is being taken out on this year's theme 'Golden India: Heritage and Development'. Gujarat's tableau impressively includes cultural heritage from 12th century Solanki era 'Kirti Toran' of Vadnagar i.e. Anartpur to the 21st century wonder 'Statue of Unity', along with various development projects showcasing the state's 'self-reliance' in the field of defense, technology, automobile and manufacturing. Vadnagar is the hometown of the Prime Minister and under Modi's dream project Statue of Unity, the life-size statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has been prominently depicted in the tableau.

This tableau presented by the Information Department of the Government of Gujarat has been created by Siddheshwar Kanuga of Smart Graph Art Advertising Private Limited. Joint Information Director Dr. Sanjay Kachot and Deputy Information Director Jigar Khunt have also contributed in the creation of the tableau under the guidance of State Information and Broadcasting Secretary Avantika Singh Aulakh, Information Director Kishore Bachani and Additional Director Arvind Patel.