Devi Singh of Jodhpur ties a turban on Prime Minister Narendra Modi every time on national festivals*

Gopendra Nath Bhatt

New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the news all over the world for his hard work, work style, efficiency etc. along with his many qualities and dressing sense. After becoming the Prime Minister in the year 2014, he has been continuously wearing Rajasthani and Gujarati turbans at the historic Red Fort and Republic Day parade in Delhi. He also wore a cap on some occasions. Since then, his turban and cap have been a topic of discussion. He often ties a turban on national festivals like Independence Day and Republic Day, but the special thing is that every time the colour and style of his turban and cap is always different.

It is also an interesting fact that for the last eleven years a person named Devi Singh has been tying a Rajasthani turban on Prime Minister Modi. Devi Singh has tied a turban on Prime Minister Modi about twenty-one times on the national festivals of Independence Day and Republic Day. He has not shared his photo with Prime Minister Modi on social media or any other media even once while doing so. 

This time also on the 76th Republic Day, Devi Singh tied a red and yellow coloured turban of Rajasthan on the Prime Minister which added to the attractive personality of PM Modi this time also. He had tied a multicoloured lehriya turban on Prime Minister Modi on the 76th Independence Day too, wearing which Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort.

Devi Singh, retired from the Indian Army, hails from Balesar in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Currently, he lives with his family in Dwarka, Delhi. He says that what can be a matter of greater happiness and pride for me than that I tie the Rajasthani safa of pride and honour to the democratic head of the world's largest democracy India every time on a national function. He says that wearing a safa has its own importance in Indian attire and it is associated with a particular region and community. Especially in Rajasthan, safa has its own special importance. Prime Minister Modi has increased the pride of Rajasthan by wearing a Rajasthani safa on national festivals.

Devi Singh, who has a Rajput style with a strong moustache, says that he has been tying a turban to Prime Minister Modi since 2014. He said that at that time about fourteen artists from Rajasthan had come to Delhi but the Prime Minister liked their dexterity and since then he has maintained this belief and has never publicised this fact. Devi Singh says that in the last 11 years he has tied Rajasthani turbans of different colours and types to Prime Minister Modi which have proved to be a great addition to his personality. 

Apart from Prime Minister Modi, Devi Singh has tied Rajasthani turbans to many national leaders and Chief Ministers of states including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways General (Retd.) VK Singh. He has family relations with former Union Minister and Cabinet Minister of Rajasthan Government Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh. His skill in tying a turban is so great that he ties a very excellent turban in just a few minutes. At present, his family also provides its services in various ceremonies held in Delhi due to their expert skill in tying turbans.