Sheikh will tie a rakhi on the Prime Minister's wrist for the 30th consecutive year, a testament to the strong bond...
Digital Desk: Qamar Sheikh, who has been tying a rakhi on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wrist for over two decades, is once again preparing to travel to Delhi to uphold this cherished tradition. This year, on Monday, August 19, Sheikh will tie a rakhi on the Prime Minister's wrist for the 30th consecutive year, a testament to the strong bond that has developed between them.
Born into a Muslim family in Karachi, Pakistan, Sheikh moved to India after marrying Mohsin Sheikh in 1981. Since then, she has built a life in India, where her connection with PM Modi began 35 years ago.
This unique bond started in 1990, when she first met Modi, who was then an emerging political figure, through the late Dr Swaroop Singh, the Governor of Gujarat at that time. Singh introduced Sheikh to Modi, saying he considered her a daughter. Modi responded by saying Sheikh would now be his sister. Thus, a tradition began that has continued unbroken for three decades.
Raksha Bandhan, which falls on Monday, August 19 this year, is a festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. As is her custom, Sheikh has already prepared several rakhis for the occasion. Unlike most, Sheikh does not buy rakhis from the market. Instead, she carefully crafts each one by hand. “I make many Rakhis with my own hands every year before Raksha Bandhan and in the end, I tie the Rakhi that I like the most on his wrist,” she shared in an interview with Aaj Tak.
This year, marking the 30th anniversary of her rakhi-tying ritual with PM Modi, Sheikh has prepared something truly special. “The rakhi I have prepared this year, I have made it on velvet. I have used pearls, metal embroideries, and tikki in the rakhi,” she said. Sheikh has already booked her tickets to Delhi for August 19, ensuring she arrives a day before the festival to carry out the tradition she holds so special.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheikh always tied the rakhi personally on the Prime Minister's wrist. However, due to travel restrictions in 2020, 2021, and 2022, she could not make the trip. Last year, Sheikh resumed the tradition, travelling to Delhi with her husband to fulfill the annual ritual. She hopes to receive an invitation this year as well, expressing her eagerness to continue the tradition.
As a sister, Sheikh is praying for her brother's good health and hopes that PM Modi continues his public welfare work, which has characterized his leadership over the last decade. Reflecting on her long association with PM Modi, Sheikh recalled how, when she first met him, he was a humble worker of the Sangh. “I told him, once, that I pray that one day you become the Chief Minister of Gujarat,” she reminisced.
Modi had laughed at the time, but her wish came true. Later, when Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he asked her what she now wished for her brother. Sheikh said that she then began praying for him to become the Prime Minister of India.
Her prayers were answered once again, and now, as Narendra Modi serves his third consecutive term as Prime Minister, Sheikh feels fortunate that her wishes have come true. This Raksha Bandhan, as she prepares to tie the rakhi once more, Sheikh reflects on the journey that brought them together and the bond that has strengthened over the years.
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