Up Modi-fied kurta’s sleeve

But the Chief Minister admits that his kurtas have a fan following. ‘‘My kurtas have always been appreciated, not only in India but also in the US and other parts of the world during my official trips,’’ says Modi, adding that he’s gifted at least six of his kurtas to friends and foreign delegates. ‘‘ Apart from some BJP party members, senior journalists and bureaucrats, a member of the US Senate too wanted the kurtas so I gifted one each to them,’’ says Modi.

Rajya Sabha member Jayanti Barot, who was also the convenor of Modi’s Gaurav Yatra, is devoted to the Modi kurta these days. ‘‘I always wore full-sleeved kurtas but seeing Modi’s kurtas, I’ve changed my style,’’ he says.

‘‘I wear similar kurtas and am impressed by Narendrabhai’s style, his oratory and his kurtas, which are simple but create an impact…We are not trying to duplicate his style but display our liking for his charismatic personality.’’

Meanwhile, terming his style as ‘‘sober yet different from his contemporaries,’’ Modi says: ‘‘I am not a trendsetter nor do I believe in the concept of style statement. This is natural.’’

‘‘When I was in my late twenties, I travelled extensively across the country, jhola in hand. I carried few clothes as I had to wash and iron them myself and realised that maintaining kurtas was easier if sleeves were short,’’ he says.

‘‘While working in Dahod, I faintly remember giving my clothes to Amrutbhai, a tribal tailor who ran a small tailoring shop called ‘Sangam Tailors.’ After he passed away, I have no fixed tailor,’’ he says.

‘‘During my stay in Himachal Pradesh as a party worker, I remember people would mock them, asking me why I was wearing them. But I always preferred them to a suit and tie,’’ he says. ‘‘On official trips abroad, I wear a black Jodhpuri suit as I too have to follow protocol but given a choice, I would go for my kurta,’’ Modi says.