By Dharmendra Chauhan
On September 17, when our nation celebrates the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the people of Mana join the celebration from the very edge of India’s border. With folded hands, we pray before Lord Badrinath for his long life and good health. For us, this day is not just about greetings to our Prime Minister, it is also about remembering the journey of our village, a journey from being called the “last village” of India to proudly becoming the “first village” of the country.
I was born and raised in Mana. For as long as I can remember, the signboard at our entrance read: India’s Last Village, Mana. Every time we crossed it, something in our hearts would sink. It was as if we had been pushed to the edge of the nation’s memory. Though we guarded the border with our lives and love for the country, we lived with the ache of being treated as “last”. We endured, silently, because we had no choice.
But in our silence, there was never hopelessness. Even when Delhi felt too far, we believed that someday the wind of change would reach us. That moment came when Modi ji became our Prime Minister. We had seen how he rebuilt Gujarat after Bhuj, how he stood strong in Kedarnath’s tragedy. We trusted that under his leadership, the forgotten corners of India would finally be seen.
Our hope turned into reality with the Vibrant Villages Programme. For the first time, we villagers felt that the government’s heartbeat reached as far as our mountains. Then came the day, October 21, 2022, that will remain etched in our memories. When the Prime Minister declared that “every border village is the first village of the country”, tears rolled down our cheeks. That single sentence lifted the burden of years of neglect. It gave us dignity. It told us: we are not the end, we are the beginning.
In April 2023, when the signboard at Mana was changed to read First Indian Village, Mana, it felt like history had turned a page. That board is more than metal and paint, it is our pride, our recognition, our voice.
Over the last decade, the changes in our lives are visible everywhere. The road that once felt like a distant dream has now brought mainstream India to our doorstep. Safe houses have replaced fragile huts. Clean drinking water flows in every home. Women no longer cough through the smoke of chulhas, thanks to Ujjwala Yojana. The youth who once thought of migrating to cities now find work as guides, in homestays, or selling local produce to pilgrims who visit both Badrinath Dham and our village. Even the ITBP, which stands guard with us, now buys our vegetables and herbs, making us partners in self-reliance.
Most importantly, our hearts are no longer heavy with neglect. Ministers, officers, and officials now visit us. When disasters strike, we do not feel abandoned, the NDRF and SDRF reach us, and even our Prime Minister has come to us in times of grief, speaking not as a distant ruler but as if he were our own son.
This is what gives Mana its new spirit. We are not just a village on the map; we are the first gateway of Bharat, carrying its traditions, culture, and strength to the world. The transformation of Mana is proof that when the government cares for its farthest borders, the entire nation stands taller.
Today, as village head, I write with pride and gratitude. We, the people of Mana, know that our journey from “last” to “first” has been made possible by the vision and commitment of our Prime Minister. On his birthday, we offer not only our wishes but also our heartfelt thanks, for giving us not just development, but dignity, recognition, and hope.
From Mana, the first village of India, we send our love, prayers, and salutations to Modi ji.
The writer is village head, Mana, Uttarakhand
