"The aura carried by him is so contagious and to meet such a powerful soul is always a privilege; the more I meet Modiji, the more I admire him,” stated Neville Wadia, a Baroda resident and former cricketer. The 76-year-old met Prime Minster Modi, who he says he knew from Modi’s stint as Chief Minister of Gujarat, on June 18, 2022. Modi was in Vadodara (Baroda) to "launch the state’s nutritional program for pregnant women in tribal districts, and to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 18 projects of the Indian Railways worth Rs 16,369 crores,” said Wadia. The senior appreciated the way Modi "sprang up from his seat on seeing me and embraced me in a warm welcome.” Having met the politician on previous occasions, Neville noted that this time Modi asked him Gujarati, "Kya chhé tu? Ketla varsh pachhi malya (Where are you? We have met after many years, Neville).”
From l: Russy Wadia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Neville Wadia
Wadia was at home on June 16 when his phone rang, mentioned his son Russy in an email to Parsiana. "I answered the call and to my pleasant surprise the caller introduced himself to me as being from the Prime Minister’s office… I was dumbstruck when he conveyed to me the message that the Prime Minister would meet me on June 18 in Baroda in person,” stated Neville.
Neville first met Modi in 2007 when his wife Jalloo was awarded the title of "Laughter Queen” by the Laughter Clubs International. "In 2009, I was awarded Guinness book of World Record for oldest player in the world to score a century and he invited us at his Chief Minister’s office again… Since then we are in touch but following the protocol I don’t disturb him much and that he invited us as his special guests during his recent visit to Baroda is a life time achievement for us.”
"I was awed to witness the amiable, affectionate and cordial moments exchanged by my daddy and Modi,” shared proud son Russy. F. J.