Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 72 on Saturday and marked his birthday by addressing four events covering fields as diverse as wildlife and the launch of logistics policy, as greetings poured in from leaders and other prominent personalities.
Dignitaries like President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar lauded his ''nation-building project and transformative vision'' while many others, including his Cabinet colleagues, hailed his contribution to making a "strong and self-reliant" India.
The ruling BJP launched a 15-day "seva" (service) exercise with its president J P Nadda asserting that serving people to mark the birthday of the party's foremost leader is in keeping with his vision.
He also inaugurated an exhibition on the prime minister's life at the party headquarters here.
It was a busy day for Modi who began a hectic schedule by releasing cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, under a landmark project seven decades after the animal was declared extinct in the country.
Stating that the 'Project Cheetah' was his government's endeavour towards environment and wildlife conservation, he also had a go at previous dispensations for making no "constructive efforts" to revive the population of the world's fastest animal in India.
He also addressed women self-help group members at Sheopur in the state in another event.
"Normally I meet my mother on my birthday and seek her blessings. Today so many mothers of Madhya Pradesh have blessed me," he said, addressing the large gathering.
The prime minister said he enjoys the blessings of lakhs of mothers and described women as his strength and inspiration.
Modi said his mother would be mighty pleased with the outpouring of blessings from women.
There has been a massive difference in the India of last century and the present Naya Bharat in the form of women-power, Modi said at the meeting of Self-Help Groups.
Wishing Modi, President Murmu said the work for nation-building under his incomparable hard work, dedication and creativity continues to advance.
Vice President Dhankhar greeted him, saying his transformative vision and inspirational leadership have elevated 'Bharat' to newer heights of glory.
Home Minister Amit Shah hailed him as the flag-bearer of Indian culture who has connected the country to its roots and led it forward in every field.
Under his farsighted leadership, India has emerged as a world power and he has distinguished himself as a global leader respected by the world, Shah said.
Modi's life symbolises service and dedication, he said, calling him the builder of a secure, strong and 'Aatmanirbhar' new India.
Opposition leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Pawar of the NCP, Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD and TRS leader and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, also wished him.
The Congress' greetings, however, were laced with criticism of the prime minister and his policies, with its youth organisation saying it was observing "National Unemployment Day' on Saturday.
"Our ideological and political battles against him continue. His personal vendetta against us intensifies. Even so, here is wishing and greeting our Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 72nd birthday," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.
Nepal's Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was among the leaders who greeted the prime minister.
"On the occasion of your birthday, best wishes for good health and long life. May Shri Pashupatinath always protect you," he tweeted.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in a letter to Modi, extolled India's efforts under the prime minister in meeting the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
As the longest-staying guest in India, I have observed its development firsthand. Now the country is also a rising economic power and a leader in science and technology," he stated in the letter.
The Dalai Lama also hailed the country's "strong democratic foundation" and called it an example of peace and stability.
"I am delighted to say India is poised to assume its rightful place in the world," he said.
Modi's ministerial colleagues and other party leaders including chief ministers paid fulsome tributes to his leadership and administrative acumen.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said his leadership has boosted progress and good governance like never before and taken India's prestige and self-respect to a new high.
He has given a new dimension to Indian politics and importance to the welfare of the poor along with development, Singh said.
Modi, India's 15th prime minister, was born on September 17, 1950 in Gujarat's Vadnagar.
An RSS pracharak from a young age, Modi was drafted into the BJP's organisation in the latter half of the 80s and rose to become Gujarat chief minister in 2001.
Since then, he has achieved the unique feat of never losing the state, and now national election when he has been the face of the party.
He led the BJP to win in three consecutive Gujarat Assembly polls in 2002, 2007 and 2012 and the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and 2019.
