In a moment that quickly went viral, Prime Minister Narendra Modi bent down to touch the feet of 98-year-old Makhanlal Sarkar during Suvendu Adhikari’s oath-taking ceremony as West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister on May 9, 2026. The simple gesture of respect, followed by a warm hug, a shawl, and public words of praise, has been widely seen as a powerful signal of gratitude towards the countless unknown grassroots workers who built the Bharatiya Janata Party brick by brick in hostile territories.
Who is Makhanlal Sarkar?
Makhanlal Sarkar is not a former minister, MLA, or national leader. He is a lifelong karyakarta — a party worker — who devoted decades to the BJP and its precursor, the Jana Sangh, without ever seeking personal reward or limelight.
As a young man in 1952-53, he accompanied Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the historic Kashmir agitation to hoist the national tricolour. Arrested for the act, Sarkar refused to tender an apology in court and even sang a nationalist song before the judge. After the BJP’s formation in 1980, he became a tireless organizer in north Bengal — covering Siliguri, Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling districts. In an era when the party had almost no presence in a Left-dominated West Bengal, Sarkar enrolled thousands of members, served as district president, and endured physical attacks and social isolation. He remained active at the booth level well into his nineties.
The Gesture and Its Message
During the ceremony, Modi publicly described Sarkar as a “motivating figure” who strengthened the party’s foundation. The Prime Minister’s deliberate act of humility — bowing before an ordinary worker rather than only greeting powerful new allies — carried deep resonance within the Sangh Parivar ecosystem.
For the BJP’s rank-and-file, especially in states where the party has faced prolonged struggle, this was more than optics. It was validation.
Why It Feels Like Balm for the Unsung
- Honouring the Foundations: BJP’s expansion story often highlights electoral victories and star campaigners. Yet the party’s growth in difficult regions like Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and parts of the Northeast rests on anonymous workers who faced violence, boycotts, and decades of irrelevance. Sarkar’s story embodies that silent sacrifice. Modi’s bow reminded everyone that the party remembers those who “held the ground” when it had zero seats and little hope.
- Balancing Newcomers and Loyalists: The BJP has pragmatically welcomed defectors and turncoats to accelerate growth in new territories. While electorally smart, this sometimes creates quiet discontent among lifelong swayamsevaks who bore the cost during the “hard times.” By spotlighting a non-ticket, non-power figure like Sarkar on such a historic day in Bengal, the leadership sent a clear message: ideology, loyalty, and long service still matter.
- Reinforcing the Karyakarta Ethos: In the RSS-BJP worldview, true strength lies in seva (selfless service) and organizational dedication rather than just positions of power. Modi, who often presents himself first as a karyakarta, reinforced this cultural DNA. The image of the Prime Minister seeking blessings from a 98-year-old booth-level worker travels far — motivating cadre in Kannur, Tripura, or remote pockets of Punjab and the Northeast who continue to work amid adversity.
- Emotional Closure in Bengal: West Bengal’s BJP breakthrough came after years of blood and struggle. Honouring a veteran directly linked to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on the day of the first BJP Chief Minister’s swearing-in tied the victory back to the party’s ideological roots rather than merely recent political arithmetic.
In Indian politics, symbolism often speaks louder than speeches. Modi’s bow to Makhanlal Sarkar was brief, yet it encapsulated a truth many parties overlook: victories are built on the sweat and sacrifices of ordinary workers whose names rarely appear in history books. For every unsung BJP warrior still knocking on doors in challenging territories, the moment served as public recognition and emotional reassurance — that their contribution has been seen, remembered, and respected at the highest level.
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