Jashodaben Modi

Jashodaben Modi
Portrait of Jashodaben Modi
Spouse of the Prime Minister of India
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 May 2014
Preceded by	Gursharan Kaur
Spouse of the Chief Minister of Gujarat
In office 7 October 2001 – 22 May 2014
Preceded by	Leela Patel
Succeeded by	Mafatlal Patel
Personal details
Born	1952 (age 64–65) Brahmanwada, Bombay State (presently Gujarat), India
Nationality	Indian
Spouse(s)	Narendra Modi (m. 1968)
Occupation	Teacher (retired)
Religion	Hinduism

Jashodaben Narendrabhai Modi (born 1952) is the wife of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their traditional marriage was arranged in Vadnagar by their families when they were children. The couple married in 1968 when Narendra Modi was 18 and Jashodaben was 16. Shortly thereafter Narendra Modi ceased living with Jashodaben, traveling for three years to practice Sannyasa, going into business with his uncle, and later pursuing public office. He did not officially acknowledge this marriage until 2014 during his campaign. Jashodaben continues to identify as the wife of Narendra Modi. She completed her education and had a career as a teacher.

Retired from teaching, Jashodaben lives a simple life of prayer. As the spouse of the prime minister, she is protected by a security detail, but has been unable to learn what their orders are or what rights she has in this position, despite filing suits with the government. Indian media and commentators have discussed the controversial circumstances of this marriage within the context of relations between men and women in society.

Jashodaben was born in 1952. Her mother died when she was two years old.

Narendra Modi and Jashodaben had an arranged marriage in the custom of the Ghanchi caste of Vadnagar. At the age of around three or four, they were engaged. Around age thirteen they had shaadi, which is the wedding or marriages in India. In 1968, Narendra and Jashodaben married. Narendra Modi was 18 years old and Jashodaben was approximately 16. They began gauna by living together briefly.

Shortly after this time, Modi separated from his wife and began wandering in the Himalayas practicing Sannyasa. Jashodaben stayed at Modi's family's home for a few months. She resumed school after her marriage. Two years later her father died. She continued her studies and received her Secondary School Certificate in 1972.

After three years of being out of contact with all who knew him, Modi returned home and contacted his family. He made plans to go to Ahmedabad to work at his uncle's canteen without Jashodaben. Before he left, his mother arranged for Jashodaben's parents to send her to meet Modi to sustain the gauna. After Jashodaben arrived at the house of Modi's family, Modi had an argument with his parents and left their home to meet his uncle as planned. Over the three-year period around the marriage, Jashodaben estimates that she spent about three months with her husband. After Modi left, he continued with his professional life.