Qamar Sheikh, known as Prime Minister Modi’s ‘rakhi’ sister, is planning to visit Delhi before Raksha Bandhan on August 19 to mark the occasion with him for the 30th year in a row. Reports indicate that Sheikh has maintained a close connection with PM Modi for the last 35 years, beginning in 1990. Their first meeting took place in 1990 when Dr. Swaroop Singh, the then-Governor of Gujarat, introduced them.
Who is Qamar Sheikh?
Sheikh was born in a Muslim family in Karachi and married Mohsin Sheikh in 1981, later moving to India where she eventually settled. Over the past 30 years, she has developed a close familial bond with Modi. Each year, Sheikh designs and handcrafts a rakhi for the Prime Minister, which she ties on his wrist during Raksha Bandhan.
Sheikh mentioned that she has already crafted 8 to 10 rakhis for this year. “Every year before Raksha Bandhan, I create many rakhis by hand, and in the end, I choose the one I like the most to tie on his wrist,” she said.
For this milestone 30th year, Sheikh is working on something special. “The rakhi I’ve made this year is on velvet, adorned with pearls, metal embroidery, and sequins,” she shared, adding that her tickets are booked for Delhi on August 19, just a day before the festival.
Sheikh also noted that she missed travelling to Delhi in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she resumed the tradition last year by travelling with her husband to tie the rakhi. Sheikh is hopeful that she will receive an invitation to this year’s celebration as well.
As a devoted sister, she supports her brother’s public welfare efforts and prays for his well-being. Reflecting on their first meeting, Sheikh recalled how PM Modi was merely a worker for the Sangh at that time.
“I once told him that I pray you become the Chief Minister of Gujarat one day,” she reminisced. Modi laughed at the time, but when her wish came true, he later asked during a Raksha Bandhan meeting what her new wish for him was. Sheikh revealed that she then wished for Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister of the country. “I feel fortunate that my wish came true. Today, he has been elected Prime Minister of the country for the third consecutive time,” she concluded.
