Marriage of Narendra Modi and Jashodaben Chimanlal

The marriage of Narendra Modi and Jashodaben Chimanlal was revealed in the Indian general election, 2014 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed offical documents to contest in the election. Previously for almost 50 years Modi had said that he was single, but shortly after completing these forms, Modi's brother explained that it was a child marriage. Jashodaben has said that she still has feelings for Modi and appreciated him publicly recognizing her as his wife. Under the Representation of the People Act, Modi was asked to declare any previous marriage, and during this statement for the first time in public and media Modi acknowledged that he had a wife. He said that the marriage was never consummated and that Modi left it soon after it was solemnized. In summer 2014 Congress party politician Ajay Rai filed a lawsuit to be heard by the Allahabad High Court complaining, among other things, that Modi did not give the permanent account number of Jashodaben.
Marriage
Narendra Modi and Jashodaben had an arranged marriage in the custom of the Ghanchi caste of Vadnagar. Around age three or four they were engaged. Her mother died when she was two years old. She studied further to become a teacher at primary school, and from 1978-1990 taught in Banaskantha district.
After Modi was elected to be Prime Minister of India Jashodaben said that she was not invited to the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi, but had she been invited, she would have gone.
In June 2014 at what has been described as "her first public event", Jashodaben attended the public funeral of politician Gopinath Munde.
Commentary on the marriage
The marriage between Jashodaben and Modi has started discussions and awareness about the relationships between men and women in India. Narendra Modi's sister has called Jashodaban a "true Indian woman". This nomination was a political attack on Modi as well as his attempt to describe the separation as a human rights issue.
One media source suggested that it was best to not discuss Jashodaben for her own well being.

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