'Sakshi Bhav', a compilation of the diary pages of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, was today released here by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar.
"People know me from the newspapers, now they will know my through myself (from the book)," Modi said during the event at the Gujarat University's Convention Centre here.
"I know it is difficult to approach me. This Sakshi-Bhav will take you to my door-step," Modi said. "If you feel that you have reached my door, then knock. You will get the entry."
The book is a compilation of the rhymeless prayers to Goddess Jagdamba composed by Modi in 1986 when he was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak.
"Had this been released 30 years ago, it would have been looked at from a straight literary viewpoint," Modi said.
"Now, I do not know what will be derived from it. But I will be happy that many people will earn their bread and butter by this," he said, in an apparent jibe at media's obsession with him.
Modi said he used to burn the diary pages after a while but senior pracharak Narendra Panchasra asked him to preserve them.
"This compilation is of the pages which remained unburnt," said Modi, who also read out some verses from the book.
Praising the Gujarat Chief Minister, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said: "In this country, the kamal (lotus) needs a sher (lion). Now the country has got the lion. Very few people in this country have been criticised like this (like Modi has been). If a person is not honest to himself, he cannot tolerate such criticism.
"The youth will be inspired by this book," he said.
