It was an eventful evening yesterday as millions of households across India switched on their TV sets to watch the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony which every news channel was carrying for its viewers.

India met its new set of cabinet ministers under Modi government 2.0, as they were called onto the stage to take their oaths. However, there was a sudden shift in energies when this frail-looking old man with a flowing beard and wind swept hair made his way to the stage, wearing a pair of plain white kurta pajama and greeted the President before taking his place behind the podium.

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Many people in the audience, and even the ones watching the old man on their TV sets were unaware of his identity. Interest piqued and within a span of few minutes Pratap Chandra Sarangi began trending on social media.

But the entire episode didn't come as a shock to the people of Odisha, especially those who live in and around Balasore when they saw 'Nana' Sarangi taking his oath as Minister of State in the Modi government last evening.

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The newly elected MP from Odisha's Balasore, 64-year-old Pratap Chandra Sarangi isn't a regular politician. Sarangi lives in a hut, rides a bicycle and his combined assets amount to just 5.5 lakhs. Sarangi thinks of himself a social worker, and supports himself through his pension and agricultural income.

In his affidavit Sarangi declared that he does not own a vehicle, jewelry, and has no liabilities. Sarangi has always led a simple life, living on little income, caring for his ailing mother, as he worked out of a small hut and bridged distances and differences riding on a bicycle.

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However, this exactly how Sarangi had planned his 36 years ago. As a 28-year-old he had wanted to become a monk at the Ramakrishna Math, but the head Swamiji at Ramakrishna Mission didn't accept his request, because that would have left his mother alone with no one to care for her.

It was at that point that Sarangi decided to join the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and became a sevak, to work as a social worker. It was only later that he got associated with Bharatiya Janata Party. A two-time MLA from the Nilgiri assembly, Sarangi won the seat in 2004 and 2009. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, Sarangi defeated two popular rivals, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Rabindra Jena and Navajyoti Patnaik of Congress by a great margin.

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As for why Sarangi is so popular with people, it's because he has been actively working for the people in the area. Sarangi opened many Ekal Vidyalayas (village schools with single school teacher) in the interiors of Odisha. He has had an active involvement in local protests, such as anti-liquor movements and the likes. He also opened Samrkara Kendras in tribal villages in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts. This time as a Minister of State, Sarangi wants to turn Balasore into a tourist destination as well.

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Sarangi has come a long way. From being a simple man who has been invested in people's welfare, to becoming a Minister of State in Modi's government by winning Lok Sabha elections from his constituency by campaigning through a hired auto rickshaw.