Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the centenary celebration of the historic 1925 conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi, called the event a beacon of social harmony and India’s spiritual and national awakening. Speaking in the presence of saints from Shivagiri Math, Modi described Guru’s ideals as foundational to inclusive governance and India’s vision of unity.
He recalled Guru’s defiance of caste oppression, his emphasis on truth, service and harmony, and hailed him as a lighthouse for the exploited and deprived. Modi drew a personal connection to Shivagiri, recalling that as Gujarat Chief Minister during the 2013 Kedarnath floods, the Math turned to him for evacuation support.
Modi said Guru’s teachings continue to guide India’s development goals—especially efforts to empower marginalized communities, ensure universal access to housing, water, and health, and foster women-led growth. He emphasized the government’s focus on the saturation approach to eliminate discrimination and recalled Guru’s mantra: “Enlightenment through education, Strength through organization, Prosperity through industry.”
He also linked India’s spiritual heritage with modern national policies—from the International Day of Yoga to the global “One Earth, One Health” initiative and the G20 theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” Citing Guru’s integration of Vedanta with social reform, he said spiritual upliftment is inseparable from social empowerment.
Modi concluded by highlighting reforms in education and skill development, growth of tribal residential schools and industrial self-reliance—including Operation Sindoor and Indian-made weapons—as examples of progress rooted in Guru’s ideals. He said India’s journey to Viksit Bharat will be shaped by these enduring values.
