GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th June: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the centenary celebration of the historic conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi at Vigyan Bhawan, calling their ideals “eternally relevant” for India’s development and social harmony.
In his keynote address, PM Modi described the meeting between the two spiritual leaders a hundred years ago as a turning point that infused moral clarity and direction into India’s freedom movement. “The ideals of Sree Narayana Guru are a great treasure for all of humanity,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the Guru’s teachings continue to guide India’s socio-spiritual journey.
PM Modi highlighted the government’s efforts to eliminate discrimination through the saturation approach, ensuring every citizen—especially the poor, Dalits, tribals, and women—receives access to essential services such as housing, clean water, electricity, and healthcare.
“Even today, when I take decisions for the welfare of the oppressed and deprived, I remember Sree Narayana Guru,” the Prime Minister said, recalling his long association with Sivagiri Mutt and the deep trust placed in him during the 2013 Kedarnath disaster.
Underscoring the Guru’s vision—“One caste, one religion, one God for mankind”—Modi said this principle forms the foundation of India’s civilizational ethos. He also tied Guru’s teachings with India’s global initiatives such as ‘One Earth, One Health’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, emphasising India’s role as a leader in sustainable development and global welfare.
Highlighting the transformation underway in education, Modi noted that the new National Education Policy promotes learning in the mother tongue and expands opportunities for the underprivileged. “In just 10 years, we’ve set up more new IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS than in the previous 60 years,” he said, adding that over 400 Eklavya schools have been opened in tribal areas.
The Prime Minister also cited schemes like Skill India, Stand-Up India, and Mudra Yojana as examples of economic empowerment rooted in Guru’s vision of prosperity through education and industry.
Turning to national security, PM Modi pointed to the recent Operation Sindoor, stating, “India’s message is clear: those who shed the blood of Indian citizens will find no safe haven.” He lauded Indian-made weapons used in the operation and said India’s growing self-reliance in the defence sector will soon earn global recognition.
To preserve and promote the Guru’s legacy, the government is developing the Sivagiri Circuit to connect pilgrimage sites linked to his life. “Sree Narayana Guru envisioned a strong, empowered India—and we are moving firmly in that direction,” PM Modi concluded.
Union Minister of State George Kurien, along with revered saints of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust and other dignitaries, attended the event.
