Historical legacy, modern vision
New Delhi, Jun 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to the legacy of Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi, describing their historic meeting a century ago as a “moment that gave moral clarity and new direction to India’s freedom struggle.” Addressing a packed gathering at Vigyan Bhawan to mark 100 years since the two reformers met at Sivagiri Mutt, Kerala, the Prime Minister said their exchange still serves as “an enduring source of energy for social harmony and a developed India.”
“This is not just a commemoration,” PM Modi said, “it is a reaffirmation of ideals that continue to guide our journey as a nation—truth, equality, harmony, and upliftment of the last person in the queue.” In a speech that wove together philosophy, personal anecdotes, and policy announcements, PM Modi invoked the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru to argue that spiritual enlightenment and social progress are inseparable. “For those of us in public life, Sree Narayana Guru remains a light in the darkest times,” he said. He recalled how even today, when making decisions for the marginalised, he reflects on the Guru’s teachings.
The centenary celebration commemorated the 12 March 1925 conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi at Sivagiri Mutt, held against the backdrop of the Vaikom Satyagraha, a key chapter in the struggle against untouchability.
Their dialogue touched on themes that remain resonant today: non-violence, social reform, religious pluralism, and the upliftment of the downtrodden. Organised by the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust, Tuesday’s event brought together saints, scholars, and government officials to honour that spiritual and moral exchange. Union Minister of State George Kurien and senior members of the Sanghom Trust were among the dignitaries present.
Describing a deeply personal connection with the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru, Mr Modi recounted how the Sivagiri Mutt once entrusted him, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, with the safe evacuation of its members during the 2013 Kedarnath floods. “When someone seeks your help in a crisis, it means they consider you their own,” he said. “That trust from Sivagiri’s saints remains one of the highest spiritual honours for me.” Modi likened the spiritual stature of Varkala, home to Sivagiri, to his own political and spiritual grounding in Kashi. “For me, whether it is Kashi in the North or the South, every Kashi is my own,” he declared, to wide applause.
PM Modi was keen to draw a straight line from Sree Narayana Guru’s mantras to his government’s development policies. The Guru’s call for “One caste, one religion, one God for mankind” was, he argued, a timeless articulation of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the world as one family—a concept India has amplified globally through initiatives like One Earth, One Health and One Sun, One World, One Grid.
“Guruji believed in enlightenment through education, strength through organisation, and prosperity through industry,” the Prime Minister said, noting that these principles underpin policies such as the New National Education Policy, Skill India Mission, and Mudra Yojana. He highlighted efforts to boost educational access, particularly for tribal communities, pointing out that over 400 Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been opened in the past decade. “For generations, many were denied the right to learn. Today, their children are preparing to lead,” he said.
Touching upon women’s empowerment, another theme central to Guru’s teachings, PM Modi claimed that India had come a long way from a time when women were barred from entire sectors. “Now from sports to space, women are scripting India’s success story,” he said, referencing initiatives that removed institutional and legal barriers for women’s entry and participation. Linking spiritual ideals with national strength, PM Modi asserted that a strong, empowered India was not just a dream but a necessary mission. He highlighted India’s rapid economic ascent and growing military self-reliance as markers of that progress.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, a recent high-profile counterterrorism operation, the Prime Minister said it showcased India’s “decisive and indigenous” defence capabilities. “We used Made-in-India weapons, and in just 22 minutes, made the enemy surrender,” he said, framing it as a symbol of both national power and technological maturity.
The Prime Minister announced that a “Sivagiri Circuit” is under development to connect pilgrimage sites associated with Sree Narayana Guru’s life and work. “The teachings of Sree Narayana Guru should reach every citizen of India,” he said, adding that such initiatives would ensure his legacy lives on not just in memory but in public life.
