The Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that Sanyasis in India have always been associated with the social and cultural aspects of the nation and whenever required, they have also played a major role in upliftment of these aspects. Stating that this is the reason why Indians take pride in their culture, he said that the prestige of Indians depends on their connection to their culture for which the ascetics also contribute fully. He said this while speaking at a function at Harihar Ashram in Haridwar to mark Juna Akhada Peethadheeshwar Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdeshanand Giri completing 25 years in the Acharya Peeth position on Monday. The Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami were also among those present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh spoke in detail about Giri’s 25 years in the position. He said, “Only those with a large heart and mind are spiritual. Those with a small mind cannot do this task. Those with a big mind can lend direction to society.” Recalling Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s book Anand Math, he spoke about how the Sanyasis had risen against the British colonialists. “Only the ascetics and saints have the right to evaluate whether the king is doing his work properly. When a person becomes a saint, he first gives up his ego and whatever work such a person does is for the world,” the Defence minister said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that under his leadership, consistent work is being done for uplifting the cultural heritage of the nation with projects like the Kashi corridor, Ujjain, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and Kedarnath reconstruction, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla said that Giri has initiated lakhs into the monastic order while preserving spiritual values. He is famous around the world as an ambassador of culture, Birla said.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the Juna Peethadheeshwar has been making consistent efforts to reinstate India as the ‘Vishwaguru’. He has been undertaking various public welfare works with complete dedication. Appreciating works done for revival of India’s cultural heritage under PM Modi’s leadership, he said that in addition to reconstruction and beautification of Kedarnath, various works are also being undertaken in Badrinath. Work on the Kedarnath ropeway and Hemkund ropeway is under progress while work is also being undertaken to develop a Manaskhand Mandir circuit of all important temples in the Kumaon region of the State. Speaking about the works undertaken by the State government, the CM said, “Our government has brought a strict anti-copying law and also made provision for upto 10 years imprisonment for those found guilty of religious conversion. We have freed considerable area of land from encroachment to ensure that the original form of Uttarakhand is maintained. The government has also provided 30 per cent horizontal reservation for women in government jobs. The committee formed for preparing a report on Uniform Civil Code has completed its task. The Uniform Civil Code is going to be implemented in the State next year,” the CM said.
