The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the year-long celebrations to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, in New Delhi on Sunday, February 12, 2023. Photo Credit: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 12 said that India is expressing pride in its heritage with tremendous pride and asserting that it will strengthen its traditions while ushering in modernity.
PM Modi also said that there is no discrimination in the policies and efforts of the country and its aim is to serve the poor, backward and deprived on priority.
Shri Modi made these remarks after inaugurating the function celebrating 200th anniversary Social reformer and founder of Arya Samaj, Dayanand Saraswati K.
The Prime Minister also unveiled the logo of the Jubilee celebrations.
Shri Modi said that India is showing the way to the world in the field of environment. He also said that it is a matter of pride India was chairing the G20 this year.
The country is today expressing pride in its heritage with tremendous self-respect. The country is saying with full confidence that we will strengthen our traditions while introducing modernity.
The Prime Minister said that the country is walking on the tracks of ‘Virasat (heritage)’ and ‘Vikas (development)’.
Shri Modi said that when he talks about walking on the path of duty, some people say that he talks about duty and not rights.
He said, ‘If this is the case with me in the 21st century, then think 150 years ago, what kind of difficulties Swami Dayanand would have had to face in showing the way to the society.’
He said, “The path shown by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati gives hope to crores of people.”
Shri Modi described the occasion as historic and said that it is an inspiration for the future of humanity.
He said that Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati became the voice of empowerment of women of India and launched a strong campaign against social discrimination and untouchability.
Shri Modi said that today the daughters of the country are playing major roles from being posted in Siachen to flying the Rafale fighter jet.
Born in 1824, Saraswati worked to combat the then prevailing social inequalities. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had said that the Arya Samaj has played an important role in the cultural and social awakening of the country by laying emphasis on social reforms and education.
The government is committed to honor social reformers and important personalities, especially those whose contribution has not yet been given their due at the all India level, it said.
The PMO had said that from declaring Birsa Muda’s birth anniversary as Tribal Pride Day to participating in an event to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Aurobindo, Prime Minister Modi is leading such initiatives.