Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the solution to many of the world’s problems lies within India’s spiritual and cultural traditions, and that India’s reconstruction on this foundation would benefit not only the nation but the entire world. He was addressing the “Centenary Year Ceremony – 2026” organised by the Gayatri Parivar in Haridwar on the occasion of the birth centenary of Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma Ji and the centenary year of the Akhand Deep.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Describing Haridwar as a confluence of faith, spirituality and culture, Shah said that his presence at the Akhand Jyoti conference made him experience a sense of unbroken energy and consciousness.
The Home Minister said that revered Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya chose the path of individual transformation to revive faith, spirituality and culture, awakening the divine energy within every individual. Those who understand Sanatan Dharma and Indian history, he said, firmly believe that Indian tradition holds answers to global challenges.
Referring to national resurgence, Shah noted that the period of 1925–26 was particularly significant, marking the founding of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Gita Press and Akhand Jyoti. He said the convergence of these milestones with the centenary of Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma Ji symbolised a divine plan for India’s resurgence.
Shah said Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya and Mata Bhagwati Devi accomplished the work of several eras within their lifetimes, building a movement that today guides more than 15 crore followers in over 100 countries. He noted that the Akhand Jyoti has continued to burn not only as a physical flame but as a guiding light in the hearts of millions.
Highlighting the philosophy of the Gayatri Parivar, the Home Minister said that Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya envisioned a journey from faith and spirituality to individual transformation, from individual transformation to nation-building, and from nation-building to the creation of a new era. The slogan “Hum Badlenge, Yug Badlega” (We will change, the era will change), he said, gave the nation a new direction and resolve.
Shah noted that the Gayatri Mantra is not merely a ritual chant but a powerful spiritual tool. Its 24 syllables, he said, correspond to 24 spiritual centres associated with virtues, and their development enhances altruism, courage and intellect. He credited Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya with giving the Gayatri Mantra a scientific foundation and making spirituality accessible to every individual, beyond the confines of temples.
Recalling the social contributions of Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya, the Home Minister said he played an important role from the freedom movement to social reforms. He participated in the Salt Satyagraha, endured British repression, and after Independence led movements against caste discrimination, dowry, addiction and environmental degradation, while also promoting women’s rights and equality.
Shah said Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya believed that religion and science complement each other, not oppose one another, and was among the first to evaluate spirituality through logic and reason. He noted that seeing children of the Gayatri Parivar holding a Veda in one hand and a laptop in the other symbolises how tradition and progress can move together.
Referring to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said the PM has presented the idea of a fully developed India that rises above materialism and advances along the path of spirituality. This vision, he said, has become the resolve of 140 crore Indians and cannot be achieved without the participation of social and spiritual organisations like the Gayatri Parivar.
He also spoke about major changes in the country over the past decade, including the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the revival of Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath temples, the abrogation of Article 370 and progress towards a Uniform Civil Code. He said there was a time when people hesitated to speak about Hindutva, but today they speak about their faith with pride.
On the occasion, the Union Home Minister also inaugurated the Patanjali Emergency and Critical Care Hospital in Haridwar.
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