Book on PM’s speeches on culture & spirituality released
In a grand celebration of India’s rich civilisational legacy, a new book compiling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches on culture, spirituality and heritage—Sanskriti Ka Panchva Adhyay—was unveiled at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) on World Heritage Day on Friday.
The book was released by Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, head of the Juna Akhara, in the presence of several dignitaries, including Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, IGNCA Chairman Ram Bahadur Rai, and Member Secretary Dr Sachchidanand Joshi. The event marked a reflection on how, over the last decade, India has witnessed a renewed public discourse around culture, traditions and spiritual values.
In his address, Swami Avdheshanand Giri hailed the transformation in India’s cultural environment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that since 2014, a significant shift has occurred in the way Indians engage with their cultural identity. “Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, a definite change has occurred. People now discuss cultural subjects with greater depth and pride,” he said.
The spiritual leader pointed to the global recognition of International Yoga Day as a testament to India’s cultural outreach. “In 2008, an Indian guru residing in Europe made great efforts to establish an International Yoga Day and sought help from the Indian government. In 2016, Narendra Modi made it a reality. Today, 21st June is celebrated worldwide as International Yoga Day, a proof to his commitment to India’s cultural heritage,” he recalled.
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, drew attention to the fading of cultural discourse after 1952 and credited PM Modi for reviving it in public space. He referenced the renowned poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s Sanskriti ke Chaar Adhyay, which examined Indian culture through a historical lens. “Had Dinkar been alive today, he would have revisited and revised parts of his work to enrich it further,” he said, tying it to the title of the book being launched.
He remarked that after 2014, India began speaking about its civilisational ethos with pride. “The Prime Minister has reawakened this voice,” he said, ending his speech with a poetic tribute from Raghubeer Narayan’s Batojhiya: “Sundar su bhoomi bhaiya Bharat ke deshwa mein, mor praan base him khoh re Batojhiya.”
Describing the Prime Minister as someone who bridges statesmanship and spiritual awareness, IGNCA Chairman Ram Bahadur Rai said, “Narendra Modi’s personality evokes chemical reactions in people —- those with a positive outlook see his virtues, while the negative-minded remain entangled in criticism.” He emphasised that the book offers a unique perspective, portraying Modi not just as a political leader, but as a torch-bearer of India’s spiritual and cultural traditions.
“In the vast sea of literature on Modi, this compilation stands out,” Rai said. “It’s like the Kohinoor that a saint offers to King Vikramaditya in the Vetal Pachisi. That Kohinoor is our culture.”
The compiler of the book, Dr Prabhat Ojha, shared that Sanskriti Ka Panchva Adhyay features 34 of PM Modi’s speeches delivered on various national and international platforms. These speeches, he said, highlight the Prime Minister’s belief that culture should not be a peripheral subject but a central pillar of national policy.
Published by Prabhat Prakashan, Sanskriti ka Panchva Adhyay seeks to trace the cultural narrative shaped under PM Modi’s leadership. The foreword, written by Ram Bahadur Rai, describes the book as the “keyboard to the supercomputer of Indian culture”. He calls it an invitation to embark on a cultural journey in the Modi era.
The book arranges the Prime Minister’s speeches chronologically, beginning with his 2015 Independence Day address and concluding with a speech delivered in October 2024 at the inauguration of the RJ Shankar Eye Hospital in Varanasi. While the first speech focuses on governance and public welfare, the last one blends public health with cultural reverence, as Modi pays tribute to the Shankaracharyas of the Kanchi Kamakoti tradition.
The speeches cover a broad canvas—ranging from historic shrines like Kedarnath, Ram Janmabhoomi, and Kashi Vishwanath, to events like the Global Buddhist Conference, Guru Nanak Jayanti, World Sufi Conference, and the launch of new editions of the Bhagavad Gita. Each occasion highlights the PM’s attempt to bridge India’s ancient spiritual traditions with its modern aspirations.
One excerpt from the Prime Minister’s address at the World Sufi Conference reads: “Rooted in the sacred Quran and Hadith, Sufism became the face of Islam in India. It flourished in India’s openness and pluralism, and by connecting with its ancient spiritual traditions, it evolved a uniquely Indian identity. Sufism helped shape a distinctive Islamic legacy in India.”
Delhi