Delhi: Civilisational strength behind economic rise, says minister Hardeep Puri

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Tuesday emphasised India’s remarkable growth as a result of reclaiming its civilisational values, which have become a driving force for the nation’s economic progress. He was speaking at a seminar to honour sacrifices of unsung heroes organised by the Shaheed Nanak Singh Foundation in New Delhi late on Tuesday.

The event, titled ‘Honouring Those Who Honour India’, paid tribute to Shaheed Nanak Singh, a police official martyred during the Partition of India in 1947 while rescuing students from communal violence in Multan. Singh died while protecting hundreds of students from DAV College during a peaceful procession against the division of India. Despite the danger, he succeeded in rescuing the students but lost his own life, embodying the spirit of Hindu-Muslim unity that is central to India’s national identity.

“We are a country that has drawn strength from the sacrifices of previous generations. Many nations have benefited from the contributions of refugees, but we have reclaimed our civilisation’s core values and used them as a driver of both pride and economic growth,” Puri said. He further added that the contributions of Shaheed Nanak Singh and his family were prime examples of how such sacrifices have shaped modern India.

During the event, Lord Rami Ranger FRSA, a Member of the House of Lords and the youngest son of Shaheed Nanak Singh, shared his father’s contribution to fostering unity during a turbulent period. “The unity of India is not just a moral ideal but an essential element for the survival of our civilisation,” Lord Ranger said.

Delhi