Modi Links Shikshapatri Bicentenary to National Preservation and Civic Missions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Granthratna Shree Shikshapatri Dwishatabdi Mahotsav via video message, marking the 200th anniversary of the scripture's composition. The three-day event, organized by the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, commemorated the scripture's creation in 1826 CE. The Shikshapatri is a spiritual guide comprising 212 Sanskrit verses that distill ethical and moral guidance drawn from more than 350 ancient sacred texts.

The Prime Minister contextualized the scripture's enduring relevance by drawing parallels between its core tenets and current national initiatives. Specifically, PM Modi connected the scripture's ideals with the ongoing Swachhata (Cleanliness) campaign, illustrating the continuity between spiritual principles and modern civic action. Furthermore, he advocated for robust participation in the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a government project focused on the systematic preservation and digitization of India's extensive repository of ancient manuscripts and knowledge systems.

The Gyan Bharatam Mission, announced in the Union Budget of 2025-26, intends to establish a National Digital Repository (NDR) to safeguard texts covering science, medicine, and philosophy, thereby ensuring universal access for future scholarship. This mission involves partnerships with institutions such as the Asiatic Society in Kolkata and the University of Kashmir, aiming to document over one crore manuscripts nationwide. The celebration of the Shikshapatri’s 200th anniversary thus reinforces a commitment to integrating spiritual discipline with the preservation of India's intellectual heritage.

Central to the discourse was the legacy of Lord Swaminarayan, whose life exemplified a commitment to both spiritual practice and extensive public service. Lord Swaminarayan promoted education as a fundamental right for all, including women, a progressive stance that reportedly increased female literacy during his time in the early 19th century. The Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan continues this tradition through social welfare work in education and healthcare sectors.

In a broader context of civilizational continuity, PM Modi also referenced the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, which commemorated the millennium since the Somnath temple’s first recorded attack in January 1026 by Mahmud of Ghazni. The temple, revered as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands as an emblem of national self-respect and cultural endurance, with its restoration formally concluded on May 11, 1951. This convergence of events—the bicentenary of the ethical text, the push for digital knowledge preservation, and the commemoration of historical resilience—underscores a national focus on anchoring modern governance in the depth of ancient Indian wisdom.