Mahant Shri Ram Bapu ji, esteemed members of society, and all the millions of devoted brothers and sisters who have gathered here—Namaskar and Jai Thakar!
First and foremost, I offer my respectful salutations to the traditions of the Bharwad community, to all the revered saints and mahants, and to all those who have dedicated their lives to preserving this sacred tradition. Today, our joy has multiplied manifold. This time, the Maha Kumbh was not only historic but also a moment of great pride for us because, on this auspicious occasion, Mahant Shri Ram Bapu ji has been honoured with the title of Maha Mandaleshwar. This is a significant achievement and a moment of immense joy for all of us. My heartfelt congratulations to Ram Bapu ji and all the families of our community.
Over the past week, it felt as if the land of Bhavnagar had transformed into Lord Krishna’s Vrindavan, and to make this even more special, our revered brother’s Bhagavata Katha took place. The way devotion flowed, and the way people immersed themselves in Krishna’s love, created a truly divine atmosphere. My dear family, Bavaliyali Dham is not just a religious site; it is a symbol of faith, culture, and unity for the Bharwad community and many others.
By the grace of Naga Lakha Thakar, this sacred place has always provided the Bharwad community with true guidance and an immense legacy of noble inspiration. Today, the re-consecration of the Shri Naga Lakha Thakar Temple at this holy site has become a golden opportunity for us. Over the past week, there has been an atmosphere of grand celebration. The enthusiasm and excitement of the community are remarkable—I keep hearing praises from all around. In my heart, I feel that I should be there among you all, but due to my commitments in Parliament and work, it has been difficult to leave. However, when I hear about the magnificent ‘Raas’ (dance) performed by thousands of our sisters, I feel immense joy—they have truly brought Vrindavan to life right there!
The blending of faith, culture, and tradition is truly heart-warming and uplifting. Among all these events, I deeply appreciate the artists—brothers and sisters—who participated, making the occasion vibrant and delivering meaningful messages to society through their performances. I am confident that Bhai ji will continue to enlighten us with his wisdom through his storytelling. No matter how many times I express my gratitude, it will never be enough.
I sincerely thank Mahant Shri Ram Bapu ji and Bavaliyali Dham for allowing me to be a part of this sacred occasion. However, I must also seek forgiveness, as I could not be present with you all on this auspicious day. I know that you all have an equal right over me. But I assure you, whenever I visit that place in the future, I will definitely come to bow my head in reverence.
My dear family members,
My connection with the Bharwad community and Bavaliyali Dham goes back a long way. The service-mindedness of the Bharwad community, their love for nature, and their devotion to cow service are difficult to put into words. One phrase that always comes to our lips is:
नगा लाखा नर भला,
पच्छम धरा के पीर।
खारे पानी मीठे बनाये,
सूकी सूखी नदियों में बहाये नीर।
(Naga Lakha, the noble man,
The saint of the western land.
He made salty water sweet,
And brought flowing streams to dry rivers.)
These are not just words. Even in those times, selfless service and the ability to accomplish the impossible (as the Gujarati saying goes, नेवा के पानी मोभे लगा लिए i.e., Drawing water from a dry well) were visible in their deeds. Every step they took spread the fragrance of service, and even centuries later, people continue to remember them—that itself is a great achievement. I have personally witnessed the selfless service of the revered Isu Bapu. I have seen his dedication with my own eyes. Droughts are not new to Gujarat. There was a time when out of ten years, drought used to hit Gujarat for seven years. In Gujarat, it was even said: "Do anything, but don’t marry your daughter in Dhandhuka (a drought-prone area)." (In Gujarati: बंदूके देजो पण धंधूके न देता, meaning "It’s better to shoot your daughter than marrying her off in Dhandhuka.") This saying existed because Dhandhuka frequently suffered from severe droughts. Even Dhandhuka and Ranpur were places that struggled for water. And during that time, the selfless service of the revered Isu Bapu was evident. The way he served the suffering people is still remembered today. Not just me, but the entire state of Gujarat considers his work to be divine. People do not stop praising his contributions. Whether it was serving the nomadic communities, ensuring education for their children, dedicating himself to environmental causes, or taking care of Gir cows, his commitment to service could be seen in everything he did. Through his work, we can clearly see the deep-rooted tradition of selfless service.
My dear family members,
The Bharwad community has never shied away from hard work and sacrifice—they have always been at the forefront. You all know that whenever I have come among you, I have spoken frankly. I once told the Bharwad community that the era of carrying sticks is over—you have carried sticks long enough, but now is the era of the pen. And today, I must proudly say that during my years of service in Gujarat, the new generation of the Bharwad community has embraced this change. Children are now studying and progressing. Earlier, I used to say, "Put down the stick and pick up the pen." Now, I say, "My daughters should also have computers in their hands." In these changing times, we can achieve a lot—this is what inspires us. Our community is a protector of nature. You have truly brought the spirit of "Atithi Devo Bhava" (Guest is God) to life. Many people are unaware of the traditions of our pastoral and Balwa communities. You will not find elders from the Bharwad community in old-age homes. The concept of joint families, and the service of elders is regarded as service to God in their culture. They do not send their elders away to old-age homes—they take care of them. Passing these values to the next generation is a significant achievement. For generations, efforts have been made to strengthen the moral and family values of the Bharwad community.
I find great satisfaction in seeing that our society is preserving its traditions while also advancing rapidly towards modernity. Providing education and hostel facilities for the children of nomadic families is also a great service. Connecting our community with modernity and creating opportunities to integrate with the world is also a crucial responsibility. Now, I wish to see our daughters excelling in sports as well. We must work towards this goal. This is also a great service. When I was in Gujarat, I saw young girls attending school and winning medals in sports at the Khel Mahakumbh (Sports Festival). God has gifted them with special strength, and we must also focus on their progress. We care for our livestock—if our cattle fall ill, we do everything possible to ensure their health. Now, we must have the same dedication and concern for our children. Bavaliyali Dham has excelled in animal husbandry, especially in preserving the Gir cow breed, which is a matter of pride for the entire nation. Today, the Gir cow is being praised worldwide.
My dear family members,
Brothers and sisters, we are not different; we are all companions. I have always felt that we are members of the same family. I have always been among you as a family member. Today, as I see the millions of people gathered here at Bavaliyali Dham, I feel I have the right to ask something from you. I want to ask something of you, and I am making a request with the belief that you will never disappoint me. We cannot remain as we are—we must take a great leap forward and work towards making Bharat a developed nation within the next 25 years. Without your support, my work will remain incomplete. The entire community must come together for this goal. You may recall that I once emphasised ‘Sabka Prayas’ (collective effort) from the Red Fort. ‘Sabka Prayas’ is our greatest strength. The first step towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’ begins with the development of our villages. Serving nature and livestock is our sacred duty. With that in mind, there is one more important task we must undertake. The Government of Bharat runs a completely free program to combat Foot and Mouth Disease—a disease we call Khurpaka-Muhpaka in our local language. To fully protect our livestock, regular vaccination is essential. This is a compassionate act, and the government provides these vaccines for free. We must ensure that all our community’s livestock receives this vaccination regularly. Only then will we receive the continuous blessings of Lord Krishna, and our Thakars will come to our aid.
Another important initiative taken by our government is related to financial support for livestock farmers. Earlier, only farmers had access to Kisan Credit Cards, but now we have introduced credit cards for livestock farmers as well. With this credit card, livestock owners can get low-interest loans from banks to expand their businesses. Additionally, the National Gokul Mission is in progress to preserve and expand indigenous cow breeds. My humble request to you is this: If I am sitting in Delhi working on these initiatives, but you do not take advantage of them, then what is the point? You must benefit from these programs. By doing so, I will receive the blessings of millions of animals and living beings. Therefore, I request you to take full advantage of this scheme.
One more important matter, which I have mentioned before and will repeat today, is the importance of tree plantation. This year, I started a campaign that has been praised worldwide: ‘Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam’ (One Tree in the Name of the Mother). If your mother is alive, plant a tree in her presence. If she has passed away, plant a tree in her memory, keeping her photograph in front of it. The Bharwad community is known for its strong, long-living elders—many of whom live 90 to 100 years—and we take pride in serving them. Now, we must take pride in planting trees in the name of our mothers. We must also acknowledge that we have harmed Mother Earth—we have extracted water, added chemicals, left her thirsty, and even poisoned her soil. It is our responsibility to restore the health of Mother Earth. For this, livestock manure is like wealth for our land. It nourishes and strengthens the soil. That is why natural farming is crucial. Those who own land and have the opportunity should embrace natural farming. Gujarat’s Governor, Acharya ji, has been making great efforts to promote natural farming. So, my request to all of you is: Whatever land we have—big or small—we must shift towards natural farming and serve Mother Earth.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Once again, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to the Bharwad community and offer my prayers that the blessings of Naga Lakha Thakar remain upon us all. May every individual associated with Bavaliyali Dham be blessed with prosperity and progress—this is my prayer at the feet of Thakar. What more could we ask for than to see our daughters and sons educated and progressing and our community growing stronger? On this auspicious occasion, let us honour Bhai ji’s words and carry them forward by ensuring that our community moves toward modernity while maintaining its strength. I have truly felt immense joy. If I had been able to come in person, it would have been even more delightful.
Jai Thakar!
