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Remembering the Ekta Yatra: A Message of Unity That Echoes Across India

Published By : Admin | December 11, 2023 | 15:50 IST

December 11, 2023, marks a significant day in India’s history. On this day 32 years ago, the Ekta Yatra was led by Shri Murli Manohar Joshi and organised by a young Narendra Modi, embarking on a journey from Kanyakumari to Srinagar. This wasn't just a physical journey; it was a powerful symbol of unity and defiance in a period marked by terrorism in Kashmir.
As Jagdish Dwivedi, a BJP leader from Gujarat, recalls, “This was a time when terrorism was at its peak in the state of Kashmir, and it was Shri Modi who had conceptualised and organised the Yatra.”
Dipak Shah, a member of the Yatra, remembers the grave security threat faced by people during the Yatra. “On the one hand, there were terrorists in Kashmir attacking the Yatra and threatening it from advancing. On the other hand, terrorists in Punjab attacked the Yatra to foil it. Yet, Narendra Modi led from the front and ensured that the ‘Raths’ reached Lal Chowk in Kashmir to hoist the tricolour,” he mentions.

The Ekta Yatra, meaning "unity march," sent a clear message to the nation and the world that, India would stand firm and united against the forces of division and terror. The journey, spanning 14 states and culminating in the hoisting of the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on January 26, 1992, resonated deeply with the Indian people. It served as a reminder of the country's shared history and values and its unwavering commitment to national unity.
Hasmukh Parmar recalls Shri Modi planning every minute detail and conveying his vision for the Yatra to cover every part of the country along its route. Parmar had been instructed by Shri Modi to create ‘raths’ with fixed teams of drivers, conductors and mechanics to ensure that the Yatra was a success.

Years later, PM Modi, a key architect of the Ekta Yatra, took a decisive step towards fulfilling the promise of that journey. The abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was a bold move to bring the state closer to the rest of India and ensure its full integration.
As the Supreme Court upholds the Parliament's decision to abrogate Article 370, the spirit of the Ekta Yatra resonates once again. It serves as a reminder of the unwavering commitment of the Indian people to unity and integrity. The Ekta Yatra may have begun 32 years ago, but its message of unity continues to guide the nation even today. It is a message that resonates not only in the halls of power but also in the hearts and minds of every Indian citizen.
Ghanshyam Tiwari, MP Rajya Sabha, shares that the Yatra often concluded late at night and started early in the morning. Shri Modi ensured that this mammoth operation ran smoothly, day after day. From organising bathing essentials and accommodation for Yatris at night to providing them breakfast packets in the morning, refuelling diesel in each vehicle, and ensuring each driver was on duty, Shri Modi was in command of everything.

In his tweet after the Supreme Court’s verdict, Prime Minister Modi reiterates this commitment, assuring the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh that their dreams remain at the forefront of his government's agenda. He further emphasises the government's determination to ensure equitable development and progress, ensuring the benefits reach even the most marginalised communities.
As we mark this historic day, let us remember the Ekta Yatra and the values it represents. Let us also reaffirm our commitment to building a stronger, more united India where all citizens can live together in peace and harmony.

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The Leader who reawakened India: Narendra Damodardas Modi
June 14, 2026

Narendra Damodardas Modi’s journey, from a humble background to the leadership of the world’s largest democracy, is ultimately the story of a man who reawakened the faith of a nation in itself.

The fate of a nation is intertwined with the fate of its leaders. Nations grow and prosper under strong, decisive leadership; they decay under feeble, indecisive, corrupt leadership. People are the life energy of a nation, but the leaders are the one who channelizes the mass energy into the right, productive direction. One cannot imagine nations without their founding fathers, their leaders. When we think of the United States, the names of its prominent leaders like Thomas Jefferson, Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, F.D. Roosvelt come to our minds. Similarly, the Indian nation was built upon the vision of its great founding fathers like Mahatma Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, and Veer Savarkar.

Strong leadership plays a vital role in uplifting the spirits of the people; wise leaders nudge the nation on the path to prosperity and glory. Leadership matters the most at the time of a national crisis, like Matsya Avtara of Lord Vishnu, who steered and rescued the great ship of Manu Maharaj during the pralaya. Leaders steer and rescue the nation during hours of crisis. Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi took centre stage in Indian politics during such a time of crisis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged on the national stage at a juncture when Indian politics had reached a low, an era in which a nominal Prime Minister was being imposed upon the people of India. The government was struck with policy paralysis. Corruption had become deeply entrenched in the national political system, scams like Coalgate, 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games had become a recurring phenomena. Media, businessmen, and politicians formed an unholy nexus and were siphoning public money with impunity. Entrepreneurs, industrialists, and academia were drowned in pessimism; their trust started eroding in the Indian state. Common people felt ashamed of their cultural legacy.

At that pivotal moment, Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi entered the national stage with a clear, resounding vision. He inspired the youth, women, and veterans alike. PM Modi reinstated hope, faith, and trust back again towards the leadership and the political system, PM Modi revitalised the economic machinery, entrepreneurship, and industry, and re-energised the bureaucracy. Being himself from a humble background, PM Modi possessed within him a deep understanding of society, and being an RSS pracharak, he had a profound understanding of Indian culture.

Being one of the longest-serving CMs in India came with an impeccable administrative and electoral record. PM Modi brought with him the mantra of “minimum government and maximum governance”.

PM Modi, through the rapid digitalization of government services, reduced the inertia in governance and brought government to the fingertips of the common citizens. At the very beginning of his tenure, he replaced the requirement of attestation of documents by gazetted officers with self-attestation by the common citizens. Such is his minute understanding of the bureaucratic impediments that stall the progress of a common citizen. Due to reform measures initiated by him, India’s rank in the international business indicators improved. PM Modi has demonstrated a strong will to an efficient, transparent, and accountable government. Rules and policies are now formed among people, not in closed AC chambers.

PM Modi, since his ascension, has worked tirelessly to transform the Indian economy into a manufacturing hub and make it Atmanirbhar Bharat. PM Modi launched initiatives like Skill India, Startup India, and Production Linked Incentives (PLIs). For strengthening the supply chain, PM Modi sanctioned greenfield expressways, airports, shipping ports, and sped up the construction of brownfield expressways, airports and stations. PM Modi expanded India’s premier higher education infrastructure by establishing new IITs and IIMs. PM Modi restored faith in the underprivileged section through his mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” in the Indian government. Such is his sensitivity that he launched the PM Ujjwala Yojana as he was aware of the discomfort caused to our mothers and sisters due to the smoke of the traditional gas chulha.

PM Modi brought cleanliness and sanitation to the daily discourse through the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. Through the toilets built under the scheme, PM Modi provided a dignified life to our mothers and sisters. Due to the Bhaagirathi Prayas of PM Narendra Modi, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed for the political empowerment of the women of India.

A nationalist to the core, PM Modi led a cultural renaissance of the nation. Remnants of the colonial legacy, the Indian Penal Code and CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) were scrapped, and Bhartiya Nyay Samhita was born. PM Modi is rebuilding our sacred tirths incessantly. Due to his efforts, our cultural and spiritual centres of Ayodhya and Kashi were reclaimed. PM Modi has promoted our indigenous knowledge of Ayurveda as a brand ambassador, formulated policies to establish Ayurveda as principal medicinal practice.

PM Modi, through his incredible work, unflinching dedication, and commitment towards a Viksit Bharat, inspires one and all to participate in his vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Yet, the true measure of a leader is not merely in the policies he enacts or the institutions he builds, but in the confidence he instils in his people. Over the past 12 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to restore that confidence—confidence in governance, confidence in India’s civilisational heritage, confidence in the abilities of ordinary citizens, and confidence in the nation’s future.

From revitalising the economy and empowering the poor to strengthening national security, restoring cultural pride, and elevating India’s stature on the global stage, PM Modi’s leadership has left an indelible imprint on contemporary India. More importantly, he has transformed governance into a national movement, inspiring millions to become active participants in the country’s development journey. 

As India marches towards the centenary of its Independence in 2047, the vision of a Viksit Bharat is no longer a distant aspiration; it has become a collective national mission. History remembers those leaders who rise to the occasion when their nation needs them the most, leaders who not only govern their times but shape the destiny of generations. 

Narendra Damodardas Modi’s journey, from a humble background to the leadership of the world’s largest democracy, is ultimately the story of a man who reawakened the faith of a nation in itself. The foundations of a stronger, more confident, and more aspirational India have been laid. The task before the nation now is to carry forward this momentum and transform the dream of a Viksit Bharat into reality. 

As India stands at the threshold of even greater possibilities, the words of Robert Frost resonate with renewed meaning, 

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

For India, those promises are to its people, to its civilization, and to future generations. The achievements of the past twelve years are the foundation. The journey continues, and the miles ahead are filled not with uncertainty but with opportunity, purpose, and the promise of a Viksit Bharat. 

(Rekha Gupta is the Chief Minister of Delhi.)