Om Namaha! Om Namaha! Om Namaha!
Param Shraddheya Acharya Shri Pragya Sagar Maharaj Ji, the head of Shravanabelagola Swami Charukeerti Ji, my colleague Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Ji, my fellow Member of Parliament Naveen Jain Ji, President of Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Bharati Trust Priyank Jain Ji, Secretary Mamta Jain Ji, Trustee Piyush Jain Ji, all other distinguished dignitaries, revered saints, ladies and gentlemen, Jai Jinendra!
Today, we are all witnessing a significant occasion in Bharat's spiritual tradition. The centenary celebration of the birth of the revered Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj, this sacred festival imbued with his eternal inspirations, and this spiritually uplifting event are together creating an extraordinary atmosphere of motivation. Along with those physically present at this gathering, lakhs of people have joined us online. I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you and express my sincere gratitude for giving me the opportunity to be here today.
Friends,
This day holds special significance for yet another reason. It was on this very date—28 June 1987—that Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj was conferred the title of Acharya. And that was not merely a title—it was the flowing of a sacred stream that connected the Jain tradition to thought, restraint, and compassion. As we celebrate his birth centenary today, this date reminds us of that historic moment. On this occasion, I bow at the feet of Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj and pray that his blessings forever remain upon us all.
Friends,
This celebration of the birth centenary of Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj is no ordinary event. It carries the memories of an era, and it echoes the life of a great ascetic. To commemorate this historic occasion, special commemorative coins and postage stamps have been released. I congratulate all my fellow countrymen on this. I also especially extend my reverence and greetings to Acharya Shri Pragya Sagar Ji. Under your guidance, crores of followers today are walking the noble path shown by the revered Guru. On this occasion, you have chosen to bestow upon me the title of ‘Dharmachakravarti’. I do not consider myself worthy of this honour. But it is our cultural value that whatever we receive from the sages is accepted as a sacred offering. Therefore, I humbly accept this honour as a divine offering and dedicate it at the feet of Maa Bharati.
Friends,
Speaking of such a divine soul—whose words we accept throughout our lives as sacred guidance, and with whom our hearts are emotionally bound—inevitably stirs emotion. Even now, I wish that instead of speaking about Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj, we had the good fortune of hearing him speak today. To encapsulate the life journey of such a great personality in words is no easy task. He was born on 22 April 1925 in the sacred land of Karnataka. He was given the spiritual name ‘Vidyanand’, and his life became a unique confluence of knowledge and bliss. His speech reflected profound wisdom, yet his words were so simple that anyone could understand them. Author of more than 150 texts, he undertook thousands of kilometres of spiritual travels on foot, and launched a great mission to connect lakhs of youngsters to self-restraint and cultural values. Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj was truly a man of the era—a visionary. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience his spiritual aura in person. From time to time, he guided me and his blessings always remained upon me. Today, standing on this centenary platform, I can still feel the same love and belongingness from him.
Friends,
Bharat is the world’s most ancient living civilisation. We have remained eternal for thousands of years because our ideas are eternal, our philosophy is eternal, our vision is eternal. And the source of this vision lies in our sages, monks, seers, saints, and Acharyas. Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj was a modern beacon of this ancient Indian tradition. He possessed expertise across numerous disciplines, and mastery in several fields. His spiritual brilliance, his knowledge, his command over languages such as Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, and Prakrit—and as the revered Maharaj Ji just mentioned, his knowledge of 18 languages—his literary and religious contributions, his devotion to music, and his dedication to national service—there was no dimension of life in which he did not reach the pinnacle of ideals. He was a great musician, a fiery patriot and freedom fighter, and an undetached Digambar Muni. He was a repository of knowledge and wisdom, and also a fountain of spiritual joy. I believe that his journey—from Surendra Upadhyay to becoming Acharya Shri Vidyanand Muniraj—was the transformation of an ordinary human being into a great soul. It inspires us that our future is not limited by our present constraints. Our future is defined by our direction, our goals, and our determination.
Friends,
Acharya Shri Vidyanand Muniraj did not confine his life to personal spiritual practice. He made his life a medium for social and cultural reconstruction. By establishing institutions like the Prakrit Bhavan and various research centres, he carried the flame of knowledge to the younger generations. He restored the Jain historical narrative to its rightful place. Through his foundational texts like ‘Jain Darshan’ and ‘Anekantvad’, he gave depth, breadth and inclusivity to philosophical discourse. From the restoration of temples to the education of underprivileged children and social welfare, every effort of his was linked both to self-realisation and to public welfare.
Friends,
Acharya Vidyanand Ji Maharaj used to say—life can become spiritual only when it becomes an act of service. This thought is deeply rooted in the essence of Jain philosophy. It is also intrinsic to the Indian consciousness. Bharat is a land of service. Bharat is a nation rooted in humanity. At a time when the world was trying to quell violence with more violence, Bharat revealed to the world the power of non-violence. We placed the spirit of human service above all.
Friends,
Our spirit of service is unconditional, beyond self-interest, and inspired by the greater good. Guided by this very principle, we are working across the country today—drawing inspiration from the same ideals and exemplary lives. Be it the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, or the free food grains to the needy—every initiative embodies the spirit of service to the person at the last rung of society. We are working with the vision of achieving saturation in these schemes—meaning no one should be left behind, everyone should progress together. This is the inspiration of Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj, and this is our collective resolve.
Friends,
The teachings and words of our Tirthankaras, monks, and Acharyas remain eternally relevant. In particular, the principles of Jainism—the Five Great Vows, Anuvrat, the Three Jewels, the Six Essentials—are more relevant today than ever before. We also understand that in every era, there is a need to simplify timeless teachings so they can be easily adopted by the common man. Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj dedicated his life to this mission. He launched the ‘Vachanamrit’ movement, presenting Jain scriptures in everyday language. Through devotional music, he conveyed deep religious concepts in the simplest of words. His bhajans, such as "Ab hum amar bhaye na marenge, hum amar bhaye na marenge, tan karan mithyat diyo taja, kyun kari deh dharenge," are spiritual garlands made of pearls of wisdom for all of us. This natural belief in immortality, this courage to look toward the infinite—these are the very traits that make Indian spirituality and culture truly unique.
Friends,
The birth centenary year of Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj shall continue to be a source of inspiration. It is our duty not only to imbibe his spiritual teachings into our lives, but also to advance his works for the welfare of society and the nation. You are all aware of how he revived the ancient Prakrit language through his writings and hymns. Prakrit is one of Bharat's oldest languages. It is the language in which Lord Mahavira delivered his sermons. The entire original Jain Agama has been composed in this language. But due to the neglect of our own culture, this language had begun to vanish from everyday use. We turned the efforts of sages like Acharya Shri into a national endeavour. In October last year, our government declared Prakrit a ‘Classical Language’. This was just mentioned by Acharya Ji too. We are also running a campaign to digitise Bharat's ancient manuscripts. A significant portion of these include Jain scriptures and texts associated with revered Acharyas. And just as you noted—over 50,000 manuscripts—the Secretary of our Ministry is present here and will surely pursue this matter diligently. We wish to take this effort forward. We are now promoting mother tongues in higher education as well. That is why, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I proclaimed that we must free the nation from the colonial mindset. We must move forward with both development and heritage. It is with this resolve that we are working to develop Bharat's cultural and pilgrimage sites. In 2024, our government commemorated the 2550th Nirvana Mahotsav of Bhagwan Mahavir on a grand scale. This celebration was inspired by Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muni and blessed by sages such as Acharya Shri Pragya Sagar Ji. In the times to come, we must continue to organize more such grand events to enrich our cultural heritage. Like this very programme, all our efforts will be guided by the spirit of public participation, and driven by the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas”.
Friends,
As I stand amidst you today, it is natural to recall the memory of the Navkar Mahamantra Divas. That day, we also spoke of nine resolutions. I am pleased that a large number of citizens are working towards fulfilling those pledges. The guidance we receive from Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj further strengthens these nine resolutions. Therefore, on this occasion, I wish to once again share those nine resolutions with you. The first resolution is to save water. We must value every drop. This is both our responsibility and our duty towards Mother Earth. The second is to plant a tree in our mother's name—care for it as she cared for us. May every tree become our mother’s blessing. The third is cleanliness—not merely for show; it is a reflection of non-violence. Every street, every neighbourhood, every city should be clean, and all must be involved. The fourth is ‘Vocal for Local’. Buy only those products that contain the sweat of our fellow Indians, that carry the fragrance of our soil. Many of you are in business—I especially urge you to prioritise selling locally made products. Look beyond profit, and also inspire others. The fifth resolution is to explore Bharat. See the world, by all means—but first, know, understand, and feel your own country. The sixth is to embrace organic farming. Free Mother Earth from poison. Move agriculture away from chemicals. Spread the message of organic farming to every village. Revered Maharaj Ji never wore shoes—but that alone is not enough. We too must protect Mother Earth. The seventh is a healthy lifestyle. Eat mindfully. Include Shri Anna (millets) in your traditional Indian meals. Reduce your oil consumption by at least 10%—this will reduce obesity and increase energy. The eighth is yoga and sports. Make both an integral part of your daily routine. The ninth resolution is to help the poor. Offering handholding support to someone in poverty and helping them overcome it is the truest form of service. I am confident that if we act upon these nine resolutions, we will not only strengthen the legacy of Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj but also his teachings.
Friends,
We have envisioned the nation's Amrit Kaal by drawing from the very consciousness of Bharat and the experiences of our sages. Today, 140 crore Indians are dedicating themselves to fulfilling these Amrit Sankalp (resolutions) and building a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India). A developed India means fulfilling the dreams of every Indian. This is the very inspiration Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj has given us. Walking the inspirational path shown by him, internalising his teachings, and making nation-building the foremost purpose of our lives—is the responsibility of us all. I firmly believe that the energy of this sacred occasion will fortify these resolutions. And just now, as Acharya Shri Pragya Sagar Maharaj Ji said—“Whoever dares to provoke us…” I am at a Jain gathering, among followers of non-violence. I had spoken only half a sentence, and you completed the rest. What I mean is, though you did not say it in words, perhaps you were blessing Operation Sindoor. With all your love and blessings, I once again bow reverently to Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Muniraj. Thank you very much! Jai Jinendra!
