PM Modi Calls for National Unity, Self-Reliance to Achieve Developed India Vision by 2047

New Delhi, Oct 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for greater social unity, self-reliance and renewed commitment to India's spiritual and philosophical heritage, asserting that collective effort and a strong sense of national responsibility were essential to achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.

Inaugurating the three-day Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam here, marking the culmination of year-long celebrations commemorating 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission, Modi urged the organisation to leverage its spiritual, educational and cultural network to address emerging social challenges and contribute to the country's development.

"We have to unite society against forces that seek to divide us. We have to make citizens aware of the importance of self-reliance and connect every Indian with the resolve of a developed India by 2047," he said, calling upon the Mission to mobilise its spiritual teachers, educational institutions and volunteers towards this national objective.

Describing the Chinmaya Mission as much more than a religious organisation, the Prime Minister said it had sustained the intellectual and spiritual tradition established by Swami Chinmayananda, helping preserve India's civilisational heritage and familiarise younger generations with its philosophical traditions.

Through the Mission's efforts, millions of young people were working as cultural ambassadors of India and carrying Indian values to future generations, he said.

Recalling his personal association with Swami Chinmayananda, Modi said he had met the spiritual leader in 1993 to invite him to the centenary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's historic address at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Chinmayananda passed away in San Diego in August that year, shortly before the commemorative events were held in September.

The Prime Minister said the use of holographic technology to recreate the founder's presence at the gathering had revived memories of their conversations and the spiritual leader's affection and blessings.

He recalled that their final substantive discussions had focused on strengthening the country's youth, an objective that, he said, had remained central to his public life over the past 25 years, first as Gujarat Chief Minister and later as Prime Minister.

Modi congratulated young volunteers who had travelled more than 40,000 kilometres over approximately 300 days as part of the Mission's anniversary outreach programme, engaging with more than one lakh young people. The initiative demonstrated how the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita could be taken beyond traditional religious settings and connected with the aspirations and concerns of younger generations, he said.

Quoting the Upanishadic declaration "Vayam Amritasya Putrah", meaning "We are the children of immortality", Modi said India's civilisational continuity was rooted in the enduring power of knowledge, consciousness and spiritual understanding.

Drawing a parallel between the Mission's 75th anniversary and the government's Amrit Mahotsav celebrations marking 75 years of Independence, he said such commemorations should inspire future generations rather than remain confined to remembering the past.

He also cited the Vedic invocation "Vayam Rashtrae Jagriyama Purohitah", which calls upon those committed to the nation's welfare to remain vigilant and contribute to its progress. Swami Chinmayananda had dedicated his life to a similar ideal, emphasising that spiritual growth and philosophical understanding should strengthen a sense of national duty, he said.

Recalling the founder's efforts to popularise the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and Vedanta through the Gita Gyan Yajna initiative, Modi said the Mission had made India's philosophical traditions accessible to wider audiences. Its network of more than 100 educational institutions continued to combine modern education with Indian cultural values, he added.

Linking the Mission's educational work with the National Education Policy, Modi said the education system should give due importance to India's knowledge traditions and mother tongues while embracing modern science and emerging technologies. Modernisation, he said, should not result in younger generations losing touch with their cultural and philosophical roots.

The Prime Minister also recalled Swami Chinmayananda's support for the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari, associated with Eknath Ranade.

Citing the restoration and redevelopment of cultural and religious centres, including Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the Ram temple in Ayodhya and Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, as well as initiatives concerning the pilgrimage centres of Kedarnath and Badrinath, Modi highlighted efforts to preserve India's cultural heritage.

He said the return of more than 650 antiquities taken out of India over the preceding 12 years, alongside growing international recognition of Indian heritage sites, reflected efforts to safeguard the country's cultural inheritance.

Drawing a parallel with yoga's global popularity, Modi said greater confidence in India's traditional knowledge could enhance the country's standing internationally.

Placing the Chinmaya Mission's anniversary within the broader vision of a developed India by 2047, when the country will complete 100 years of Independence, Modi said organisations with different immediate objectives could work together towards common goals, including national development, social cohesion and the preservation of India's dignity.

The conference, being held from October 23 to 25, has brought together more than 9,000 participants from India and abroad.

Founded by Swami Chinmayananda in 1951, the Chinmaya Mission has expanded its activities from teaching Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita to education, youth development, cultural programmes and community service.

The anniversary celebrations have included the release of a Tamil versification of the Bhagavad Gita by Modi last year, featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, besides mass havans, temple consecration ceremonies and collective online recitations of scriptures. The Mission's youth wing also organised the Chinmaya Amrit Yatra to engage communities across the country.

As the organisation looks towards its centenary in 2051, Modi urged its members to carry forward Swami Chinmayananda's legacy while responding to the challenges of a changing society.

He expressed confidence that the Mission's educational institutions, spiritual teachings and international presence could make a meaningful contribution to India's development ambitions and the national resolve to build a developed country by 2047.