Jai Swaminarayan!

Pujya Shri Devkrushnadasji Swami, Mahant Shri Devprasaddasji Swami, Pujya Dharmavallabh Swami ji and all the respected saints giving direction to this holy program, other dignitaries present in the program and my dear young friends!

Jai Swaminarayan to all of you!

With the inspiration and blessings of Pujya Shastriji Maharaj Shri Dharmajivandasji Swami, Rajkot Gurukul is completing 75 years. I heartily congratulate all of you for this journey of 75 years of Rajkot Gurukul. A new consciousness is generated only by remembering the name of Lord Shree Swaminarayan and taking a trip down memory lane in the company of all the saints is an altogether different fortunate occasion. I am confident that the future of this historical institution will be even more successful. Its contribution will be even more amazing.

Friends,

The journey of 75 years of Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot is completing at a time when the country is celebrating 75 years of its independence. This is not only a happy coincidence, but it is also a fortunate occasion. The journey of independent India as a nation has been moving due to such opportunities and our great tradition of thousands of years. These confluences are of duty and hard work, culture and dedication, spirituality and modernity. When the country became independent, it was our responsibility to revive the ancient glory of India and our great pride in the field of education. But the governments under the pressure of slave mentality did not move in that direction. And in some matters, it took wrong steps. In these circumstances, our saints and Acharyas once again took the initiative to fulfill this duty towards the country. Swaminarayan Gurukul is a living example of this coincidence. This institution was built on the foundation of Indian values and ideals soon after independence. The vision of Pujya Dharmajivandas Swamiji for Rajkot Gurukul included everything from spirituality and modernity to culture and rituals. Today the seed of that idea is in front of us in the form of this huge banyan tree. I have lived and grown up among you in Gujarat. And I am fortunate that I have got the opportunity to see this banyan tree taking shape in front of my own eyes.

The inspiration of Lord Swaminarayan has been at the root of this Gurukul. ''प्रवर्तनीया सद् विद्या भुवि यत् सुकृतं महत्''! That is, the spread of ‘Sat Vidya’ (true knowledge) is the most sacred and important thing in the world. This is the eternal dedication of India towards knowledge and education, which has laid the foundation of our civilization. It is the result of this that Gurukul Vidya Pratishthan, which once started with only seven students in Rajkot, has about 40 branches in the country and abroad today. Thousands of students come here every year. Over the last 75 years, Gurukul has nurtured the minds and hearts of the students with good thoughts and values for their overall development. The Gurukul tradition has nurtured the country's talent in every field from our youth dedicated to the field of spirituality to scientists in ISRO and BARC. And we all are aware of one special quality of Gurukul and it influences everyone in today’s era. Not many people know that this Gurukul is such an institution that continues to charge only one rupee a day for education from every poor student right from the difficult times when it started. As a result, it is becoming easier for poor students to get an education.

Friends,

As you are aware knowledge has been the highest pursuit of life in India. That's why, when other parts of the world were identified with their ruling dynasties, Indian identity was linked with its Gurukuls. Gurukul means the family of Guru and knowledge! Our Gurukuls have been representing equity, equality, care and a sense of service for centuries. Universities like Nalanda and Takshashila were synonymous with the global glory of this Gurukul tradition of India. Discovery and research were an integral part of the Indian lifestyle. The diversity and cultural richness that we see today in every part of India are the results of those researches and discoveries.

From self-discovery to divinity, ayurveda to aadhyatm (spirituality), social science to solar science, from Math to Metallurgy and from zero to infinity, research and new conclusions were drawn in every field. In that dark age, India gave humanity rays of light that paved the way for the world's journey of modern science. And amidst these achievements, another power of our Gurukuls paved the way for the world. In the period when gender equality was unheard of in the world, scholars like Gargi and Maitreyi used to give discourses in our country. Along with Luv-Kush, Atreyi was also studying in Maharishi Valmiki's ashram. I am happy that Swaminarayan Gurukul is starting 'Kanya Gurukul' to take this ancient tradition forward. This will be a great achievement of this institution and will also be an important contribution to the country in the 75 years of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ and in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of independence.

Friends,

You are very well aware that our education system and educational institutions have an important role in the bright future of India. That's the reason why we are working with greater speed and more detail at every level, be it education infrastructure or education policy in this ‘Amrit Kaal’ of independence. Today there is a massive increase in the number of major educational institutes like IIT, IIIT, IIM and AIIMS in the country. There has been an increase of more than 65 percent in the number of medical colleges since 2014. Through the new 'National Education Policy', the country is preparing an education system which is forward looking and futuristic for the first time. When the new generation will grow up in a better education system from childhood, there would be ideal citizens automatically for the country. These ideal citizens and youths will fulfill the dream of a developed India in 2047, when the country will celebrate 100 years of independence. And the efforts of educational institutions like Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul will definitely be very important in this regard.

Friends,

The blessings and cooperation of saints are very important in the journey of the next 25 years of ‘Amrit Kaal’. Today, the resolutions of India are new and so are the efforts to fulfill those resolutions. Today the country is moving forward with the vision of Digital India, AatmaNirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, construction of 75 Amrit Sarovars and Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat in every district. Everyone's efforts in these initiatives of social change and social reform will influence the lives of crores of people. I am sure that institutions like Swaminarayan Gurukul Vidya Pratishthan will continue to energize this ‘Sankalp Yatra’ in the same way.

You have taken forward a very important journey of 75 years successfully. Since I am in your midst today, I would like that it should be extended for the benefit of the youth of the country as well. Can I make a request to Swaminarayan Gurukuls today? At least 100 youths should visit the North-East, including Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Sikkim, for 15 days. They should go there for 15 days, meet the youth there, develop relations with them and understand the products there. You see our saints must have started this journey 75 years ago with so many difficulties. During your visit, you will find that there are so many promising youths in our North-East. If we establish a relationship with them, then a new force will be added to the country. You must make efforts in this direction. I remember when we were running the ‘Beti Bachao Abhiyan’, little girls would give speeches for 7-8-10 minutes from the stage which used to be very heartwarming. Such was their acting skills that they would make the entire audience cry. Representing the mother’s womb, they would plead not to kill the daughters. The movement against female foeticide was largely driven by our daughters in Gujarat. Similarly, can our Gurukul students address people in the form of Mother Earth that ‘I am your mother; I produce food, fruits and flowers for you and don't kill me with these fertilizers?’ ‘Liberate me from chemicals and pesticides’. Our Gurukul students should stage street plays to inspire people towards natural farming. Our Gurukuls can run a very important campaign in this regard. I am happy that a huge campaign of natural farming has been started under the leadership of our Governor of Gujarat Shri Acharya Devvrat ji. Just like you are running a campaign to liberate people from addiction, similarly you can motivate farmers to take a pledge to free Mother Earth from this kind of poison. Mostly, the people who come to Gurukuls are from villages and from the family of farmers. This cause can be espoused easily through them. So, our Gurukul and our cultured educated youth can proceed with many new ideas and resolutions for a bright future, for protecting the environment, for realizing the dream of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat in this ‘Amrit Kaal’ of independence. And I have been immensely fortunate that the Swaminarayan tradition has fulfilled all my desires whenever I asked for. I am sure that you will fulfill whatever I am asking today. Not only will it brighten the name of Gujarat, but it will facilitate the life of future generations. Once again many thanks to all of you!

Jai Swaminarayan!

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

***

DS/LP/VK/AK