Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, addressed the 'Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav-2025' in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, today. The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Rajya Sabha Member Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha.

In his address, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah highlighted Gujarat's long-standing tradition of welcoming people from across the country and the world. He emphasized that Gujarat has always embraced diverse ideologies and lifestyles. Acknowledging the contributions of people from Bihar, particularly those from Mithilanchal, he said that they have played a significant role in the development of the state. He assured them that they are safe, respected, and always welcome in Gujarat.

Union Home Minister said that Mithila has been a land of scholars, intellectual discourse, and Mimansa since the times of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. He emphasized that from the Ramayana and Mahabharata to the Puranas, Vedas-Vedanta, Mimansa, and rich literary traditions, the roots of their creation can be traced back to Mithila. He highlighted that Mithila is the birthplace of Mother Sita and the land of enlightened Rajarshi Janak, where Ashtavakra Muni composed the Ashtavakra Geeta. He further noted that this sacred land has produced great scholars like Yagyavalkya, philosophers like Rishi Gautam and Mandan Mishra, as well as renowned poets such as Jyotireshwar Thakur and Mahakavi Vidyapati.

Shri Amit Shah highlighted the significant contributions of Mithila and its residents, which are extensively mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Shatpath Brahman, Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharata, Buddhist literature, and Jain literature. He noted that the great poet Kalidas referenced Mithila in his work Raghuvansham, Shriharsh in Naishadhicharit, and Jaydev in Prasanna Raghav. He emphasized that these poets have consistently portrayed Mithila as a land of knowledge, closely associated with education and the worship of Goddess Saraswati.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation underlined that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi often emphasizes that India is the mother of democracy. He highlighted that the roots of democracy in India can be traced back to Videha and Mithila. Shri Shah mentioned that Mahatma Buddha had repeatedly said that as long as the people of Videha remain united, they cannot be defeated. He further noted that Mithila established a robust democratic tradition, which has been conveying a powerful message to the nation and the world for centuries.

Shri Amit Shah emphasized that Mithila has been a land of intellectual discourse and philosophical debates (Shastrartha). He highlighted that whether it was the Shastrartha between King Janak and Yagyavalkya or the legendary debate between Mandan Mishra and Adi Shankaracharya, Mithila upheld the tradition of resolving intellectual disputes through dialogue more freely than anywhere else in the world—a tradition that continues to be respected globally. He further noted that if we closely examine India’s knowledge tradition, we find that four of the six major philosophical schools—Sankhya Darshan, Nyaya Darshan, Mimansa, and Vaisheshik Darshan—originated in Mithila, developed by the great scholars of the Mithilanchal region.

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah highlighted the immense contributions of the women of Mithila to the country since ancient times. He emphasized that Mithila has always upheld the highest respect for women. Scholars like Maitreyi, Gargi, and Bharti are revered just as much as Yagyavalkya and Kanad Muni. He further noted that Mandan Mishra’s wife, Bharti, was entrusted with the responsibility of presiding over the historic debate between Mandan Mishra and Adi Shankaracharya. With great wisdom and fairness, she declared Shankaracharya the winner, exemplifying the intellectual integrity and respect for knowledge that is unique to Mithila.

Shri Amit Shah emphasized that Mithila is the sacred birthplace of Mata Sita, who is revered as the epitome of an ideal woman, wife, and mother, as well as a symbol of Indian culture. He recalled that during a visit to Bihar, he had mentioned that while Lord Ram’s temple has been built in Ayodhya, it is now time to build a grand temple dedicated to Mata Sita. He expressed confidence that a grand temple of Mata Sita will soon be built in Mithila, which will serve as a beacon of ideal living for the entire world.

Union Home Minister said that the people of Mithilanchal, residing in different parts of Gujarat, have built a facility in Gandhinagar, which will be highly convenient for the Mithila community. Additionally, a statue of Mahakavi Vidyapati has been installed here.

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