Says “Responsibility to Resolve Modern Challenges Rests With All of Us”
“We Must Connect Every Citizen with Viksit Bharat 2047”
New Delhi | October, 23: In a resounding call for national solidarity and collective resolve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed people to unite against divisive forces and channel their energies toward building a self-reliant India.
Underscoring that tackling contemporary social challenges demands a unified national effort, the Prime Minister while addressing the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan in New Delhi highlighted the imperative of accelerating progress to achieve the vision of a fully developed nation—Viksit Bharat—by 2047.
Addressing a distinguished gathering of spiritual leaders, scholars, and youth delegates at the Global Sammelan PM Modi drew sharp attention to the shifting socio-cultural landscape and the shared duty of every citizen to safeguard social harmony.
“Times have changed in the past decades. New challenges have arisen for the country. New distortions have emerged in society. Today, the responsibility to resolve them rests with all of us,” the Prime Minister asserted.
Emphasising the need for an all-inclusive national effort, he called for heightened civic consciousness and active engagement in nation-building activities.
“Today, we have to unite society against the divisive forces. We must awaken our citizens to the need for self-reliance. We must connect every citizen with the resolve for a developed India in 2047. We must become more active towards these objectives,” he added.
Reiterating his administration’s core governance blueprint, PM Modi highlighted that youth empowerment continues to serve as a foundational pillar of state policy. He expressed rich appreciation for the dynamic participation of the younger generation in the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav initiatives.
“In this journey, I have tried to keep youth in focus in all the policies. I am happy that young people have taken up several responsibilities during the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav,” he stated.
The Prime Minister made special mention of a massive nationwide outreach program executed by young volunteers associated with the Chinmaya Mission, praising their exceptional dedication to community connection.
“My young friends have travelled for 300 days, covering 40,000 kilometres. During this journey, they have met more than one lakh young people. I want to thank the entire team for this,” he said.
Invoking the nation’s profound philosophical traditions, PM Modi offered a deep reflection on the intrinsic meaning of the country’s identity.
“The meaning of ‘Bharat’ is someone who is engaged in knowledge and research,” the Prime Minister explained.
Elaborating on the Upanishadic dictum ‘Vayam Amritasya Putrah’—meaning ‘We are the children of immortality’—PM Modi clarified that the ancient phrase signifies the eternal, imperishable nature of consciousness rather than mere physical existence.
Connecting civilisational wisdom with modern national aspirations, he recalled the milestone celebrations of 75 years of Independence (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) and how India’s heritage serves as a beacon for global welfare.
“When the country marked 75 years of Independence, I thought we should not only make this occasion a platform to inspire the vision of a developed India but also bring to life the spirit of India, which knows how to live by immortal ideas and, drawing on its experience spanning thousands of years, can express concern for humanity across generations,” he noted.
Paying glowing tributes to Swami Chinmayananda, the Prime Minister described the revered spiritual leader’s life as a seamless synthesis of knowledge (Gyan), action (Karma), and devotion (Bhakti). He recalled his government’s gesture of releasing a special commemorative coin in 2015 to mark the leader’s birth centenary.
“Those of us who think about the country’s interests should work to make the nation aware and developed. Swami Chinmayananda devoted his entire life to this mantra. With the same devotion with which he spoke about spiritual subjects, he also spoke passionately and extensively about matters concerning the nation, because our nation is the birthplace of our culture and the foundation of our existence,” PM Modi remarked.
Highlighting ongoing structural transformations across the country, the Prime Minister pointed to the landmark National Education Policy (NEP). He noted that the policy was meticulously crafted to meet the aspirations of a modern India—harmoniously blending indigenous knowledge systems and mother-tongue instruction with cutting-edge scientific research and emerging technologies.
