New Delhi [India], January 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to Shrimad Vijayaratna Sunder Surishwarji Maharaj over the release of his 500th book, saying that he didn't keep knowledge restricted to just books, but also brought them into practical use in life.
In a video message, PM Modi stressed that Swami ji's personality was a wonderful mix of calmness, simplicity and clarity.
"Maharaj sahab didn't keep knowledge restricted to just books, but he also brought it into practical use in life. He also inspired others to adopt it in their lives. His personality was a wonderful mix of calmness, simplicity and clarity," the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi said that the book titled "Prem Nu Vishwa, Vishwa Nu Prem" is not just a book but a "mantra" that lets us know about the strength of love and shows the path to peace and harmony.
"Today, when the world is facing divisions and conflicts, 'Prem Nu Vishwa, Vishwa Nu Prem' becomes not just a book but also a mantra. This mantra lets us know about the strength of love. The mantra also shows us path to the peace and harmony that the world is looking for today," he said.
Earlier in the day, while addressing a gathering in Somnath, PM Narendra Modi hit out at "people with a colonial mindset" in post-Independence historical narratives attempting to "erase history" of India's glorious past.
PM Modi asserted that some historians and politicians tried to distort accounts of historical invasions in textbooks, where "religious invasion was labelled as loot".
"Unfortunately, after independence, people with a colonial mindset tried to get rid of our glorious past. They tried all they could to erase history. Those who fought for the Somnath Temple were not given their due recognition and importance. Some historians and politicians even tried to whitewash the history of these invaders. Religious invasion was labelled as loot. We have been taught in our textbooks that the Somnath Temple was demolished to loot its treasures. The cruel history of hate, atrocities and terror was hidden from us," PM Modi said.
The PM said that after independence, when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel pledged to renovate the Somnath Temple, he was stopped from doing so. He added that objections had been raised even during President Rajendra Prasad's 1951 visit.
He further warned, saying the powers that had opposed the redevelopment back then were still active, now using hidden conspiracies instead of swords against India.
"After independence, when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel pledged the renovation of the Somnath Temple, he was stopped from doing so. Objections were raised in 1951 on the visit of then-President Rajendra Prasad to Somnath. Unfortunately, even today, the powers that opposed the redevelopment of the Somnath Temple are present and active. Swords have been replaced with hidden conspiracies against India," PM Modi said.