Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah addressed the first Samadhi Smriti Mahotsav of Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. Shri Shah also participated in Shri 1008 Siddhachakra Vidhan Vishwa Shanti Mahayagya. During the event, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah released a commemorative coin of ₹100, a special postal envelope of ₹5, 108 footprints and portrait of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji and laid the foundation stone of the proposed Samadhi Smarak ‘Vidyayatan’. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma and Pujya Muni Shri Samta Sagar Ji Maharaj were present on the occasion, among other dignitaries.
आचार्य गुरुवर श्री विद्यासागर जी महामुनिराज ने देशवासियों को अध्यात्म और शुचितापूर्ण जीवन के लिए प्रेरित किया। डोंगरगढ़ (छत्तीसगढ़) में उनके ‘प्रथम समाधि स्मृति महोत्सव’ से लाइव… #आचार्य_विद्यासागरजी_स्मृति_महोत्सवhttps://t.co/jdZZ0mT5AT
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 6, 2025
In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj was not just a saint or a ‘Jainacharya’, but a visionary who ushered in a new ideology and a new era. He said that Acharya Guruvar Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj, who was born in Karnataka, propagated Indian culture, Indian languages, Indian identity and the country as a whole like a ‘Jyotirdhar’ through his deeds. Shri Shah said that it is very rare for a religious saint to have worked towards propagation of the national identity along with interpretation of the religion across the world. Shri Amit Shah said, Acharya Vidyasagar Ji’s life was dedicated to religion, culture and to the nation.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that he had the privileged of meeting Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji many times. He said that Acharya Ji always emphasized on promotion and preservation of Indian languages, spread of India’s glory and identity globally, and that our nation should be preferably called ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’.
Shri Amit Shah said that by writing ‘Prime Minister of Bharat’ on the invitation card of the G-20 Summit, Modi ji the ideas of Vidyasagar Ji into action. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi rendered Acharya Ji’s vision without any political motive and followed his message in practice.
Union Home Minister said that Acharya Ji did not leave the path of austerity till the last breath of his life. Shri Shah said that Acharya Ji showed the path of salvation not only to Jain follower but also to the non-Jain followers with his spiritual energy.
Shri Amit Shah said that there are many people, who say that every moment of life should be dedicated to religion, nation and society, but people who live their whole life like this are rarely seen and Acharya Ji’s life was a true embodiment of this dedication. He said Acharya Ji interpreted the principle of “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” in a way that was time-appropriate and established it globally. He also mentioned that Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj ensured that his disciples lived their lives in accordance with the principles of Jainism.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is propagating the principles of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Ahimsa Parmo Dharma’. He said he was grateful to PM Modi for giving approval to the commemorative coin and the special envelope. He said that this tribute to Acharya Ji is a tribute to the saint tradition. He said that Acharya Ji’s proposed Samadhi Smarak ‘Vidyayatan’ will remain a place of propagation of Acharya Ji’s principles, messages and teachings for ages. Shri Shah said that the name of the samadhi of the saint who spent his entire life in the worship of ‘Vidya’ (knowledge) cannot be anything other than ‘Vidyayatan’.
Shri Amit Shah said that, on the occasion, foundation stone of a girl’s school where education is imparted free of cost, has also been laid in the Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh. He mentioned that this school would incorporate both skill development and employment opportunities, with teaching conducted in the mother tongue. He also stated that the inauguration of Acharya Ji’s 108 footprints took place, which would serve as a symbol of a life dedicated to renunciation, penance, and discipline.
Union Home Minister said that India’s saint tradition is very rich. He said that whenever the nation needed a particular role to be fulfilled, saints rose to the occasion. He said that saints created knowledge, tied the country in the thread of unity and before independence, the saints kept the flame of national consciousness burning through ‘Bhakti’. He said that when the governance and the country started getting influenced by Western ideas after independence, Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj was the only Acharya who remained firmly connected to Bharat, Indian identity, and Indian culture.
Shri Amit Shah said that Jain saints have made their significant contribution in uniting the entire country. He said that from Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, from Rajgir in Bihar to Girnar in Gujarat, he walked everywhere and spread his message. He said that Acharya Ji taught us that our identity is rooted in our culture.
Union Home Minister said that Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj wrote a Hindi epic called ‘Mookmati’, on which many people have done research and written essays. Following Acharya Ji’s message of preservation and promotion of all Indian languages, his followers have translated ‘Mookamati’ into many languages. He said that religion, philosophy, ethics and spirituality have been explained in great depth in ‘Mookamati’ and it also has a description of the transience of the body and a message of love for the nation.
Shri Amit Shah said that Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj believed that the linguistic diversity of our country is our true strength. He said that a country with many languages, scripts and dialects and different types of grammars and ballads is considered to be culturally rich.
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that there existed a very cordial relation between Modi ji and Acharya ji. He said that Acharya Ji’s teachings, works, writings and discourses are not only the heritage of Jain followers but of the entire country.
