Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj was a great man, he started a new idea and a new era
Every particle of Acharya Vidyasagar Ji’s body and every moment of his life was dedicated to religion, culture and nation
Acharya Ji emphasized on promotion of Indian languages, spreading the pride of the country across the world and identifying the country with ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’
By writing ‘Prime Minister of India’ on the invitation card of the G-20 summit, Modi ji brought Vidyasagar ji’s ideas to reality
Acharya Vidyasagar Ji became a reflection of India, Indian culture, Indian languages and Indian identity through his deeds
Acharya Vidyasagar Ji’s message, sermons and writings are a precious heritage for the Jain community as well as the entire nation
Under the leadership of Modiji, India is propagating the principles of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Ahimsa Param Dharma’
The country which has many languages, scripts, dialects, grammars and stories, that country is culturally rich.
Raipur, 6 February 2025
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today addressed the first Samadhi Smriti Mahotsav of Acharya Guruvar Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj as the Chief Guest in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh and participated in the Shri 1008 Siddhachakra Vidhan Vishwa Shanti Mahayagna. During this, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah released a commemorative coin of ₹ 100, a special envelope of the Postal Department of ₹ 5, 108 footprints and pictures in the memory of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji and laid the foundation stone of the proposed Samadhi Memorial ‘Vidyayan’. Many dignitaries including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma and Pujya Muni Shri Samta Sagar Ji Maharaj were present on this occasion.
In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj was a man of the era, who initiated a new thought and a new era. He said that Acharya Guruvar Shri Vidyasagar Ji Mahamuniraj, born in Karnataka, became the light of India, Indian culture, Indian languages and India’s identity through his deeds. Shri Shah said that perhaps such an honour would not have been given to any religious saint, who explained the country’s identity along with religion to the world. He said that every particle of Acharya Vidyasagar Ji’s body and every moment of his life was dedicated to religion, culture and the nation.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that he had the company of Acharya Shri Vidyasagar ji many times and each time Acharya ji stressed on promotion of Indian languages, spreading the pride of the country across the world and the country being identified with ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’. Shri Amit Shah said that by writing ‘Prime Minister of Bharat’ on the invitation card of G-20 Summit, Modi ji worked to bring Vidyasagar ji’s ideas to reality. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji brought Acharya ji’s ideas to reality without doing any politics and worked to emulate his message.
The Union Home Minister said that Acharya Ji did not leave the path of penance till the last moment of his life. Shri Shah said that Acharya Ji showed the path of salvation to not only the followers of Jainism 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 entire life in this way are rarely seen and Acharya Ji’s life was like that. He said that Acharya Ji interpreted the principle of ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’ as per the times and established it in the whole world. He said that Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj took care that his disciples also live their lives on the same principles in accordance with the principles of Jainism.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is propagating the principles of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’. He said that he is thankful to Modi ji for approving the commemorative coin and special envelope for this occasion. 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 for propagating the principles, messages and teachings of Acharya ji for ages. Shri Shah said that the name of the Samadhi of the saint who spent his entire life in the worship of education cannot be anything other than ‘Vidyayatan’. Shri Amit Shah said that on this occasion, the foundation stone of a free girls school was also laid in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh. He said that this school will include both skill development and employment and teaching will be in the mother tongue. He said that 108 footprints of Acharya Ji have also been unveiled which will give the message of a life of sacrifice, austerity and restraint.
The Union Home Minister said that India’s saint tradition is very rich. He said that whenever the country needed a role, the saint tradition played that role. He said that the saints created knowledge, tied the country in the thread of unity and during the period of slavery, the saints kept the flame of national consciousness burning through devotion. He said that when the country’s governance and the country started moving under the influence of western thoughts after independence, Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj was the only Acharya who kept himself connected to India, Indianness and Indian culture. Shri Amit Shah said that Jain monks have made an important 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 travelled everywhere on foot and gave the message of sacrifice through his deeds. He said that Acharya Ji taught us that our identity lies in our culture.
The Union Home Minister said that Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj composed a Hindi epic called ‘Mookmati’, on which many people have written research and essays. Following Acharya Ji’s message of preservation and promotion of all Indian languages, his followers have translated ‘Mookmati’ into many languages. He said that ‘Mookmati’ explains religion, philosophy, ethics and spirituality very deeply and it also describes the transience of the body and has a message of patriotism. 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 which has many languages, scripts and dialects and different types of grammar and proverbs is considered to be culturally rich.
Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that there has been a very cordial dialogue between Modi Ji and Acharya Ji. He said that the message, discourses and writings of Acharya Vidyasagar Ji are a precious heritage for the Jain community as well as the entire nation.
