PM Modi: In a letter to the populace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s prosperity and claimed that everyone feels proud and glorious about the country’s advancements. Following PM Modi’s 45-hour meditation in Kanniyakumari, the letter is presented.
Reflecting on Bharat’s Development and Responsibilities
“The biggest festival of democracy, the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, are concluding today in our nation, the Mother of Democracy. After a three-day spiritual journey in Kanniyakumari, I have just boarded the plane for Delhi. Through the day, Kashi and numerous other seats have been in the midst of voting,” PM Modi wrote in his letter. He continued, “The development trajectory of Bharat fills us with pride and glory, but it also serves as a reminder of our responsibilities to the 140 crore citizens.”
PM Modi wrote, “The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are the first in the Amrit Kaal. I began my campaign a few months ago from Meerut, the land of the First War of Independence of 1857. Since then, I have traversed across the length and breadth of our great nation. The final rally of these elections took me to Hoshiarpur in Punjab, the land of the great Gurus and a land associated with Sant Ravidas Ji. After that, I came to Kanniyakumari, at the feet of Maa Bharti. It is natural that the fervour of the elections was echoing in my heart and mind”
He added, “The multitude of faces seen at rallies and road shows came in front of my eyes. The blessings from our Nari Shakti (women power)…the trust, the affection, all of this was a very humbling experience. My eyes were getting moist. I entered into a sadhana (meditative state). And then, the heated political debates, the attacks and counterattacks, the voices and words of accusations which are so characteristic of an election they all vanished into a void.”
The Transformative Power of Meditation in Kanniyakumari
The Prime Minister praised the meditation in Kanniyakumari, stating that his mind “became completely detached from the external world” and that he experienced a “sense of detachment”.
PM Modi wrote, “A sense of detachment came to grow within me…my mind became completely detached from the external world. Meditation becomes challenging amidst such huge responsibilities, but the land of Kanniyakumari and the inspiration of Swami Vivekananda made it effortless. As a candidate myself, I left my campaign in the hands of my beloved people of Kashi and came here. I am also grateful to God for instilling me with these values from birth which I have cherished and tried to live up to.”
Reflecting on Swami Vivekananda’s Meditation Experience
Prime Minister further wrote, “I was also thinking about what Swami Vivekananda must have experienced during his meditation at this very place in Kanniyakumari. A part of my meditation was spent in a similar stream of thoughts. Amidst this detachment, amidst the peace and silence, my mind was constantly thinking about the bright future of Bharat, the goals of Bharat.”
He added, “The rising sun at Kanniyakumari gave new heights to my thoughts, the vastness of the ocean expanded my ideas, and the expanse of the horizon continuously made me realise the unity, the oneness, embedded in the depths of the universe. It seemed as if the observations and experiences undertaken in the lap of the Himalayas decades ago were being revived,” the Prime Minister further wrote in the letter.”
Personal Connections and Memories in Kanniyakumari
PM Wrote, “The Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari was built under the leadership of Shri Eknath Ranade ji. I had the opportunity to travel extensively with Eknath ji. During the construction of this Memorial, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Kanniyakumari as well. From Kashmir to Kanniyakumari this is a common identity that is deeply ingrained in the heart of every citizen of the country.”
He added, “This is the Shakti Peeth (seat of Shakti) where Maa Shakti incarnated as Kanya Kumari. At this southern tip, Maa Shakti performed penance and waited for Lord Shiva, who was residing in the Himalayas at the northernmost parts of Bharat,” he wrote.
Inspirations from Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Saint Thiruvalluvar
In his letter, Prime Minister Modi claimed that Kanniyakumari is not only a “land of confluences” where the nation’s holy rivers empties into several oceans, but also serves as a witness to another significant confluence: “the ideological confluence of Bharat.”
PM Modi added, “We find the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a grand statue of Saint Thiruvalluvar, Gandhi Mandapam, and Kamarajar Mani Mandapam. These streams of thought from these stalwarts converge here to form a confluence of national thought. This gives rise to great inspirations for nation-building. This land of Kanniyakumari gives an indelible message of unity, especially to any person who doubts Bharat’s nationhood and the sense of unity.”
“The grand statue of Saint Thiruvalluvar in Kanniyakumari seems to be looking at the expanse of Maa Bharati from the sea. His work Thirukkural is one of the crown jewels of the beautiful Tamil language. It covers every aspect of life, inspiring us to give our best for ourselves and for the nation. It was my great fortune to pay my respects to such a great figure,” he added.
Fulfilling India’s Objectives
In remembrance of the Hindu philosopher and monk Swami Vivekananda, Prime Minister Modi stated that the latter had remarked, “Every nation has a destiny to reach, a mission to fulfill, a message to deliver.” Despite India’s current rate of progress, Prime Minister Modi stated that the country’s 140 crore people need to remember their obligations and that they need to go forward toward their objectives without squandering any time.
In his letter, the prime minister stated that we “need to change our traditional thinking regarding reform” and that the modifications should be in line with the goals of a developed India by 2047, or Viksit Bharat. According to Prime Minister Modi, Indians must labor in “speed, scale, scope, and standards”—all four directions. The prime minister went on to write that people need to embrace “ancient values in a modern context” and “redefine our heritage in a modern way”.
The letter was written by the Prime Minister while returning to Delhi by plane from Kanniyakumari. In the visitors’ book, PM Modi also wrote that “every moment of his life would be dedicated to the service of the nation” during his visit to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.