Daijiworld Media Network - Somnath

Somnath (Gujarat), Jan 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sharply criticised what he described as a lingering “slave mentality” among sections that opposed the reconstruction of the historic Somnath Temple after Independence, asserting that similar forces continue to act against India even today.

Addressing a large gathering at Sadbhavna Maidan, the Prime Minister said efforts were once made to dilute and distort the true history of repeated attacks on Somnath in the name of appeasement politics. He argued that the religiously driven violence and cruelty inflicted on the temple were deliberately downplayed and misrepresented as mere acts of plunder.

“India has ancient sites like Somnath that stand as symbols of our strength, resilience and civilisational continuity,” Modi said. “Yet after Independence, some people with a colonial mindset tried to distance the nation from this heritage and erase the history associated with it.”

Recalling the sacrifices made to protect the shrine, the Prime Minister said those who laid down everything for Somnath were denied due recognition, while politically motivated narratives attempted to justify or whitewash repeated attacks on the temple. He stressed that if the assaults had been only about wealth, they would have ended after the first invasion centuries ago.

“We were taught that Somnath was attacked only for money. The truth of hatred and brutality was hidden from us,” he said, adding that individuals genuinely committed to their faith would never support extremism, even though some opposed the temple’s restoration for political reasons.

Modi revisited the period following Independence when the rebuilding of Somnath faced resistance. He noted that when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel resolved to restore the temple, the move was opposed, as was the presence of then President Dr Rajendra Prasad at the inauguration in 1951. He also acknowledged the role of Jam Sahib Maharaja Digvijaysinhji, who contributed generously towards the reconstruction.

The Prime Minister was referring to the reservations of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was not in favour of associating top constitutional authorities with the rebuilding of the shrine. Despite this, leaders such as Sardar Patel, K.M. Munshi and President Rajendra Prasad supported the effort, and the temple was ultimately rebuilt through public contributions rather than government funds.

Modi warned that the mindset that once opposed the restoration of Somnath has not disappeared. “Those forces are still active today. The methods may have changed — swords have been replaced by other means — but the intention to weaken and divide India remains,” he said, urging citizens to stay united and vigilant.

Referring to the Ram Temple consecration earlier, the Prime Minister said it reflected a thousand-year vision for India and a renewed resolve to move forward with pride in the nation’s cultural roots. He added that initiatives such as the Somnath Cultural University and the continued vibrancy of local traditions and fairs further strengthen India’s heritage.

“India is moving ahead with confidence in its legacy,” Modi said. “Our task is to take this thousand-year-old heritage to every corner of the country and introduce the world to it. An awakened and united nation alone can fulfil its dreams of a developed India.”