Reviving civilisational identity

Narendra Modi has normalised the public expression of faith for India's majority community by openly practising it himself. He has undertaken a much bigger and broader mission of reconnecting India with its civilisational roots.

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In May 2014, shortly after receiving a massive mandate in the general elections, Narendra Modi performed a Rudrabhishek at the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, followed by a Ganga aarti at the ghat.

Both were broadcast live. This was not merely an expression of his religious faith. It was a sharp departure from the prevalent idea of India that frowned upon the open display of Hinduism. In independent India, historical injustices against the majority Hindu community were largely ignored, their oppressors glorified, and they were burdened with the task of upholding secularism. There was a systemic, long-term effort to uproot it from its civilisational past. This created a deepseated resentment within the community, which felt relegated to second-class status in its own land.

A critical truth that a nation cannot truly prosper if its majority feels alienated, was overlooked for decades.

Since taking office, Narendra Modi has normalised the public expression of faith for India's majority community by openly practising it himself.

More significantly, PM Modi has undertaken a much bigger and broader mission of reconnecting India with its civilisational roots. Unlike earlier Prime Ministers, many of whom often framed India as a thirdworld nation struggling with poverty, PM Modi sees India, that is Bharat, as a great civilisation. This has driven the Modi government's efforts to revive, restore and celebrate the heritage and symbols of the world's oldest surviving civilisation renowned for its wisdom, spirituality, and tolerance.

One of the most visible aspects of this civilisational revival has been the restoration of temples and pilgrimage sites across the country.