Narendra Modi inaugurates Acharyakulam of Baba Ramdev
Ravindra Saini
“My manifesto is welfare of all, and in Gujarat we have tried to implement it successfully. I am here not to seek the blessings for any post, but to keep me on the right path.” When Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi uttered these words in the presence of hundreds of leading saints of the country in Haridwar on April 26, the entire 3.50 lakh square foot air-conditioned hall of Patanjali Yogapeeth, echoed with clapping for several minutes. Shri Modi and the saints were there to inaugurate the newly constructed Acharyakulam, a residential school started by Baba Ramdev.
The huge hall of the Yogapeeth was full to its capacity. As Shri Modi reached the dais, a huge gathering of audience gave him standing ovation. The slogans like “Narendra Modi Zindabad” filled the air. In the midst of slogan shouting, Shri Modi proceeded and took his seat. Leading saint Shri Morari Bapu was sitting on his right followed by Baba Ramdev on left. One by one, the saints started blessing him.
Prominent saints who attended the function included noted Ram Katha Vachak Shri Morari Bapu, Gayatri Parivar chief Dr Pranav Pandya, leading Kathavachak Shri Rameshbhai Ojha, Parmarth Niketan’s Swami Chintanand Muni Saraswati, Nirvani Akhara’s Swami Ranvindra Puri Maharaj, Baba Akhara’s Swami Harichetna Maharaj, Pejawar Swami Shri Visweshwara Teerath Maharaj, Tapashwi Baba Kalyandas, Guruma Anand Murti, Shri Vijay Kaushal Maharaj, Yogi Adityanath, etc.
Some saints defined Shri Modi as a ‘sadhu without saffron’, while others compared him with Vivekananda. Every saint tried to underline that Narendra Modi elevated to the post of Chief Minister from a son of a tea seller. Everybody eulogised his simplicity. A saint said around 150 years ago, Ramakrishna Paramhansa called ‘Narendra’ and directed him to work for the cause of nation. Incidentally, today the saints are again looking at ‘Narendra’ who has dedicated his life for the nation. The atmosphere became highly patriotic when over 50,000 youth waving tricolors gathered at Patanjali Yogapeeth and vociferously cheered Shri Modi.
Shri Morari Bapu said: “Gujarat ka Modi is tarah raj kar raha hai, jaise koi anushthan kar raha ho (Modi is ruling in Gujarat as if he is performing a rite)”. Swami Chidanand Muni of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, said, “The country needs leaders like Narendra Modi who can make every hurdle a stepping stone in the progress of the country.” He remembered Shri Modi as having once fasted for ‘purification of mind’ and said if he led the country, the safety of girls would be assured.
Baba Ramdev said: “I have traversed 11 lakh kilometers across the country and in every public meeting only one name has echoed as prospective leader of the country and that was Narendra Modi.” He said at a time when power is concentrated in a handful of people, thousands of crores of country’s black money is stashed away abroad and our hostile neighbours are getting emboldened by the day, Modi alone can give the country the kind of leadership it is looking for. “I had tears in my eyes when I learnt how Modi and his father sold tea at a railway station and how hard he had worked in life. He is not a product of a ruling dynasty but of the hard work of a common Indian brought up on the ideals of our ancient sanskriti (tradition),” Baba said.
Noted saint Shri Rameshbhai Ojha, who heads the Sanjeevani Gurukul in Porbander said: “Narendra – Nar plus Indra – will safeguard the interests of the country. The god of power is looking towards Narendra Modi to save the country.” He likened Shri Modi to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ‘who had engineered a wave of change in the country.’
“As Lord Krishna did in the Kurukshetra, may Narendra Modi end the two demons of corruption and this ruling government,” said Pejawar Swami Shri Vishweshwara Teertha Swamiji. Swami Parmanand Maharaj said: The country will progress only with an able leader and India’s progress is the progress of entire world.” Mahant Ravindra Puri Maharaj of Mahanirvani Akhara and representative of Swami Satyamitranand Giri also wished in one voice that India gets a leader like Narendra Modi.
In his speech that lasted around 40 minutes Shri Narendar Modi said sarve bhavantu sukhina is his manifesto for development. Giving credit of his victory to six crore Gujaratis, he tried to strengthen his bond with the people who shouted ‘Narendra Modi Zindabad’, ‘Narendra Modi Zindabad’ throughout the speech. He justified his development model by connecting it to the people’s faith in him who sent him to the post of Chief Minister thrice in Gujarat. He waxed emotional when he said, “Sitting at the feet of such revered saints can overawe any one. So you must just imagine how I must be feeling… Today is a great day for me,” he observed.
Amid Namo-Namo from audience in the huge hall, Shri Modi defined Gujarat as a riot-free state presently where no riot has taken place during the past 12 years. Saying that he didn’t want blessings from the saints for any political position, he said he didn’t have any passion for the ‘position’. He, however, said he wanted saints’ blessings that there should be no mistake on his part while serving the people. He expressed concern over the health of the nation and appealed to the people to sought remedy of the disease. He said it was the people who had remedy of the diseases to nation. They can cure it. He also expressed concern over deterioration in family institution that has turned micro from joint families.
“Today Gujarat is being talked about all over the world for its growth. But it is not me; the people of Gujarat are responsible for its growth. We have worked together for Gujarat’s development,” Modi said. “When 6 crore people of Gujarat can do this imagine what 125 crore people of India can achieve,” he added. Expressing anguish over the use of indecent language by some people in Government against Baba Ramdev, he accused the Centre of virtually hounding Baba for his views that go against the government. “The people in the Government are using indecent language against Baba Ramdev, who is serving the nation not only by with his yoga, but also with his movements (against the black money),” he said.
