PUDUCHERRY: Culture was the common thread that bound citizens across the country, said Union home minister Amit Shah in Puducherry on Sunday. Addressing the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of revolutionary freedom fighter-turned-spiritual guru Sri Aurobindo, organized by the Sri Aurobindo Society, Shah said India was the only geo-cultural country in the world based on culture whereas other countries were geopolitical, be it Europe, America, Russia or China.
"If we realize that India is a geo-cultural country, then all the problems of today will be solved automatically. There is one culture that binds us, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, to Dwarka to Bengal. The culture is India's soul," Shah said.
Showering encomiums on Sri Aurobindo for his contribution to the country, Shah said to understand India's soul, people must read Sri Aurobindo. "Sri Aurobindo made lasting contributions to India's freedom struggle. His works and thoughts remain relevant for all. He continues to be our guiding light. If the spirit and soul of India need to be understood, then one must read Sri Aurobindo," he said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to celebrate the 75th year of Indian independence as 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' was not only to honour all unsung freedom fighters but to revive the ideas related to the freedom struggle among the younger generation, to enlighten them on the country's achievements in the last 75 years, and to inspire them in achieving the goal of taking the nation to the top in the next 25 years.
Later in the afternoon, Shah laid the foundation stones for various development projects virtually. Speaking on the occasion, he assured that the promise made by Modi while campaigning for the 2021 assembly polls to make Puducherry the best in the country will be fulfilled before the next elections. He said the Union government has already launched efforts to transform Puducherry into an ideal Union territory.
"More than 90 schemes of the Union government have been covered under direct benefit transfer (DBT). The Modi government has so far transferred more than Rs 500 crore to more than six lakh beneficiaries directly into their bank accounts without any middleman," he said. He said corruption prevailed during earlier governments whereas Puducherry is now known for its development and good governance. "Under the guidance of Modi and Rangasamy (Puducherry chief minister), this process of development will continue in Puducherry," he said.
