Book on PM Modi’s cultural speeches released on Heritage Day: 'Sanskriti Ka Panchva Adhyay’

The book presents 34 of PM Modi’s speeches from 2015 to 2024.

A new book compiling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches on Indian culture and heritage, titled ‘Sanskriti Ka Panchva Adhyay’, was released on the occasion of World Heritage Day at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) on Friday. The compilation showcases Modi’s reflections on Indian traditions, spiritual values, and cultural renaissance.

The book was launched by Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Pujya Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, head of the Juna Akhara, in the presence of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, IGNCA Chairman Ram Bahadur Rai, and IGNCA Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi.

Published by Prabhat Prakashan and curated by Dr. Prabhat Ojha, the book presents 34 of PM Modi’s speeches from 2015 to 2024, including his first Independence Day address and his speech at the inauguration of RJ Shankar Eye Hospital in Varanasi. The speeches span themes such as sacred shrines, spiritual festivals, and global conferences, including the World Sufi Conference and the Global Buddhist Conference.

Speaking at the launch, Swami Avdheshanand lauded Prime Minister Modi’s efforts to reawaken national pride in India’s cultural legacy.

“Since 2014, we have seen a transformation. People now talk about culture with pride,” he said. Citing International Yoga Day as an example, he noted how a long-pending vision came to fruition under Modi’s leadership.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh drew a parallel with Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s ‘Sanskriti ke Chaar Adhyay’, saying that Modi’s contributions represent a continuation of India’s cultural narrative. “Post-2014, India has begun to speak about its culture and ancient heritage with pride, and this credit goes to the Prime Minister," he added.

He concluded his speech by quoting famous lines from Shri Raghubeer Narayan’s 'Batojhiya' song - "Sundar su bhoomi bhaiya Bharat ke deshwa mein, mor praan base him khoh re Batojhiya.”

IGNCA Chairman Ram Bahadur Rai called the Prime Minister a leader with “a saint’s heart,” and said the book captures the deeper spiritual dimensions of PM Modi’s personality. “Among the many books on Modi, this one is unique. It is like the Kohinoor offered to King Vikramaditya in Vetal Pachisi—a metaphor for India’s cultural wealth,” he remarked.

"Narendra Modi’s personality evokes chemical reactions in people -those with a positive outlook see his virtues, while the negative-minded remain entangled in criticism," he further noted.

Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, who delivered the welcome address, underlined the symbolism of releasing the book on World Heritage Day. He said PM Modi’s vision of ‘Virasat bhi, Vikas bhi’ (Heritage as well as Development) resonates throughout the compilation.

In the book’s foreword, Ram Bahadur Rai writes that this volume is an invitation to embark on a cultural journey guided by the Prime Minister’s vision, describing it as “the keyboard to the supercomputer of Indian culture.”

One of the notable excerpts in the book is from PM Modi’s address at the World Sufi Conference, where he highlights the unique evolution of Sufism in the Indian context. He had stated, “Rooted in the sacred Quran and Hadith, Sufism became the face of Islam in India. It flourished in India's openness and pluralism, and by connecting with its ancient spiritual traditions, it evolved a uniquely Indian identity. Sufism helped shape a distinctive Islamic legacy in India.”

The appendix features reflections by two prominent spiritual leaders - Acharya Shri Pragya Sagar Ji Maharaj and Shankaracharya Shri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati Swami Ji of Kanchi Kamakoti -who lend their voices in support of the cultural vision articulated in the book.