‘Colonial mindset tried to erase our glorious past’: PM Modi at Somnath Shaurya Yatra

PM Modi participated in the Shaurya Yatra, a symbolic procession representing courage, sacrifice and the indomitable spirit that preserved Somnath through centuries of repeated destruction and reconstruction.

• PM Modi condemns efforts to misrepresent India's history, notably Somnath temple.
• He calls for unity and vigilance against forces dividing India and erasing heritage.
• Somnath temple marks 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni's first attack

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PM Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on what he described as a “colonial mindset” in post-Independence historical narratives, accusing certain historians and political forces of attempting to erase or distort India’s civilisational past, particularly the history of the Somnath temple.

Addressing a large gathering after the Shaurya Yatra at Somnath in Gujarat, PM Modi said India’s history of invasions and resistance had been deliberately misrepresented. “Unfortunately, after Independence, people with a colonial mindset tried to get rid of our glorious past. They tried all they could to erase history,” he said.

Referring to how historical invasions were portrayed in textbooks, PM Modi alleged that the true nature of attacks on sacred sites had been downplayed.

“Some historians and politicians even tried to whitewash the history of these invaders. Religious invasion was labelled as loot. We were taught that the Somnath temple was demolished only to loot its treasures. The cruel history of hate, atrocities and terror was hidden from us,” he said.

PM Modi also recalled resistance to the reconstruction of the temple after Independence. He said that when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel pledged to rebuild Somnath, attempts were made to obstruct the effort, and objections were raised even to then President Rajendra Prasad’s visit to the temple in 1951.

“Unfortunately, even today, the powers that opposed the redevelopment of the Somnath temple are present and active. Swords have been replaced with hidden conspiracies against India,” he warned.

Calling for unity and vigilance, PM Modi said, “We need to be more aware. We need to strengthen ourselves and remain united. We must defeat every power that tries to divide us. The journey of the last 1,000 years will inspire us to be prepared for the next 1,000 years.”

Underscoring the significance of India’s ancient sacred sites, PM Modi said Somnath symbolised resilience and continuity. “India has thousands of sacred sites like Somnath that are thousands of years old. These sites have been symbols of our strength, resilience and tradition. But after Independence, people with a slave mentality tried to distance themselves from this history,” he said.

PM Modi was speaking at the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a four-day national commemoration marking 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s first attack on the Somnath temple in 1026. As part of the event, he participated in the Shaurya Yatra, a symbolic procession representing courage, sacrifice and the indomitable spirit that preserved Somnath through centuries of repeated destruction and reconstruction. The procession featured 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit.

Emphasising Somnath’s enduring legacy, PM Modi said the temple’s history was not one of defeat but of renewal. “The invaders thought they had won by destroying the temple, but after 1,000 years, the flag of Somnath is still flying high. Fundamentalist invaders are now reduced to pages of history, but Somnath still stands tall,” he said.

PM Modi added that the forces which once opposed the reconstruction of the temple were still active. “Those involved in appeasement knelt before people with extremist mindsets. Such forces are still among us. We need to remain alert, united and powerful to defeat them,” he said.

The Somnath temple, revered as the first among the 12 Aadi Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, stands along the Arabian Sea and is widely regarded as a symbol of faith and national resolve. After Independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the effort to rebuild the shrine, culminating in the consecration of the present structure on May 11, 1951, in the presence of President Rajendra Prasad.

In 2026, the country marks 75 years since the historic consecration, reaffirming India’s civilisational self-respect.