Civilisational resurgence

As India marks 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, one of the most pro fond transformations has been the quiet yet decisive resurgence of Bharat’s civilisational identity. Far from being a mere political project, this has been a cultural re-awakening – an assertion that a nation with one of the world’s oldest living civilisations need not apologise for its heritage, its temples, or its sacred symbols. The government has acted not as a loud ideologue but as a quiet enabler: clearing judicial logjams, investing in infrastructure, repatriating stolen treasures, and restoring dignity to neglected aspects of our history.

This is not majoritarianism as some obsolete intellectuals might conveniently aver; it is civilisational self-confidence long overdue. For decades, successive governments and political parties treated the Ram Janmabhoomi issue as a perpetual court dispute, happy to let it fester. The BJP-led government under PM Modi adopted a solution-oriented approach, respecting the judiciary while ensuring the matter reached a conclusive verdict. The Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment paved the way, and on 22 January 2024, Prime Minister Modi participated wholeheartedly in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla as the chief yajman. His presence at the temple’s inauguration sent a powerful message: Hindus need not be apologetic about their civilisational icons.

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Lord Ram is not just a deity but the embodiment of India’s cultural ethos – maryada, dharma, and national unity. This event marked a turning point, ending centuries of hesitation and ignited national pride. Temple vicinities have historically been economic and social hubs in Bharat. The Modi government has revived this model through massive infrastructure development around sacred sites, generating unprecedented employment and tourism revenue. In Ayodhya, visitor numbers surged from about 5.75 crore in 2023 to over 16 crore in 2024, with projections exceeding 50 crore in 2026.

The city now earns Rs 8,000-12,500 crore annually from tourism and allied sectors, projected to reach Rs 18,000 crore by 2028. This boom has spurred around 1.2 lakh direct and indirect jobs, thousands of new MSMEs, and a surge in hotels and local businesses. Property values near the temple have multiplied five- to tenfold. Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, inaugurated in 2021, has welcomed over 25 crore devotees, injecting Rs 1.25 lakh crore into Uttar Pradesh’s economy. Tourist footfalls in Kashi reached record levels, with massive gains in hospitality, re tail, and handicrafts.

Mathura-Vrindavan has seen pilgrim arrivals jump over 100 per cent, generating over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, alongside growth in homestays and women-led enterprises. Ujjain’s Mahakal Lok Corridor has transformed the city: tax collections rose sharply, footfall multiplied, and the temple economy now drives broader urban prosperity. These developments prove that respecting civilisational anchors creates inclusive growth, particularly benefiting small traders, artisans, and local communities. The Modi government’s decision to restore the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram — after decades of a truncated rendition — is symbolically profound.

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s composition celebrates Bharat as a nurturing mother. Partial adoption in the past reflected a mindset uncomfortable with unapologetic cultural nationalism. Singing it in its entirety at official functions affirms that the nation’s spiritual and geographical unity is non-negotiable. It directly challenges radical ideologies that viewed the motherland through divisive lenses and re-integrates a foundational cultural symbol into public life. Under PM Modi, India has repatriated over 600 stolen antiquities from countries including the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.

These include Chola-era bronzes like the Nataraja statue, idols of deities such as Ganesh and Manikkavichavakar, and Buddhist relics. Each return is more than an artefact reclaimed – it is civilisational dignity restored. It signals that Bharat will no longer be a passive victim of colonial-era looting but an active guardian of its heritage. These efforts, often facilitated through diplomacy, have strengthened global awareness of India’s cultural wealth. The government has elevated the legacy of unsung tribal heroes – Birsa Munda, Rani Kamalapati, Veer Durgavati, and others – through Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (15 November) and dedicated museums.

This recognition bridges mainland and tribal narratives, fosters pride among indigenous communities, and promises to boost tribal tourism and cultural preservation. It underscores that Bharat’s freedom struggle was a collective endeavour, not confined to urban elites. Across these initiatives, the government’s role has been that of a facilitator: expediting court processes, funding world-class infrastructure without compromising sanctity, supporting cultural restoration, and promoting awareness.

It has empowered citizens and communities to reclaim their heritage organically. The result is a Bharat more confident in its skin – economically vibrant through its temples, culturally rooted, and inclusive of its diverse civilisational strands. Twelve years on, this resurgence is not about erasing the past but healing it. It is about building a Viksit Bharat that draws strength from its eternal civilisational fountainhead. The temple towns booming with pilgrims and jobs, the full-throated Vande Mataram, the returned relics, and honoured tribal legacies are not isolated events – they form a coherent renaissance. Bharat is rising, not in confrontation, but in quiet, dignified self-assertion.

(The writer is a national spokesperson of the BJP and an acclaimed author.)