Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while felicitating state’s sportspersons at the 36th Regional Sports Meet organised by Vidya Bharati Purvi here on Thursday, inspired them with a message of self-reliance and success. He said, “A healthy body is the foundation of both religion and nation building.”
On the occasion, he announced the construction of a mini stadium at Bhani Devi Goyal Saraswati Vidya Mandir Inter College, stressing that sports is no longer a pastime but a powerful means to shape and uplift life.
The chief minister expressed pride in attending the event on the land of Rani Lakshmibai, symbol of courage and sacrifice, and lauded Vidya Bharati as a leading institution nurturing devotion to Indian tradition, culture, and nationalism. Founded in 1952 in Gorakhpur by Nanaji Deshmukh, Vidya Bharati has today grown into a vast network of over 25,000 educational and training centres across the country, promoting Indian values and holistic education.
Honouring Vidya Bharati’s first student, Devendra Singh, he said that the institution has succeeded in keeping national ideals alive without government support. He said that the land of Jhansi inspires nationalism and valour. The efforts of Vidya Bharati are contributing significantly to making the country strong and self-reliant.
The event was rich in cultural vibrance, featuring a captivating Bundeli Rai dance performance that enthralled the audience. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath felicitated Shilu Yadav, Adesh Singh, Shahenshah, Basant Kumar Gola, and Sandhya Rajput for their outstanding achievements in sports. The ‘Anushasan Trophy’ was presented to the Gorakh province rural team, while the Kashi province urban team claimed the overall championship trophy.
CM Yogi praised Vidya Bharati for its remarkable role in preserving and promoting India’s traditions and culture. He recalled that the organisation, founded in 1952 by Rashtra Rishi Nanaji Deshmukh in Gorakhpur, has today grown into a vast network of over 25,000 educational and training institutions across the country. He noted that while post-independence India often sidelined its own values in the name of secularism, Vidya Bharati—without any government aid—has built a national model of education rooted in Indian ethos, reaching from villages to cities and even remote forest regions.
CM Yogi expressed pride in visiting the heroic land of Jhansi, recalling that Rani Lakshmibai, who proclaimed “Meri Jhansi Ghulam Nahi Rahegi” during the 1857 War of Independence, laid down her life at just 23. He also paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, who won two Olympic gold medals for India, noting that the nation’s highest sports honour now bears his name and that a sports university has been established in his memory in Meerut.
The Chief Minister added that Vidya Bharati’s players continue this legacy of excellence, bringing glory to India at national and international levels.
The CM said that players associated with Vidya Bharati have won medals in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Olympics, and Paralympics, bringing pride to the country. Olympian Padma Shri Sudha Singh, Olympian Nishad Kumar, Shaili Singh, and Adesh Singh are among the players from this institution.
CM Yogi described sports as a means of holistic development, emphasizing that healthy and strong citizens are vital to achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. Citing the ancient mantra “Shariram Madhyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam,” he underscored the importance of physical fitness in national progress.