Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the National Capital, saying that the service to the poor, backward and downtrodden is the first yagya for the country today.

The Prime Minister also released a logo for commemoration. When he first arrived at the venue, PM Modi walked by the live and panoramic representations of the Arya Samaj and participated in the ongoing Yagya by offering Ahuti Arpan. Later on, he handed over the LED Mashal to youth representatives as a symbolic carry forward of the spark ignited in this programme reinforcing the messages of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati to the rest of India and the world.

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Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, a social reformer who was born on February 12th, 1824, founded Arya Samaj in 1875 to combat the societal injustices that were pervasive at the time. Arya Samaj’s emphasis on social reforms and education has significantly contributed to the cultural and social awakening of the nation.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, the prime minister emphasised that Maharishi ji also emerged as a logical and effective voice against the stereotypes about women that had become pervasive in society.

“Maharishi Dayanand ji strongly opposed discrimination against women and also initiated campaigns for the education of women,” he said, stressing the fact that these issues date back more than 150 years.

Even in today’s day and age, the Prime Minister said, there are societies which deprive women of their right to education and respect, but it was Maharishi Dayanand who raised his voice when equal rights for women was a far-fetched reality, even in the western countries.

PM Modi said the country is following Swamiji’s teaching with great confidence. Referring to Swamiji’s call ‘Back to Vedas’, the Prime Minister said “today the country is confidently calling for ‘pride in our heritage’,” as he noted the confidence of the people of India to lay the path of modernity while enriching the culture and traditions at the same time.

Swami ji, the Prime Minister said, took an inclusive and integrated approach and assumed responsibility and leadership of many dimensions of the nation’s life. The Prime Minister further elaborated on the wider role of the sages and saints in Indian life by referring to the achievements of Indian sages in philosophy, Yoga, Mathematics, policy, diplomacy, science and medical science. Swami ji played a big role in reviving that ancient tradition, the Prime Minister added.