On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s article “1,000 Years of Unbroken Faith” — commemorating the ancient Somnath Temple and its history since the first attack in 1026 AD — appeared in leading newspapers, the BJP linked India’s present economic trajectory with its historical reconstruction, saying that the vision articulated at that time was now approaching fulfilment under his leadership.
Addressing the media, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi recalled the remarks of late President Dr Rajendra Prasad during the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple to make his point. He also criticised the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for “opposing” the temple’s reconstruction.
He also accused the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi of harbouring a ‘Macaulay mindset’, contrasting historical interpretations of Mahmud of Ghazni (who plundered the revered temple in Gujarat, destroying the Shiva Lingam and looting its immense wealth) by historians like Utbi and those written by Nehru in his book ‘Discovery of India’. Highlighting the resilience of Indian culture, Trivedi said the answer to the Macaulay factor of 19th century and the Marxist factor of 20th century is “also the M factor, that is, the Modi factor”
“I want to remind you that when Somnath was being reconstructed, India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, had said that the consecration of Somnath would be truly complete on the day India’s prosperity once again reaches the same height — the very prosperity that had once attracted the attack. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are moving steadily towards that prosperity, as India has become the world’s fourth-largest economy,” Trivedi said.
The BJP spokesperson said that the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple carried out despite opposition from Nehru marked the realisation of a long-cherished national aspiration. “Even in 1951, despite strong opposition from Jawaharlal Nehru, this dream was realised in the presence of the country’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is progressing towards prosperity, and that dream is now nearing its fulfilment. The vision of the Somnath resolution is becoming a reality,” he said.
According to officials, a year-long series of spiritual, cultural and social activities will be organised at Somnath to commemorate the Somnath Swabhiman Parv from January 8 to January 11. The programme will feature events highlighting India’s spiritual heritage, cultural pride and social values. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Somnath on January 11.
In his op-ed, the Prime Minister commemorated 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, describing its resilience as an eternal symbol of India.“Jai Somnath! 2026 marks 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath took place. Despite repeated attacks, Somnath stands tall. This is because Somnath’s story is about the unbreakable courage of countless children of Bharat Mata who protected our culture and civilisation,” he wrote on X, along with his article.