A SSERTING that Gita Press was the only printing press in the world which was more than an organisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a jeevant astha (vivid faith). “It is no less than a temple for crores of Indians,” he asserted while addressing the concluding ceremony of the centenary celebrations of the Gita Press, at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
The PM lashed out at the Congress’ criticism of the decision to award Gandhi Peace Prize to the 100-year-old publishing house dealing in Sanatan religious content.
Gandhi’s attachment
He pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi was “emotionally attached” to the Gita Press for which he himself used to write, and had even advised it to remain free of advertisements.
The Union Government had announced Gita Press as the winner of the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021, on June 18 this year. This had prompted the Congress to term the decision a “travesty”. It cited the alleged “stormy” relations the publisher had with Gandhi and the running battles it carried on with him on his political, religious and social agenda.
PM Modi claimed that Gandhi used to write for ‘Kalyan’, a magazine which the press started publishing from 1926. “It is heartening to see that Gita Press still adheres to Gandhiji’s advice and is keeping ‘Kalyan’ free of advertisements,” he said.
Work and heritage
The PM maintained that the conferment of the Gandhi Peace Prize symbolised the “huge respect” for the work and heritage the press maintained for the last 100 years. “It has Gita in its name and it is engaged in the work on Gita. Where there is Gita, there is Krishna and where there is Krishna, there is Karuna (compassion) and Karma (deeds),” said the PM. Describing the Gita Press as a “spiritual light” guiding humanity, PM Modi said that crores of religious texts published by the press were empowering scores of people around the globe spiritually.
Stands for nationalism
The institution, he said, was not just associated with Dharma and Karma but was also an embodiment of nationalism. “It unites the country and strengthens its unity,” he said. The country, he said, was moving ahead by blending vikaas (development) with virasat (heritage). “We are taking a leap in digital technology and developing a world-class infrastructure. We are about to see the realisation of the 500-year-old dream of Ram Temple, besides restoring the glory of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Kedarnath and Mahakaal,” said the Prime Minister.
