PM Modi pays tributes to Pramukh Swami Maharaj on his birth centenary, recalls ‘sweet memories’

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid heartfelt tributes to Pramukh Swami Maharaj on his birth centenary. The divine Hindu saint, regarded as the 5th spiritual successor of Swaminarayan, was born in December 1921.

PM Modi today penned a long tribute for His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and said that he was blessed to have got the opportunity to interact with former BAPS president on several occasions.

Replying to a tweet by BAPS, PM Modi wrote, “I pay my tributes to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji on his Jayanti. He is globally admired for his pioneering service to society.”

I pay my tributes to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji on his Jayanti. I consider myself blessed that I got the opportunity to interact with him on multiple occasions and also got a lot of affection from him. He is globally admired for his pioneering service to society. https://t.co/BvaO4pSr90

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2022

PM Modi says, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s birth centenary is an occasion to humbly remember his service and contributions to the human race. He says that Swami ji took his values-based message to all and he continues to remain the torchbearer of human values and Indian culture throughout the world.

Grand centenary celebrations are already underway in several parts of the world, by his devotees & followers. A grand month-long centenary celebrations is also set to take place in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad from December 15, 2022 – January 15, 2023. It will see lakhs of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) followers, from different countries, descending to the city be part of month-long Pramukh Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Festival or Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav.

PM Modi recalls 1st meet with Pramukh Swami Maharaj

On the occasion of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s centenary celebrations, the Prime Minister reminisced about his first meeting with the revered saint and also narrated a couple of ‘sweet memories’ in the letter.

“As far as I can recall, my first meeting with Pramukh Swami Maharaj happened in the 1980s in Ahmedabad when the bicentenary celebrations of Bhagwan Swaminarayan were being held on a grand scale. At the time, I was merely an unknown social worker. During our conversation on that occasion, Pramukh Swami Maharaj remarked, “Selfless service is the ultimate objective of our entire life; we should engage in service until our last breath.” Since that day, his image was enshrined in my mind,” writes PM Modi in the tribute letter.

PM Modi further writes that Pramukh Swami Maharaj, despite reaching pinnacle of spirituality, remained as compassionate as that of a mother’s heart.

“One incident comes to mind. I am never able to forget his phone call after I hoisted the Indian flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk at the conclusion of the ‘Ekta Yatra’. That was no ordinary phone call; it was the expression of a mother-like concern and care. At that time, two people had called to inquire about my well-being – one was my mother, the other was Pramukh Swami Maharaj,” wrote PM Modi.

Recalling Pramukh Swami Maharaj & BAPS’ relief efforts in the 2001 Kutch earthquake, PM Modi said that Swami ji always remained at the forefront of relief & rescue work in times of calamity.

“I have been witness to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s relief efforts at the time of the 2001 Kutch earthquake. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the inspirer of the work in which the organisation’s swamis, volunteers and devotees conducted service activities on such a large scale, while putting their own lives at risk during Covid global pandemic,” wrote PM Modi.

Jay Swaminarayan to all swamis and devotees who are part of this auspicious occasion.