Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, delivered a powerful address at the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, marking a millennium since its first recorded invasion. He framed the temple's survival as a testament to India's unbroken civilizational spirit and criticized past attempts to obscure what he called the "true history of hatred."
A Millennium of Resilience Remembered
The Prime Minister was speaking at the 'Somnath Swabhiman Parv', a four-day national observance from January 8 to January 11, 2026. This event commemorates 1,000 years since the first attack on the revered shrine by Mahmud of Ghazni in January 1026. PM Modi reflected on the profound sacrifice of ancestors, stating they "bet their lives for their faith, for their belief, for Mahadev."
"From Ghazni to Aurangzeb, all religious fundamentalists thought that by their sword they had won Somnath," PM Modi said. He added that in the cycle of time, "those fundamentalist invaders are now reduced to pages of history, but Somnath temple still stands tall." He emphasized that the present-day flag hoisting at the temple demonstrates India's enduring power and capabilities to the world.
PM Modi's Critique of 'Hidden History'
In a sharp political critique, the Prime Minister accused previous governments of distorting historical narratives. Without naming the Congress directly, he attacked the "whitewashing" of history that involved multiple Mughal invasions on the coastal temple.
"If Somnath was attacked for wealth, then the first attack was enough, but it was attacked repeatedly, and its deity was desecrated," PM Modi asserted. He claimed that the "true history of hatred, atrocity and terror was hidden from us" and that the nation was taught a simplified version focusing only on looting. He accused those involved in "appeasement" of kneeling before such religious extremism.
Shaurya Yatra and Tributes to Heroes
Earlier in the day, PM Modi actively participated in the Shaurya Yatra, a ceremonial procession symbolizing courage and sacrifice. The yatra featured 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit, adding to its grandeur. The Prime Minister was seen blowing a conch shell and acknowledging crowds along the route in Somnath. He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
Before his address, PM Modi offered prayers at the temple and paid floral tributes to two key figures in Somnath's history: Veer Hamirji Gohil, who died defending the temple in 1299 AD against Zafar Khan's invasion, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was instrumental in the temple's modern reconstruction.
The Prime Minister's visit and the ongoing Parv underscore the temple's unique place in history—a site that was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over centuries, yet never faded from the people's consciousness. This cycle of devastation and revival, he implied, proves Somnath was never just stone and mortar, but a living symbol of India's faith and identity.
