Reviving civilisational identity

Narendra Modi has normalised the public expression of faith for India’s majority community by openly practising it himself. He has undertaken a much bigger and broader mission of reconnecting India with its civilisational roots.

In May 2014, shortly after receiving a massive mandate in the general elections, Narendra Modi performed a Rudrabhishek at the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, followed by a Ganga aarti at the ghat. Both were broadcast live. This was not merely an expression of his religious faith. It was a sharp departure from the prevalent idea of India that frowned upon the open display of Hinduism. In independent India, historical injustices against the majority Hindu community were largely ignored, their oppressors glorified, and they were burdened with the task of upholding secularism. There was a systemic, long-term effort to uproot it from its civilisational past. This created a deep-seated resentment within the community, which felt relegated to second-class status in its own land. A critical truth that a nation cannot truly prosper if its majority feels alienated, was overlooked for decades. Since taking office, Narendra Modi has normalised the public expression of faith for India’s majority community by openly practising it himself.

More significantly, PM Modi has undertaken a much bigger and broader mission of reconnecting India with its civilisational roots. Unlike earlier Prime Ministers, many of whom often framed India as a third-world nation struggling with poverty, PM Modi sees India, that is Bharat, as a great civilisation. This has driven the Modi government’s efforts to revive, restore and celebrate the heritage and symbols of the world’s oldest surviving civilisation renowned for its wisdom, spirituality, and tolerance.

One of the most visible aspects of this civilisational revival has been the restoration of temples and pilgrimage sites across the country. Temples are not just places of worship; they are repositories of India’s religious, cultural and civilisational heritage. Ancient temples stand as testaments to spirituality, knowledge, resilience and traditional architecture and craftsmanship. They serve as a bridge between the past and present. Several big projects such as the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Ujjain Mahakal Corridor, and Kedarnath’s reconstruction have been initiated and completed under PM Modi’s leadership. The development of Kashi, for instance, is not just about reviving a religious centre but also about reinforcing its cultural significance as the heartbeat of India’s civilisational continuity.
The construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya following the Supreme Court verdict and the restoration of the Shree Kalika Mata temple in Pavagadh achieved through mutual community understanding, symbolise the correction of historical wrongs. Similarly, a major push has been given to the restoration of temples across Jammu and Kashmir after the removal of Article 370.

The government’s temple initiatives extend beyond domestic borders. In 2019, PM Modi launched a US$4.2 million redevelopment project of a 200-year-old Shreenathji temple in Bahrain. In February 2024, he inaugurated a temple in Abu Dhabi; the land for which was allotted by the UAE government after he asked for it during his 2015 visit to that country.
The Modi government has prioritised infrastructure and connectivity upgrades to make sacred sites more accessible, and equipped with modern amenities, while preserving the sacred ethos. Various thematic tourism circuits have been developed or are under development—these are not just Hinduism related, but includes Buddhist, Jain and Sufi circuits as well. The Namami Gange program has made significant progress in improving the water quality and biodiversity of the river.

The impact of these initiatives is visible in the surge in tourism: in 2018, Kashi had 20 million visitors. In 2023, it had 129 million visitors. Thus, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor resulted in a tenfold increase in footfall. Similarly, in 2024, Ayodhya became the top tourist destination in UP, with 136 million tourists visiting it by September 2024. On 1 January 2025, over half a million devotees went to Ram temple for darshan.
This influx of visitors has given a substantial boost to both local and state economies. The surge in tourism has increased demand for services such as hospitality, transport, and retail. Local businesses have flourished, with new hotels, restaurants, and shops catering to the growing influx of tourists. While the temples may be religion-specific, the economic benefits are religion-neutral, creating employment and income-generation opportunities for locals of all communities through small jobs, businesses, and offerings like home stays.
However, this revival drive is not only about religion, physical structures, or economic boost; it is also about inspiring the younger generation to reconnect with India’s timeless values and rich civilisational past. It is an attempt to rebuild the nation’s identity as a civilisation-state. This is a shift from framing India as an emerging economy to positioning it as a civilisation-state with a profound role in shaping global narratives.

During the reconstruction of Somnath temple, K.M. Munshi addressed PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s concern of “Hindu revivalism”: “It is my faith in our past which has given me the strength to work in the present and to look forward to our future. I cannot value India’s freedom if it deprives us of the Bhagavad Gita or uproots our millions from the faith with which they look upon our temples and thereby destroys the texture of our lives… this shrine once restored to a place of importance in our life will give to our people a purer conception of religion and a more vivid consciousness of our strength, so vital in these days of freedom and its trials.” PM Modi’s vision aligns with this, viewing Bharat’s civilisational resurgence as a positive contributor to both India’s and the world’s future.