Cultural re-awakening will ensure India’s real development, says Union Minister

Published 30 June 2026 · india

The development of India is not limited to physical or economic growth. The real development of India involves evolution into a civilisation with deep cultural

The development of India is not limited to physical or economic growth. The real development of India involves evolution into a civilisation with deep cultural consciousness, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Development Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Belagavi on Sunday. He was speaking after releasing books during the centenary celebrations of the Academy of Comparative Religions at the K.K. Venugopal auditorium in Belagavi. The event was organised by the Gurudev Ranade Mandir Trust Committee. “There may be many countries that have achieved a large military, high growth rate and advanced technology. But they do not have the capacity to lead the world spiritually.

They cannot guide India into the future, as they have no cultural consciousness,” he said. “It is through cultural revival that India will lead the world into the next century”Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Development He said that the Union Culture Ministry is organising several programmes and schemes for the cultural reawakening of India. “It is through cultural revival that India will lead the world into the next century,” he said. He spoke on the life and contribution of Dr. Ranade. He appreciated the efforts of the Academy of Comparative Religions Trust for conducting cultural events in Belagavi.

“Gurudev Ranade was more than a philosopher. He struggled all his life to bring together the best spiritual thoughts from all over the world and from all religions. He gave modernistic and scientific interpretation to the Shastras. His thought is a reflection of all the thoughts of the world. He showed that besides Prajnavada and meditation, devotion is also a path to self-knowledge,” the Minister said. Academy of Comparative Religions secretary Maruti B. Zirali, who welcomed the gathering, said that Gurudev Ranade rejected the path of fame and taught the philosophy of high moral conduct with a single-minded devotion.

Members of the Dnyaneshwar Bhajan Mandali sang bhajans. Some of the original works of Gurudev R. D. Ranade were re-released. Two books translated by Shaila Mutalik Patil and a volume on the life of Gurudev Ranade brought out by Rani Channamma University were released. Shekhawat planted a sapling on the Mandir premises. RSS leaders Mangesh Bhende and Arvindrao Deshpande, director of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya research centre, Atul Jain, Rani Channamma University Vice-Chancellor C.M. Thyagaraja, advocate Sudheendra Ganachari, Academy of Comparative Religions president Ashok Potdar and other trustees were present.