Amit Shah says Modi government's 12 years marked by confluence of development and heritage
New Delhi, June 18
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the 12 years of the Narendra Modi government have been marked by a confluence of development and heritage.
In a post on X, Shah said, "The 12 years of the Modi government have been a golden era of the confluence of development and heritage. In these 12 years, on one hand, the construction of the Shri Ram Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and Ujjain Mahakal Lok took place, while on the other, schemes like PM Awas, Ayushman Bharat, Ann Bhandar, world-class connectivity, infrastructure, and initiatives like 'Make in India' have given unprecedented momentum to the country's development journey."
The remarks came as the government highlighted various initiatives undertaken over the past 12 years under the theme of "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi".
According to a government statement, the focus has been on the conservation, development and promotion of India's cultural heritage while integrating heritage preservation with broader development goals.
The statement stated that key initiatives included the digitisation of one crore records, the return of 668 ancient artefacts, the establishment of 11 tribal freedom struggle museums and the granting of classical language status to 11 Indian languages.
It noted that programmes aimed at restoring iconic sites, conserving temples and monuments, improving visitor facilities and developing heritage cities and pilgrimage circuits have been undertaken over the years.
The statement added that India's cultural assets, including monuments, antiquities, manuscripts and historic sites, represent a shared legacy across generations. It added that since 2014, the government has launched several measures to preserve and promote these assets while linking heritage development with economic growth, tourism, livelihoods and cultural diplomacy.
The government's approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to integrate heritage conservation with national development. It highlighted the return of more than 668 stolen antiquities, the development of spiritual infrastructure such as the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, and efforts to expand global recognition of Indian traditions.
The initiatives, including manuscript digitisation, expansion of pilgrimage infrastructure and improvements in tourism connectivity, have been undertaken to preserve and promote India's cultural legacy for future generations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Vikas bhi, virasat bhi—this is a powerful slogan. The return of 668 stolen artefacts is commendable and shows India's soft power is increasing. However, I wish the government would also focus more on air quality and river cleaning. Heritage is important but so is a livable environment for our future generations.
As an outsider, I find India's approach fascinating. The way India is combining spiritual tourism with economic growth is unique. The Mahakal Lok and Kashi corridor are world-class. But I do wonder about the cost—are these investments giving good returns for the common taxpayer? Still, impressive vision.
I'm glad to see digitisation of manuscripts and classical language status to more languages—this will preserve our rich heritage for future generations. The tribal freedom museums are also a great step. But I feel the government should involve more local historians and communities in such projects rather than just centralised planning. Needs a grassroots touch.
Development and heritage can go hand-in-hand. The Ayushman Bharat and PM Awas are genuinely helping the poor, and the Ram Temple and Kashi corridor are restoring our pride. But let's not forget the basics—job creation and inflation control are still challenges. Good speech but need more action on the economic front.
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