Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday underscored the resilience of India’s culture and faith, asserting that the country’s Sanatan Dharma and spiritual heritage cannot be erased. Speaking at a gathering in Mansa town, Gandhinagar district, Shah highlighted the reconstruction of the historic Somnath temple in Gujarat, emphasizing that despite being destroyed multiple times over the centuries, the temple stands today as a symbol of India’s enduring cultural and spiritual identity.

Shah’s remarks came in the context of the recently inaugurated Somnath Swabhiman Parv by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 11. The event marked a millennium since Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion of the temple in 1026, a pivotal moment in India’s history that underscored the repeated attempts to suppress Indian culture and faith.

“A thousand years ago, our magnificent Somnath temple was destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni,” Shah said. “After that, it was repeatedly attacked by other invaders, including Alauddin Khilji, Ahmed Shah, Mahmud Begada, and Aurangzeb. But the temple was rebuilt every time. The destroyers believed in destruction, and the builders believed in creation.”

Shah noted that while the invaders of the past have faded from history, the temple continues to stand proudly on the coast of Gujarat, its flag soaring high against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea. He emphasized that this enduring structure is a message to the world: India’s Sanatan Dharma, culture, and faith are eternal, resilient, and immortal, like the sun and the moon. The minister also highlighted the ongoing development of the Somnath corridor under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, which aims to enhance the cultural and spiritual significance of the temple while providing modern facilities for pilgrims and tourists.

The Home Minister’s three-day visit to Gujarat also included several other significant initiatives, signaling the state’s growing prominence in scientific research, public health, and pharmaceutical innovation. Shah laid the foundation stone for the BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre in Gandhinagar. This facility, the first of its kind being built by a state government in India, is expected to become a key hub for high-level biosafety research.

Shah highlighted that the BSL-4 facility, constructed at a cost of ₹362 crore over an 11,000-square-meter complex, will provide a safe environment for research on highly infectious and deadly viruses. “For many years, India lagged behind in cutting-edge research,” he said. “With this facility, young scientists in the biotechnology sector will get new opportunities, and India will be able to advance in this critical field. The facility will become a strong fortress of the nation’s biosecurity.” The BSL-4 lab will be India’s second high-level laboratory after the National Institute of Virology in Pune, and it will serve as a critical platform for research and innovation in virology and infectious disease management.

In addition to the BSL-4 laboratory, Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for the Pharmaceutical Academy for Global Excellence (PAGE) at Sanathal, Ahmedabad. PAGE is an industry-led national skilling initiative by members of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), who have committed USD 50 million towards the initiative. The program is designed to enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality capabilities in India, fostering advanced skills, quality excellence, and collaboration between industry and academia.

Shah emphasized that the pharmaceutical sector is a strategic national asset, crucial for public health, economic strength, and global trust in India’s capabilities. “PAGE is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, strengthening domestic capabilities through advanced skills, quality excellence, and industry–academia collaboration,” he said. “Under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, India will move decisively from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Discover and Make in India,’ with quality and innovation as pillars of growth.”

The minister also unveiled the India Pharma Archives, commemorating 25 years of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the IIM Ahmedabad Archives, documents the evolution of India’s pharmaceutical sector—from post-independence import dependence to its current position as a globally trusted producer of affordable and quality-assured medicines and vaccines. The archives include oral histories of industry founders, scientific leaders, and policymakers, alongside a coffee table book, The Alchemy of Cure, and a digital platform adhering to rigorous academic standards.

Dr Sharvil Patel, President of IPA and Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences, highlighted the significance of PAGE and the India Pharma Archives. “PAGE represents the industry’s collective commitment to building world-class manufacturing and quality capabilities through skilled talent, practical training, and strong quality systems,” Patel said. “The Alchemy of Cure captures 25 years of India’s pharmaceutical journey—driven by science, enterprise, and purpose—and preserves this legacy to inspire future generations and reinforce India’s role in advancing global health.”

Shah’s remarks at Mansa and his participation in these inaugurations underscore a dual focus on India’s cultural resilience and its emergence as a scientific and industrial power. By linking the enduring legacy of the Somnath temple with cutting-edge initiatives in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, Shah framed a narrative in which India’s historical and spiritual heritage coexists with modern innovation and scientific advancement.

Through the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, Shah highlighted the symbolic importance of India’s cultural monuments as embodiments of national pride, faith, and identity. By emphasizing that attempts to destroy cultural and spiritual institutions have failed repeatedly, he reinforced the message that India’s civilization, ethos, and values remain intact despite centuries of external challenges.

Simultaneously, initiatives like the BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility and PAGE showcase India’s ambition to be at the forefront of scientific research, innovation, and global health solutions. The focus on building domestic capabilities in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals is aligned with the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aiming to make India self-reliant in critical sectors while also contributing to global solutions in public health and biosecurity.

Shah’s address and the series of inaugurations also reflect a broader vision under the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework, which seeks to balance India’s rich historical and cultural legacy with forward-looking investments in technology, education, and industry. By celebrating India’s spiritual and cultural resilience while simultaneously promoting initiatives that enhance national scientific and industrial capacity, the events in Gandhinagar offered a holistic vision of India’s past achievements, present capabilities, and future ambitions.

In conclusion, Amit Shah’s remarks at Mansa, coupled with the foundation-laying and inauguration events in Gujarat, sent a clear message about the inseparability of India’s cultural heritage and its drive for modern advancement. By celebrating the millennium of the Somnath temple, establishing a state-of-the-art BSL-4 laboratory, launching PAGE, and unveiling the India Pharma Archives, Shah reinforced India’s dual narrative of enduring cultural faith and scientific progress. His statements and initiatives collectively underscore that India’s Sanatan Dharma, culture, and traditions are not only preserved but continue to inspire a forward-looking vision of national development, innovation, and global leadership.