Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that every part of Bharat is sacred, bound together by a sense of oneness that transcends geography, and in a world often marked by divisions, this spirit of unity is more relevant than ever.

Modi, in a signed article marking 75 years since the restored Somnath Temple was reopened to devotees, said the struggles and sacrifices of those who laid down their lives to protect the temple in Gujarat and those who rebuilt it time and again will never be forgotten.

He said in a world often marked by divisions, this spirit of unity is more relevant than ever and Somnath will continue to stand tall in all its glory because the sense of unity and shared civilisational consciousness lives on in the hearts of every Indian.

“Countless individuals from different corners of India contributed to restoring its glory. They saw every part of Bharat as sacred, bound together by a sense of oneness that transcended geography. In a world often marked by divisions, this spirit of unity is more relevant than ever,” he said.

He said as a tribute to this, remembering the extraordinary courage of a thousand years, there will be special pujas at Somnath for the next thousand days. It is gladdening to see several people donating for these pujas as well, he said.

“I urge my fellow Indians to travel to Somnath in this special time. When you stand on the shores of Somnath, let its ancient echoes speak to you. You will not only be overwhelmed by devotion but will also feel the strong pulse of a civilisational spirit that refuses to fade, that is unbroken and unyielding,” he said.

Modi said the devotees will experience Bharat’s unconquerable spirit and understand why, despite every effort, the Indian culture remained undefeated and the people will have the opportunity to behold the vision of eternal triumph, which will surely be unforgettable.

The prime minister said that at the start of 2026, he had gone to Somnath for the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, marking a thousand years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple.

Now, he said, he will be back in Somnath on May 11 to mark 75 years since the inauguration of the restored temple by the then President of India, Rajendra Prasad.

He said that in less than half a year, it is a privilege to be attending two important milestones relating to Somnath and its journey from ruin to renewal or what everyone describes as from Vidhvans to Srijan.

“Somnath gives us a civilisational message. The vast sea before it evokes timelessness. The waves tell us that no matter how fierce the storms are or how turbulent the tides are, one can always rise again with dignity and strength.

“The waves return to the shore, as though reminding every generation that the spirit of the people can never be subdued for long,” he said.

Modi said Indian ancient scriptures say that a ‘pradakshina’ of the divine Somnath is equal to a ‘pradakshina’ of the whole earth. He said while people have come here to pray, they have also experienced the remarkable continuity of a civilisation whose flame could never be extinguished.

“Empires rose and fell, tides changed, history moved through conquest and upheaval, yet Somnath continued to endure in our consciousness. It is time to remember the countless greats who stood firm in the face of tyranny,” he said.

The prime minister said there were Lakulisha and Soma Sarman, who transformed Prabhasa into a great centre of philosophy.

He said Chakravarti Maharaja Dharasena IV of Vallabhi built the Second Temple there centuries ago and Bhima Deva, Jayapala and Anandapala will always be remembered for defending civilisational honour against invasions.

Modi said it is said that Raja Bhoja, too, helped with the reconstruction and Karna Deva and Siddharaja Jayasimha played a vital role in restoring Gujarat’s political and cultural strength.

Bhava Brihaspati, Kumarapala Solanki and the Pashupata Acharyas rebuilt and sustained the shrine as a great centre of worship and learning and Vishaladeva Vaghela and Tripurantaka protected its intellectual and spiritual traditions, he said.

“Mahipaladeva and Ra Khangar were instrumental in reviving worship after destruction. Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar, whose 300th birth centenary is being marked, ensured the continuity of devotion in the most difficult of times,” he said.

The PM said there were the Gaekwads of Baroda, who safeguarded the rights of pilgrims, and the country’s soil is blessed to have nurtured brave personalities like Veer Hamirji Gohil and Veer Vegdaji Bhil, whose sacrifice and courage have become a part of Somnath’s living memory.

In the 1940s, he said, when the spirit of freedom swept across India and the foundations of a new republic were being laid under the leadership of towering figures like Sardar Patel, one thing continued to trouble him deeply — the condition of Somnath.

“On 13th November 1947, during Diwali time, he stood next to the dilapidated ruins of the temple with sea-water in his hands and said, ‘On this auspicious day of the (Gujarati) New Year, we have decided that Somnath should be reconstructed. You, people of Saurashtra, should do your best. This is a holy task in which all should participate,” he said.

Modi said following the clarion call of Sardar Patel, it was not only the people of Gujarat but also the people of the whole of India responded enthusiastically.

Unfortunately, he said, fate did not allow Sardar Patel to witness the fulfilment of the dream he had so passionately championed as before the restored Somnath Temple could open its doors to devotees, he had departed from this world.

Yet, his (Patel’s) impact continued to be felt over the sacred shores of Prabhas Patan, he said.

“His vision was championed by Shri KM Munshi, ably supported by the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar. In 1951, when the temple was complete, it was decided to call the President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, for the ceremony. Overcoming strong objections from the then Prime Minister Pandit Nehru, Dr Prasad graced the ceremony, thus making it even more special and historic,” he said.

Modi said his mind also goes back to October 2001, when he had just taken over as chief minister of Gujarat and on October 31, 2001, the Jayanti of Sardar Patel, the Gujarat government had the honour of organising a programme to mark 50 years since the Somnath Temple opened its doors.

He said it also coincided with the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Patel and the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then Home Minister LK Advani attended the programme.

Modi said during his speech on May 11, 1951, President Rajendra Prasad said that the Somnath Temple proclaims to the world that anything with unparalleled faith and love cannot be destroyed. Prasad expressed hope that this temple will live in the hearts of people.

“He (Prasad) also said that the restoration of the temple was a fulfilment of Sardar Patel’s dream, but taking that spirit forward, it is important that we restore prosperity to the lives of people. These are important and inspiring messages he gave,” he said.

“This is the path we have been walking for over a decade. I consider it my good fortune that, inspired by the principle of ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’, from Somnath to Kashi, Kamakhya to Kedarnath, Ayodhya to Ujjain, Trimbakeshwar to Srisailam, our team has had the opportunity to equip our spiritual centres with the latest facilities while at the same time preserving their traditional character,” Modi said.

This, he said, along with efforts to improve connectivity, ensures more people can visit them and it boosts the local economy, secures livelihoods and deepens the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.

Two former Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve over graft charges on Thursday, official media reported.

Wei and his successor Li, who worked under President Xi Jinping’s watch, were expelled from the ruling Communist Party in 2024.

Wei served as Defence Minister from 2018 to 2023, and Li barely served a few months as his successor.

Li, a Chinese aerospace engineer who headed the People’s Liberation Army’s all-important Rocket (Missile) Force, was personally picked up for the top defence post by Xi himself. (PTI)

A river runs through it, cleaving the village between India on side of the gushing waters and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and  Kashmir on the other. If Operation Sindoor has a ground zero, it is Simari where the sound of artillery fire still echoes for villagers trying to shake off memories from that night one year ago.

It is from this frontier village surrounded by high mountains that the Army fired shells across the Krishan Ganga river to signal the start of Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 6-7, 2025, India’s response to the terror attack in Pahalgam to dismantle terror outlets in Pakistan.

One year on, silence seems to have settled over the picturesque hamlet on the foothills of the Shamshabari mountains in Tangdhar sector, about 180 km from Srinagar. Life has resumed its everyday routine but outsiders are met with quiet and a certain distrust. Many walk away, saying they only understand Pahari.

Simari, at the literal edge of the country, has a population of 500 and just about 80 houses. There are a dozen odd modern concrete structures alongside traditional mud and timber dwellings. If it were not for the roaring river waters, people from one side to the other could literally shout out to be heard. The river is also a constant reminder that this is a divided land – both literally and metaphorically.

And Operation Sindoor was felt not as a news report about what is happening to others but as a storm of fire passing overhead. Ghulam Qadir is amongst the few who talks, albeit reluctantly. “We didn’t just hear the about the war… we felt it as shells lit the skies,” Qadir told PTI. Community bunkers were home for the few days after that first night of shelling.

He is proud of his village. Simari’s local middle school has been designated Polling Booth Number One. A hand-painted slogan greets visitors with the declaration: ‘Democracy starts from here’.

“Now you should understand we are the first village in the country and the torch bearers of democracy in the country,” he snapped back when asked how it felt to be the resident of the country’s last village.

The school is sign of Simari’s resilience. Despite being physically separated from the rest of the country by a security fence, people here view themselves as the primary guardians of the country’s democracy. The village is mainly dependent on army troops deployed in the area and many work as labourers for them.

As commemorative events are held across the country to mark the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, life in Simari is a delicate balance between everyday mundaneness and the fear that their village’s very remoteness could make them the centre of conflict.

For Iqbal, the drones from across the border were more difficult to deal with than the shelling. The Army opened fire several times to thwart their advances.

“Some of the intruding objects (drones) fell in our area. These were successfully removed by the Army,” he said, lauding the Army for providing all kinds of relief during those turbulent days.

Located eight kilometres from Teetwal area, which was developed under the border tourism plan, accessing the village is not easy. Tarred roads give way to landslides and fast flowing waters from the slopes around.

The language spoken is Pahari and the culture and customs differ from the Kashmiri heartland or Kupwara district in North Kashmir.

India carried out airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. About 100 terrorists were killed. (Agencies)

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said population control policies and the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code required public cooperation and long-term thinking, and asserted that caste-based politics would disappear only when society stopped identifying with caste divisions.

Addressing an interaction session after delivering a lecture on “Social Harmony as a Catalyst for National Development” at JSS Mahavidyapeetha here, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief also called for harmony among religions and communities. He urged people to practise equality in social life through conduct rather than slogans.

“Because society remembers caste, politicians take advantage of it. Their legitimate aim is to get votes. If they cannot get votes through work, they will get votes through caste,” he said.

Replying to a question on the Population Control Bill and Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Bhagwat said the RSS was not the government but a social organisation and emphasised that laws could succeed only with public participation.

“People must first be educated. Policy is necessary, but policy can only succeed with public cooperation,” he said.

Referring to population control measures during the Emergency period, Bhagwat said aggressive enforcement had led to public resentment and  political backlash. (Agencies)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Operation Sindoor stands as an “epochal mission” of India that will always remind the country’s enemies of the infallible striking power of the armed forces.

In a message X on the first anniversary of the Operation, he said history will remember it as the day of precise striking power of the armed forces, meticulous intelligence of the country’s agencies, and resolute political will rising together as one to destroy each and every address of terror across the border that dared to cast an evil shadow on citizens at Pahalgam.

“This day will continue to bring the dreadful message to our enemies that no matter where they hide, they cannot escape. They are always within our sight and the fierce wrath of our firepower. On this day, I salute the unparalleled valour of our forces,” he said.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, carrying out airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The action triggered a rapid escalation in tensions with Pakistan launching retaliatory strikes, though most of them were thwarted by the Indian military. The hostilities ended with an understanding on halting the military actions on May 10 following talks over the hotline between army officials of the two sides. (Agencies)