Page 13 - NIS English 1-15 Feb, 2026

PM’s Article | SPECIAL
Even after a thousand years, the sea
at Somnath still roars with the same
intensity as it did back then. The waves
that wash the shores of Somnath tell a
story. No matter what, just like the waves,
it kept rising again and again.
Indeed, as the title of Munshi Ji’s book
conveys, we are a civilisation that carries a
sense of conviction about the eternity of spirit
and of ideas. We firmly believe that which is
eternal is indestructible, as outlined in the
ै
famous Gita verse “नानां छि�न्दन्तिन्� शस्त्रााछि��”. There
can be no better example of our civilisation’s
indomitable spirit than Somnath, which stands
gloriously, overcoming odds and struggles.
It is this same spirit that is visible in our
nation, one of the brightest spots of global
growth, having overcome centuries of inva-
sions and colonial loot. It is our value systems
and the determination of our people that
have made India the centre of global attention
today. The world is seeing India with hope and
optimism. They want to invest in our innovative
youngsters. Our art, culture, music and several
festivals are going global. Yoga and Ayurveda
are making a worldwide impact, boosting
healthy living. Solutions to some of the most
pressing global challenges are coming from
India.
Since time immemorial, Somnath has
brought together people from different walks
of life. Centuries ago, Kalikal Sarvagna Hem-
chandracharya, a respected Jain monk, came
to Somnath. It is said that after praying there,
he recited a verse, “भवबीीजााङ्कुराजानानाा राागााद्याा�
क्षयमुपगा�ा यस्य।”. It means - Salutations to That
One in whom the seeds of worldly becoming
are destroyed, in whom passion and all afflic-
tions have withered away.” Today, Somnath
holds the same ability to awaken something
profound within the mind and soul.
A thousand years after the first attack in
1026, the sea at Somnath still roars with the
same intensity as it did back then. The waves
that wash the shores of Somnath tell a story.
No matter what, just like the waves, it kept
rising again and again.
The aggressors of the past are now dust in
the wind, their names synonymous with de-
struction. They are footnotes in the annals of
history, while Somnath stands bright, radiating
far beyond the horizon, reminding us of the
eternal spirit that remained undiminished by
the attack of 1026. Somnath is a song of hope
that tells us that while hate and fanaticism may
have the power to destroy for a moment, faith
and conviction in the power of goodness have
the power to create for eternity.
If the Somnath Temple, which was attacked
a thousand years ago and faced continuous
attacks thereon, could rise again and again,
then we can surely restore our great nation
to the glory it embodied a thousand years ago
before the invasions. With the blessings of
Shree Somnath Mahadev, we move forward
with a renewed resolve to build a Viksit Bharat,
where civilisational wisdom guides us to work
for the welfare of the whole world. n
Jai Somnath!
February 1-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 11