• News
  • India News
  • Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project: How BJP is casting PM Modi in Hindu queen Ahilyabai Holkar's mould
This story is from December 13, 2021

Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project: How BJP is casting PM Modi in Hindu queen Ahilyabai Holkar's mould

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project on Monday, one more feather has been added to his cap about conservation of temples. While queen Ahilyabai Holkar is known as the greatest leader for constructing and conserving a large number of temples throughout the country in the 18th century, the BJP seeks to project PM Modi as the only Hindu leader in the modern times who comes close to her in this effort.
Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project: How BJP is casting PM Modi in Hindu queen Ahilyabai Holkar's mould
Kashi Vishwanath Dham illuminated with lights on Sunday, a day ahead of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi on Monday. PTI photo
NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project on Monday, one more feather has been added to his cap about conservation of temples. While queen Ahilyabai Holkar is known as the greatest leader for constructing and conserving a large number of temples throughout the country in the 18th century, the BJP seeks to project PM Modi as the only Hindu leader in the modern times who comes close to her in this effort.
1x1 polls

Ahilyabai Holkar was a Maratha queen with her seat of power at Maheshwar, south of Indore and on the banks of Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh. Besides being an able administrator and fighter, she is famous for building and renovating several temples throughout the country.
The BJP is trying to project Prime Minister Modi as the greatest Hindu leader after Independence who has set a task of renovating temples not just in the country but even in foreign countries.

PM Modi to unveil Kashi Vishwanath Dham in grand ceremony on December 13


Haryana
Jammu & Kashmir
  • Alliance View
    i
  • Party View
Seats: 90
Results
Majority: 46
BJP
48
CONG
37
INLD
2
AAP
0
OTH
3

Results: 90/90

BJP WON
Source: PValue
The BJP is touting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives to renovate and restore temples as a major achievement of a Hindu leader. While the temples lay in a state of neglect due to the government of the day turning a blind eye to their condition, Modi has turned his focus on their restoration.
He is sought to be presented as a contrast to first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who was known to be against the restoration of Somnath temple in Gujarat, calling it attempts at “Hindu revivalism”. Nehru had even tried to convince first President Rajendra Prasad not to visit the inauguration ceremony of the restored Somnath temple but to no avail.

That was the only time after Independence that the state was involved in the restoration of a temple. The scenario changed after Modi became the chief minister of Gujarat in October 2001. It was the Somnath temple first.
However, after becoming the PM in May 2014, he has undertaken the initiative for the restoration of a number of temples. He leads and presides over all the temple reconstruction initiatives underway at sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites. This matches the efforts of only Ahilyabai Holkar who is known for constructing and restoring a number of temples.

A look at the revamped Kashi Vishwanath Corridor


The BJP plans to showcase the event in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh (UP) to project Modi as a great Hindu leader who has taken upon himself the onerous task of restoring temples such as at Ayodhya, Somnath, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday tweeted in Hindi: "Since becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi has continuously worked with full devotion to give the holy places of Sanatan culture their true identity. Be it Shri Ram Janmabhoomi or the grand form of Vishwanath Dham, it is a matter of great fortune for all of us to be a witness to all these."

Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple was renovated by Ahilya Holkar after it was destroyed by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. After her, it is Narendra Modi who has taken the initiative to restore its lost glory after almost 250 years, BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh said while informing about the inauguration programme.
Even before he became the prime minister, Modi had made his intentions clear about serving the ancient city of Kashi. While filing the nomination form for the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Varanasi, he said, "Neither I have come here, nor I have been brought here but Mother Ganga has beckoned me."
The other leader from whom Modi seems to seek inspiration is Mahatma Gandhi. In his work ‘My life is my message’, Gandhiji writes about his bitter experience he encountered during his visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
At the inauguration of the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) on February 4, 1916, Gandhi bluntly said in his speech: “I want to think audibly this evening. I do not want to make a speech and if you find me this evening speaking without reserve, pray, consider that you are only sharing the thoughts of a man who allows himself to think audibly, and if you think that I seem to transgress the limits that courtesy imposes upon me, pardon me for the liberty I may be taking.
“I visited the Vishwanath temple last evening, and as I was walking through those lanes, these were the thoughts that touched me. If a stranger dropped from above on to this great temple, and he had to consider what we as Hindus were, would he not be justified in condemning us? Is not this great temple a reflection of our own character? I speak feelingly, as a Hindu. Is it right that the lanes of our sacred temple should be as dirty as they are? The houses roundabout are built anyhow. The lanes are tortuous and narrow. If even our temples are not models of roominess and cleanliness, what can our self-government be? Shall our temples be abodes of holiness, cleanliness and peace as soon as the English have retired from India, either of their own pleasure or by compulsion, bag and baggage?” Mahatma Gandhi said.
Modi launched the ambitious Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project on March 8, 2019 to redevelop and revamp the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir complex in Varanasi on the banks of River Ganges. His vision was to clear the clutter, expand the premises and restore the lost grandeur of the temple.
The government acquired about 400 buildings without any litigation. While demolishing these buildings, 40 ancient temples were also recovered. Now, a smooth link has been established between the river and the temple.
The government has made elaborate arrangements to celebrate the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project with plans to light lakhs of earthen lamps (diyas) along the bank of River Ganges. Chief ministers, deputy CMs and their families of all BJP-ruled states have been invited for the occasion.
A live-streaming of the event has been arranged for the BJP MPs who would be present in Delhi for the ongoing winter session of Parliament.
The BJP has chalked out a plan to celebrate the occasion not only for one day but for a month "To make this once-in-a-lifetime historical and unprecedented event, BJP president JP Nadda has planned several events at the party-level. For one month, starting on December 13, 2021 and till January 14, 2022 (Makar Sankranti), various programmes and events will be organised across the country," Chugh said.
The inauguration of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project comes barely a couple of months before the assembly elections in five states, including UP. When the month-long festival ends, the Election Commission may likely have announced the poll schedule of the five states.
Ram temple at Ayodhya
For over five centuries, the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue remained a bone of contention between the Hindus and Muslims. The case was pending in the courts for seven decades.
The BJP claims that the matter was expedited in the court only after the Modi government came to power in 2014 and finally the Supreme Court decided it in favour of Hindus on November 9, 2019.
After the verdict, Narendra Modi laid the foundation of the construction of a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya in August 2020, thus fulfilling the long-cherished dreams of the people.
Somnath Temple complex
As Gujarat CM, Narendra Modi undertook initiatives for the beautification and face-lifting of the Somnath Temple complex. Recently, he inaugurated a seaside promenade and an exhibition centre.
Under his chairmanship, the Shri Somnath Trust is working for maintaining and improving the glory of the Somnath Temple which represents the dream of first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who came from Gujarat.
Kedarnath Dham
The Modi government undertook the redevelopment of Kedarnath Dham which saw widespread destruction in the 2013 floods. While the entire temple complex has been restored and completely transformed, new precincts have also been added to restore the temple to its full glory.
PM Modi recently inaugurated the redeveloped Kedarnath Temple premises and the initiative was a cause personally dear to him. It represented the fulfillment of the promise that he made to himself in 2013 and later to people during his 2017 speech, he said.
Restoration of temples in Kashmir
The Modi government has launched the renovation work of several temples in Srinagar ever since Article 370 was nullified and Jammu Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019.
According to some estimates, there are a total of 1,842 Hindu places of worship in Kashmir including temples, shrines, holy springs, caves and trees. Of the 952 temples, while 212 are functional, 740 are in a dilapidated condition.
The first temple which is being restored is the Raghunath temple, situated on the banks of the river Jhelum in Srinagar. The temple dedicated to Lord Ram was first constructed by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1835.
Char Dham Pariyojana
The Modi government also embarked on linking four pilgrimage sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath through the Char Dham Pariyojana (project). It has sanctioned the construction of a modern and expansive all-weather Char Dham road network connecting the four sites.
Construction of a railway line parallel to the road network is also in progress to link the holy city of Rishikesh with Karnprayag. It is likely to be operational by 2025.
Temple building and restoration in foreign countries
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives to restore temples is not limited to India alone. He has launched building and restoration of temples also in foreign countries.
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the first ever Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
In 2019, he launched the $4.2 million redevelopment project of the 200-year-old Lord Sri Krishna Shreenathji temple in Manama.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA