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On Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the importance of safeguarding the nation's culture and civilization, equating it with the protection of its borders. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of Swami Satyamitranand's statue at the Saptarishi Ashram in Haridwar, Singh urged for the preservation of India's cultural identity and values, warning that weakened cultural roots could lead to disintegration.

He stated that a nation cannot be truly secure unless its cultural foundations, values, and identity are protected. As the Defence Minister, he expressed that the role typically associated with this position extends beyond just securing borders and armed forces. He believes that national security encompasses much more, including the safeguarding of cultural identity and civilization.

Emphasizing the cultural significance for the nation, Singh pointed out that history shows nations that allowed their cultural roots to weaken eventually faced disintegration, regardless of their military strength. He remarked that today, our culture stands on an invisible battlefield, facing various attacks that distort our glorious history. The younger generation is drifting away from local culture, making it imperative to return to our cultural roots.

He called upon saints and spiritual leaders to engage with the youth to promote social harmony and national unity. Singh, a proponent of "cultural nationalism," argued that India's unity stems from its saintly traditions. He emphasized that saints and spiritual gurus should play a central role in this renaissance, urging them to connect more with the youth through modern communication channels. The greatest strength of our culture lies in its unity, and we must elevate ourselves from mere nationalism to cultural nationalism. The concept of the nation emerged not from swords but from the ashrams of sages, and India's unity is maintained by its saints, who represent our greatest strength.

He further noted that our saintly tradition illustrates that it is possible to progress while preserving the soul. He questioned what India would be today if Shankaracharya had remained confined to one place. Singh stressed the necessity of protecting Indian culture from "external attacks" and praised the initiatives by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, such as startups and cultural revival efforts aimed at safeguarding Indian culture.