Amit Shah Urges Youth to Read Tilak’s ‘Gita Rahasya’, Highlights Legacy of National Awakening

Pune, Aug 2026 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday urged young people to read Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s seminal work Gita Rahasya, saying the book offers practical guidance for navigating life and avoiding mistakes. Shah was speaking in Pune while presenting the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Recalling Tilak’s contribution to India’s freedom movement, Shah said the nationalist leader played a pivotal role in awakening political and social consciousness among Indians and transforming the idea of Swaraj into a mass movement.

Addressing the gathering, Shah said he had obtained a Gujarati edition of Gita Rahasya and strongly recommended it to young people.

“I appeal to the youth: Read Tilak’s Gita, and I guarantee you will never make a mistake in your life,” Shah said, describing the book as a practical interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita. He said Tilak’s work explains how ordinary people can incorporate the teachings of the Gita into their everyday lives.

Shah was speaking against the backdrop of heightened political debate in the country following protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. While the issue has generated strong reactions from political parties and sparked discussions in Parliament, Shah did not directly refer to the agitation in his address.

Instead, he focused on Tilak’s philosophy and his contribution to India’s national movement, urging the younger generation to draw inspiration from his life and writings.

Tilak’s role in awakening nationalism

Shah highlighted Tilak’s contribution through journalism, particularly through the newspapers Kesari and Mahratta. He said the publications played a major role in spreading nationalist ideas and challenging British colonial rule.

“If there were newspapers the British truly feared, they were Kesari and Mahratta,” Shah said, underlining Tilak’s influence in shaping public opinion.

According to Shah, Tilak believed that political freedom could not be sustained without awakening national consciousness among the people. He said the nationalist leader understood that independence required not merely political action but also a deep sense of collective identity and responsibility.

Shah also recalled Tilak’s use of public and cultural events, including Ganesh Utsav, to bring people together and create a sense of unity during the freedom struggle.

He said Tilak successfully transformed cultural platforms into instruments of social mobilisation, enabling people from different sections of society to participate in the nationalist movement.

Praise for Ajit Doval

Shah also praised NSA Ajit Doval for his distinguished contribution to India’s national security while presenting him with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award.

He thanked the Tilak Smarak Trust for inviting him to present the honour and said awards such as the Tilak Award provide society with an opportunity to recognise individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the nation.

Shah observed that when an individual makes an extraordinary contribution to the country, their achievements can elevate them beyond the status of an individual and turn them into an institution in their own right.

Honouring such personalities, he said, represents society’s expression of gratitude while simultaneously inspiring others to follow their example.

Shah expressed confidence that Doval’s recognition would inspire citizens, particularly young people, to dedicate themselves to national service.

Tilak’s relevance in modern India

Reflecting on Tilak’s enduring legacy, Shah said the nationalist leader’s ideas remain relevant even today. He highlighted Tilak’s emphasis on Swaraj, Swadeshi and self-reliance, saying these principles continue to influence India’s development journey.

He linked Tilak’s vision of economic nationalism and indigenous production with the contemporary Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, suggesting that the emphasis on self-reliance has deep roots in India’s freedom movement.

Shah said Tilak’s life demonstrated how an individual could mobilise society, inspire national consciousness and create lasting institutions through journalism, public engagement and political leadership.

The Home Minister’s address therefore centred on the continuing relevance of Tilak’s philosophy for India’s youth, particularly his emphasis on duty, national consciousness, self-reliance and active participation in nation-building.