Those Who Want to Understand Democracy Must Learn from India: Yogi Adityanath

Chief Minister Yogi releases the book ‘Early North India and Its Coins’

CM Yogi highlights India’s unity and democratic tradition through numismatic evidence

‘Early North India and Its Coins’ challenges Western misinformation with facts and evidence: CM Yogi

Lucknow, January 2026 : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that India has always given primacy to evidence rooted in its Sanatan culture and history. He said the book ‘Early North India and Its Coins’ is an important document that presents India’s democratic consciousness, historical unity, and thousands-of-years-old cultural heritage with proof, while offering a factual response to long-standing Western misinformation. He said that anyone who wants to understand democracy must learn from India. In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said during the G20 Summit that India is not only the world’s largest democracy but also the mother of democracy. Vaishali stands as proof, being one of the world’s earliest republics.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath released the book ‘Early North India and Its Coins’, published by the Hinduja Foundation, at the auditorium of the Chief Minister’s residence on Thursday. On this occasion, he also viewed rare and ancient historical coins collected by the Foundation. A short film showcasing the Hinduja Foundation’s public welfare initiatives was also screened during the programme.

India Gave Equal Opportunity to All
The Chief Minister said there is hardly any race, sect, or community in the world that India has not helped or provided refuge to flourish. He said that only India can proclaim, “Ayam nijah paro veti ganana laghuchetasam, udarcharitanam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam” (The narrow-minded differentiate between their own and others; for the magnanimous, the world is one family). Citing “Durlabham Bharate janma, manushyam tatra durlabham”, he said being born in India is a fortune, and being born as a human is even rarer. He added that Western scholars long propagated the idea that India was never a single entity, whereas the Partition of 1947 itself was the result of a British conspiracy. Referring to the verse “Uttaram yat samudrasya himadreschaiva dakshinam…”, he said this is Bharatvarsha, which historically included present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh. Those who forget this ancient legacy are the ones who question India’s unity.

Authentic History of India Preserved in Coins
CM Yogi said the book documents copper, silver, and alloy coins from regions such as Ayodhya, Mathura, Kaushambi, Kashi, and Panchala, which authenticate the historical, geographical, and trade conditions of their times. He said India has always presented its narrative with facts and evidence, while Western countries tried to distort history by claiming democracy as their own contribution.

Sanatan Tradition of Measurement, Currency, and Science
The Chief Minister said India was the first to establish a scientific system of measurement and weights. Units like masha and tola are still in use today, especially in weighing metals and gold. Ancient coin standards were also based on the same scientific system, reflecting India’s advanced intellectual tradition. Calling the Mauryan period India’s golden age, he said India’s share in the world economy was 46 percent at that time. It remained 24 percent till the 15th century but declined to 1.5–2 percent at Independence due to foreign exploitation. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has now become the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Vision 2047 and Pride in Heritage
CM Yogi said Prime Minister Modi’s Vision 2047, with five pledges and 11 resolutions, connects every Indian, with the first pledge being pride in heritage. The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, the redevelopment of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, and the preservation of Sanatan heritage are concrete manifestations of this vision.

Savitri–Satyavan Supported by Historical Evidence
Author Prof. Devendra Handa said that a coin preserved in the British Museum bears the inscription ‘Savitri Putra Janapadasa’, proving that the Savitri–Satyavan story is not imaginary but rooted in real events of Sanatan history. He also mentioned coins of the Madra kingdom and descendants of Porus, which challenge prevailing historical assumptions.

Hinduja Foundation’s Research-Oriented Effort
Ashok Hinduja of the Hinduja Group said the time has come for India to present its Sanatan culture to the world with scientific research and evidence, and this book is an important step in that direction. Praising CM Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, he expressed confidence in continued investment in Uttar Pradesh. The event was attended by Hinduja Group trustee PP Hinduja, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh, author Prof. Devendra Handa, and senior members and officials of the Hinduja family.