Somnath Is India’s Swabhiman Gatha: PM Modi Reframes 1,000-Year-Old Attack as Saga of Resilience

On 1,000 Years of Somnath Attack, PM Modi Says Destroyers Vanished but India’s Faith Endured.

Marking 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, January 5, 2026, reframed the historic milestone as a powerful narrative of India’s civilization resilience rather than one of destruction.

In a strongly worded Op-Ed titled “Somnath Swabhiman Parv: 1,000 Years of Unbroken Faith,” the Prime Minister described Somnath as a living symbol of India’s self-respect and unyielding spirit, stating that while aggressors who sought to erase the shrine have faded into history, the temple continues to stand “bright and radiant.”

Emphasising that Somnath’s legacy belongs to the countless Indians who rebuilt it after repeated attacks, PM Modi called it a “song of hope” that proves faith and conviction outlast hate and fanaticism. Drawing a direct link between the temple’s revival and India’s modern journey, he said Somnath’s resurgence mirrors the nation’s push towards Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, K.M. Munshi, Ahilyabai Holkar and Dr. Rajendra Prasad for safeguarding and restoring the shrine, noting that 2026 marks not only a millennium since the invasion but also 75 years since the reconstructed temple was opened to devotees, reinforcing Somnath’s place as an enduring pillar of India’s cultural and spiritual identity.