All religions and all communities have the same rights, and it is

The words of Narendra Modi — “All religions and all communities have the same rights, and it is my responsibility to ensure their complete and total protection. My government will not tolerate or accept any discrimination based on caste, creed and religion.” — shine like a sacred flame in an age shadowed by division. They are not merely a promise of governance; they are a vow drawn from the heart of an ancient civilization, one that has for millennia taught that unity in diversity is not a burden, but a blessing. In these words resounds the timeless rhythm of the Vedas, the Quran, the Bible, and every scripture that has ever spoken of peace and justice — a call to uphold equality, to honor the sacred dignity of every human soul.

The origin of this proclamation lies in the spirit of India, the land where countless faiths have walked side by side, where temples and mosques have shared the same skyline, and where chants and prayers rise together into the same eternal sky. Modi’s words are an echo of the Constitution’s promise — that no man or woman shall be judged by their birth, but by their deeds; that no faith shall cast a shadow over another. It is a reaffirmation that governance, in its highest form, must not be an instrument of power but a shield for justice.

In the tone of a guardian-king, the speaker proclaims his responsibility — not as ruler, but as protector. For true leadership is not dominion, but duty. When he declares that his government shall not tolerate discrimination, he evokes the ancient dharmic code — that righteousness must prevail over bias, and justice must serve all, not a chosen few. The righteous leader stands as a bridge between hearts, ensuring that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of respect.

History, too, offers us lessons carved in struggle and sacrifice. Recall the story of Emperor Ashoka, who, after the carnage of Kalinga, renounced conquest by the sword and embraced the conquest of compassion. He carved upon stone pillars across the land the words of tolerance and mercy, decreeing that all sects should dwell in mutual respect. His empire was not merely of land, but of conscience. Like Ashoka, Modi’s words call us to this higher realm — where strength lies not in uniformity, but in the harmony of difference.

Yet these ideals are not sustained by governments alone. A law can decree equality, but only the human heart can embody it. Each person, in the small kingdom of their own life, must be a just ruler. To look upon another’s faith with hatred is to wound the spirit of humanity itself; to protect another’s right to worship is to strengthen your own. The walls of caste, creed, and religion are not built by stone — they are built by fear. And fear, when faced with understanding, crumbles like dust.

The teaching here is profound: True civilization begins where prejudice ends. No nation can prosper while its children distrust one another. The might of a country does not rest in its armies or wealth, but in the moral courage of its people — in their ability to see in another’s eyes the same divine spark that burns within themselves. This is the essence of dharma, of justice, of humanity’s shared destiny.

Therefore, let each of us take up this sacred charge. In our homes, let us teach our children not the language of division, but of respect. In our workplaces, let merit triumph over name and lineage. In our hearts, let us root out the poison of superiority, for every soul carries the same divine light. To live by this principle is not weakness — it is the highest strength, the strength to embrace the world as one family, as the ancients taught: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — “The world is one family.”

And when future generations ask how we preserved peace in an age of anger, let them remember that we, too, stood guard over the flame of equality, and refused to let it die. For in protecting the rights of others, we safeguard the soul of humanity itself. Let these words — “All religions and all communities have the same rights” — be carved not on monuments of stone, but upon the living hearts of men, so that the melody of justice may echo through all ages to come.