BJP chief Nitin Nabin invokes Sant Ravidas ideals in Viksit Bharat push
Synopsis
At a New Delhi event marking Sant Ravidas's 650th birth anniversary, BJP chief Nitin Nabin formally launched the Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan — framing the saint's ideals of equality and selfless service as the philosophical backbone of the party's Viksit Bharat 2047 agenda. The year-long campaign signals a deliberate BJP push to consolidate Scheduled Caste support through cultural mobilisation.
Key Takeaways
BJP national president Nitin Nabin launched the Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 24 August .
The campaign is anchored in the ideals of Sant Ravidas , marking his 650th birth anniversary .
Nabin cited 25 crore people lifted out of poverty under the Modi government as evidence of inclusive development.
The BJP will observe Sant Ravidas's birth anniversary year until February next year with nationwide programmes.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta , MoS Harsh Malhotra , and SC Morcha president Shivesh Kumar Ram were among senior leaders present.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Monday, 24 August declared that the party's march toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is being steered by the ideals of Sant Ravidas and the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nabin made the remarks at the Mati Kalash Vandan and Distribution Programme held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, organised under the Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan.
Event and Its Significance
The programme was convened to mark the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, one of the most revered saint-poets of the Bhakti movement, known for his teachings on social equality and human dignity. The BJP has announced it will observe the entire birth anniversary year of Sant Shiromani Ravidas until February next year, with a series of events planned across the country, including felicitation of saints and public pledges to enshrine Ravidas's ideals in contemporary society.
What Nabin Said
Addressing the gathering, Nabin said the Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan is designed to carry Sant Ravidas's message of social harmony, equality, and selfless service to every citizen. He drew a direct parallel between the saint's philosophy and Prime Minister Modi's governing mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas', arguing that both reflect the same foundational commitment to an inclusive society.
'We believe that when foreign invasions happened and there was an attempt to take people towards mass conversions, even at that time the thoughts and struggle of Sant Shiromani Ravidas worked to save Indian society and Sanatan traditions,' Nabin said.
Development Claims and Outreach
Nabin credited the Modi government's welfare delivery with lifting 25 crore people out of poverty, asserting that development schemes are now reaching the poorest and most marginalised. He framed Modi's long tenure as evidence of selfless public service — a quality he linked directly to the Ravidas tradition of nishkam karma, or action without expectation of personal reward.
Leaders Present
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president and Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, National Vice President and programme coordinator Lal Singh Arya, SC Morcha national president Shivesh Kumar Ram, and senior party leader Dushyant Gautam were among the prominent figures on the stage. The broad representation of party leadership signals the BJP's intent to deepen outreach among Scheduled Caste communities ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
What Comes Next
The BJP plans to sustain momentum through the anniversary year with multiple programmes honouring saints and mobilising communities around the Ravidas legacy. How effectively the party translates this cultural campaign into on-ground social equity outcomes will be closely watched by both supporters and critics.
Point of View
The BJP is using the Ravidas anniversary year to build sustained community engagement — not a one-day event. Nabin's explicit invocation of Ravidas as a defender of 'Sanatan traditions' against 'foreign invasions' also inserts a familiar ideological framing into what is ostensibly a social harmony campaign. Whether the campaign moves beyond symbolism to address structural inequalities — land rights, wage gaps, caste discrimination — will determine its credibility beyond the party faithful.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan launched by the BJP?
The Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan is a BJP campaign launched on 24 August at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, to spread the ideals of Sant Ravidas — social harmony, equality, and selfless service — as part of the party's outreach to Scheduled Caste communities. The campaign is timed to coincide with the 650th birth anniversary year of Sant Ravidas.
Who is Sant Ravidas and why is his 650th birth anniversary significant?
Sant Ravidas was a 15th-century saint-poet of the Bhakti movement, revered for his teachings on social equality, human dignity, and devotion. His 650th birth anniversary is being observed by the BJP as a year-long national campaign, with events planned until February next year.
What development claims did BJP president Nitin Nabin make at the event?
Nabin stated that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, development schemes have reached the poorest citizens and 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty. He linked this record to the Ravidas ideal of selfless service.
Which senior leaders attended the Talkatora Stadium event?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president and Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, National Vice President Lal Singh Arya, SC Morcha national president Shivesh Kumar Ram, and senior leader Dushyant Gautam were present on stage.
What programmes are planned under the Sant Ravidas birth anniversary year?
The BJP plans a series of events until February next year, including felicitation of saints, public pledge ceremonies to enshrine Ravidas's ideals in society, and community outreach programmes, all under the Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan banner.
