PM Modi pays tribute to Vijayaraje Scindia on her birth anniversary

Key Takeaways

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia on her birth anniversary, 12 October 2026 .

Modi described her sacrifice and dedication to national service as an inspiration for every Indian.

He linked her ideals to the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) mission, saying her vision would lend fresh energy to it.

Vijayaraje Scindia , born 12 October 1919 , was a founding figure of the BJP and the Jana Sangh, and served multiple terms as a member of parliament.

She passed away in January 2001 and remains one of the most revered figures in BJP organisational history.

A leader whose life became a legend in Indian public service is being remembered today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia on her birth anniversary on Monday, 12 October 2026, calling her sacrifice and dedication to national service an enduring source of inspiration for all.

Posting in Hindi on X, the Prime Minister wrote: 'राजमाता विजयाराजे सिंधिया जी को उनकी जयंती पर शत-शत नमन।' — 'Heartfelt salutations to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia on her birth anniversary.' He added that her ideals and vision would continue to lend fresh energy to the resolve of building a Viksit Bharat — a Developed India. Who was Vijayaraje Scindia? Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia was the Rajmata (Queen Mother) of the Gwalior royal family and one of the most consequential women in post-Independence Indian politics. Born on 12 October 1919, she was a founding figure of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Jana Sangh before it, holding together a coalition of nationalist conviction and grassroots organisation across Madhya Pradesh and beyond. She served as a member of parliament multiple times and was known for her fierce commitment to her constituents even as she navigated the highest corridors of power. A legacy that outlives her era For the BJP, Vijayaraje Scindia is not merely a historical figure — she is considered one of the ideological and organisational pillars on which the party was built. Her willingness to leave regal comfort for street-level political work, including her participation in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, made her a symbol of conviction over privilege. Generations of party workers across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan cite her as a formative influence. Prime Minister Modi's invocation of the Viksit Bharat framework in the same breath as her memory is deliberate — it ties the founding idealism of the party's early builders to its current governing mission, arguing that the work she began is the foundation on which today's national ambitions rest. She passed away in January 2001, but her birth anniversary continues to be observed as a moment of reflection for the BJP cadre and for those who trace India's political evolution through the latter half of the twentieth century. Today's tribute keeps that tradition alive — and places her legacy firmly at the centre of a contemporary vision.

Point of View

The Prime Minister frames today's governance agenda as an inherited mission rather than a fresh departure. This kind of ideological lineage-building has been a consistent feature of BJP political messaging, helping bind together old guard loyalists and new voters under a single narrative of purpose. The tribute also carries particular resonance in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where Scindia's grassroots following remains a live political inheritance.

NationPress

12 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Vijayaraje Scindia?

Vijayaraje Scindia was the Rajmata (Queen Mother) of the Gwalior royal family and a founding figure of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Jana Sangh. Born on 12 October 1919 , she served multiple terms as a member of parliament and was known for her deep involvement in nationalist politics, including the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. She passed away in January 2001 .

Why did PM Modi pay tribute to Vijayaraje Scindia today?

12 October marks the birth anniversary of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia . Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a tribute on X honouring her sacrifice, dedication to national service, and lasting ideals, describing her as an inspiration for the Viksit Bharat mission.

What is Viksit Bharat and how is it connected to this tribute?

Viksit Bharat — meaning 'Developed India' — is the BJP-led government's overarching development vision for India. In his tribute, PM Modi said Vijayaraje Scindia's ideals and thoughts would lend fresh energy to this national resolve, framing her legacy as foundational to the current governing mission.

What is Vijayaraje Scindia's significance for the BJP?

Vijayaraje Scindia is widely regarded as one of the organisational and ideological pillars of the BJP . She left royal comfort to work at the grassroots level and helped build the party's base across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan . Her birth anniversary is a significant occasion in the BJP political calendar.

When was Vijayaraje Scindia born and when did she die?

Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia was born on 12 October 1919 in the Gwalior royal household and passed away in January 2001 .