VP Radhakrishnan at Amritapuri: Viksit Bharat must be inclusive, leave no one behind
Synopsis
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan used Mata Amritanandamayi Devi's 73rd birthday celebrations at Amritapuri to reframe the Viksit Bharat vision — arguing that infrastructure and growth mean little without inclusion, human dignity, and civilisational values. His 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' formulation signals a softer, service-led lens on India's development ambition.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan attended Vishwa Seva Dinam at Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Amritapuri, Kollam on 27 September 2026 .
He called for Viksit Bharat to be inclusive, urging that no citizen be left behind in India's development journey.
He proposed 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' as the guiding national mantra, stressing that modernity and civilisational values must advance together.
The Math has contributed ₹100 crore to the Namami Gange programme and planted over 10 lakh trees under the UN Billion Tree Campaign .
The event marked the 73rd birthday of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and was attended by senior constitutional, political, and judicial figures including Kerala CM V.D.
Satheesan and MP Shashi Tharoor .
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday, 27 September 2026, joined the Vishwa Seva Dinam celebrations at Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Amritapuri, in Kollam, Kerala, calling on the nation to ensure that the vision of Viksit Bharat remains inclusive and leaves no citizen behind. The event was held on the occasion of the 73rd birthday of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.
The Vice-President's Core Message
'Bharat is progressing towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat, and development requires infrastructure, technology, investment, innovation and economic growth,' Radhakrishnan said at the gathering. He was, however, emphatic that economic advancement alone is insufficient. 'While marching towards attaining a Viksit Bharat, we must ensure that modernity and our civilisational values move together,' he added, proposing 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' — development as well as heritage — as the guiding national mantra.
The Vice-President stressed that development must carry a human face, and that Seva — selfless service — should form the bedrock of a more peaceful, sustainable and compassionate world. He described Seva as having no boundaries of caste, creed, language, region or nationality, recognising only one identity: humanity.
Tribute to Mata Amritanandamayi and the Math's Humanitarian Work
Radhakrishnan offered his respectful pranam to Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, calling 'Amma' a miracle and expressing hope that her movement would continue to touch millions of lives. He highlighted the Math's record of humanitarian response during major crises, citing its assistance during the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Gujarat earthquake, Uttarakhand floods, Kerala floods, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Wayanad landslides.
He also noted the organisation's contribution of ₹100 crore to the Union government's Namami Gange programme, along with tree-plantation and cleanliness drives. The Math's Amala Bharatam initiative has conducted large-scale cleanliness campaigns nationwide, while more than 10 lakh trees have been planted worldwide as part of the UN Billion Tree Campaign.
High-Profile Attendance at Vishwa Seva Dinam
The programme drew a cross-section of constitutional authorities and political leaders. Among those present were Governor of Kerala and Tamil Nadu Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar; Chief Minister of Kerala V.D. Satheesan; Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu; Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi; Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan; Kerala government ministers; Justice Gopinath of the Kerala High Court; Members of Parliament N.K. Premachandran and Shashi Tharoor; Ambassador of Nepal to India Surender Thapa; as well as MLAs, devotees and volunteers.
Civilisational Ethos at the Heart of Seva
The Vice-President said the spirit inspiring Amma's work is deeply rooted in the civilisational ethos of Bharat, and that this philosophy is the essence of Vishwa Seva Dinam. He expressed confidence that the noble movement would only grow in its reach and impact, continuing to shape the values of service and compassion for future generations.
Point of View
Virasat Bhi' formulation is not new — it has featured in ruling-party messaging before — but its deployment at a spiritual humanitarian platform lends it a softer, welfare-focused texture that official economic messaging often lacks. With inequality metrics under scrutiny and welfare spending in political debate, framing Viksit Bharat through the lens of Seva rather than GDP offers a politically astute rebalancing. Whether that rebalancing translates into measurable policy shifts remains the more important question.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vishwa Seva Dinam and why was it celebrated at Amritapuri?
Vishwa Seva Dinam is an annual day of global service observed by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math to celebrate the philosophy of selfless service. It is marked on the birthday of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi — this year her 73rd — at the Math's headquarters in Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala.
What did Vice-President Radhakrishnan say about Viksit Bharat?
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan said Viksit Bharat must be an inclusive Bharat where no one is left behind, stressing that development needs a human face alongside infrastructure and economic growth. He proposed 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' as the guiding mantra, emphasising that modernity and civilisational values must progress together.
What humanitarian work has the Mata Amritanandamayi Math undertaken?
The Math has responded to major disasters including the Indian Ocean tsunami, Gujarat earthquake, Uttarakhand floods, Kerala floods, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Wayanad landslides. It has also contributed ₹100 crore to the Namami Gange programme and planted over 10 lakh trees worldwide under the UN Billion Tree Campaign.
Who else attended the Vishwa Seva Dinam event at Amritapuri?
The event was attended by Kerala and Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, MoS Petroleum Suresh Gopi, Kerala Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, MPs Shashi Tharoor and N.K. Premachandran, Nepal's Ambassador to India Surender Thapa, and several MLAs and judicial figures.
What is the Amala Bharatam initiative?
Amala Bharatam is a cleanliness and environmental initiative of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math that has conducted large-scale cleanliness drives across India. The campaign has also contributed to the planting of more than 10 lakh trees globally as part of the UN Billion Tree Campaign.
