India has given spiritualism, not communalism to world: PM Modi

Mumbai: Against the backdrop of 'intolerance' debate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India's contribution to the world is not communalism but spiritualism which can resolve all problems and invoked former President APJ Abdul Kalam to underline his point.

He regretted that the world has failed to understand the people of India properly as he praised the saints and religious leaders for their contribution to the country's legacy.

"India is a country, which has not tried to bind the world in a particular sect... We are the people whom the world has probably not understood in the manner in which we should have been understood," Modi said while addressing via video conferencing a book release event here.

"India has given the world neither community nor communalism. Our saints and sages (Rishis and Munis) and traditions have given the world spiritualism and not communalism," he said, adding sometimes, sect leads to problems while spiritualism resolves the same.

The Prime Minister's comments assume significance as these come against the backdrop of debate on 'intolerance' and allegations of growing communalism in the country.

"Saints, hermits and religious leaders have blessed the world with spirituality, a legacy in which our former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam believed and said that the problems of human beings can be neutralised by the spiritualisation of mankind," he said.

Modi, while addressing the event to mark the release of a book titled 'Maru Bharat Saru Bharat' written by Jain Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj, described the monk as a "great social reformer and spiritual leader" who has expressed his views about all concepts and objects of the universe through his various books.

"National religion is above all religions and Guruji has lit the candle of national religion through his writings, as it has been the glorious tradition of our country," he said.

The book, 'My India, Nobel India', in four languages - English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi - was released at the Somaiya Grounds in Sion-Chunabhatti area here during the 'Sahitya Satkar Samaroh' programme on the concluding day of the 10-day-long religious and spiritual conclave.