India’s Democratic Spirit Is Ancient and Evidence-Based, Says Yogi Adityanath at Book Launch in Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that anyone wishing to truly understand democracy should look to India, a civilisation that has preserved its democratic ethos, Sanatan culture, and historical continuity through authentic evidence across millennia.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a programme held at his official residence in Lucknow, where he released the book Early North India and Its Coinage, published by the Hinduja Foundation.

The book documents ancient coinage from North India and uses numismatic evidence to trace political, economic, and social systems of early Indian civilisation.

Addressing the gathering, Hinduja Group Chairman Ashok Hinduja said the time had come for India to present its ancient cultural heritage to the world through rigorous scientific research and factual documentation.

He described the book as a meaningful step in that direction and expressed confidence in expanding the group’s investments in Uttar Pradesh.

During the event, Yogi Adityanath also examined a rare collection of ancient coins preserved by the Foundation.

These coins—excavated from historically significant regions such as Ayodhya, Mathura, Kaushambi, Kashi, and Panchal—are made of copper, silver, and metal alloys.

According to the Chief Minister, they serve as irrefutable evidence of India’s sophisticated political administration, economic systems, geography, and trade networks in ancient times.

“These coins are living proof of India’s unity, democratic traditions, and advanced governance,” Yogi said, adding that India has always relied on facts and material evidence to preserve its history—unlike what he described as Western attempts to claim exclusive ownership over the origins of democracy.

He termed the book a major scholarly contribution that firmly establishes India’s democratic consciousness, civilisational unity, and thousands-of-years-old cultural legacy through documented evidence.

Such works, he said, effectively counter long-standing Western narratives that have sought to undermine or distort India’s historical and democratic traditions.

“India is perhaps the only civilisation that has consistently given refuge, dignity, and opportunity to people of every caste, creed, and community, allowing them to thrive,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.

“Our Sanatan culture has survived because it is rooted in evidence and lived practice, and ancient coinage bears testimony to that continuity.”

Referring to the ancient belief that being born in India is a rare privilege—and being born human even rarer—Yogi said India’s civilisational values are unmatched anywhere in the world.

He also criticised colonial-era scholarship for propagating what he called the false idea that India was never a unified entity. The Partition of 1947, he said, was itself the outcome of colonial conspiracy.

Quoting ancient verses that define Bharatvarsha, Yogi emphasised that historical India included present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, and that questioning India’s unity reflects a poor understanding of its ancient heritage.

Highlighting India’s scientific achievements, the Chief Minister pointed out that traditional systems of weights and measures—such as masha and tola—are still in use today, particularly in the precious metals trade.

Ancient coinage, he noted, followed these precise standards, demonstrating the intellectual and economic sophistication of early Indian society.

Describing the Mauryan Empire as a golden age, Yogi said India once accounted for nearly 46 per cent of the global economy.

This share declined to about 24 per cent by the 15th century and fell further to just 1.5–2 per cent by the time of Independence due to centuries of foreign exploitation.

Author Prof. Devendra Handa said that one coin preserved in the British Museum bears the inscription “Savitri Putra Janapadas,” suggesting that the story of Savitri and Satyavan is rooted in historical reality rather than mythology.

He also cited coins from the Madra kingdom and the lineage of King Porus, which, he said, challenge several prevailing historical assumptions.

The event also featured the screening of a short film showcasing the cultural and research initiatives undertaken by the Hinduja Foundation.

Trustee PP Hinduja, along with senior members of the Hinduja family and other dignitaries, were present on the occasion.

#IndiaAndDemocracy #AncientIndia #SanatanCulture #IndianHistory #Numismatics #HindujaFoundation #YogiAdityanath #CivilisationalHeritage #Bharatvarsha