Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday attended the 73rd birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi, popularly known as Amma, in Kollam, Kerala, as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, HM Shah said that being in Amma’s presence helps one understand the true meaning of humanity and appreciate the importance of selfless service. He said that even an insensitive person visiting the place would be filled with gratitude for the service rendered by Amma over the past five decades.
He said Amma has made wiping the tears of people suffering her spiritual practice and duty, and therefore her birthday, observed as ‘Vishwa Seva Dinam’, should be celebrated through acts of service.
“While systems sustain society, it is compassion—personified by Amma—that binds it together,” HM Shah said, adding that Amma has helped millions in India and across the world understand the suffering of others through her compassion and empathy.
He said Amma’s embrace has given millions of people the realisation that they are not alone in their suffering and that someone stands with them.
Recalling his meetings with Amma on September 27, 2015, April 3, 2016, and June 4, 2023, HM Shah said receiving her blessings on Vishwa Seva Dinam was a significant achievement in his life.
He recalled Amma’s relief and rehabilitation work following the devastating Gujarat earthquake in 2001. HM Shah said Amma constructed 1,200 houses and established an entire settlement with facilities including a town hall, educational institutions and a hospital. The settlement is now known as ‘Amma’s Village’.
He said that for Amma, Seva Dinam never ends, as her service continues throughout the year, 365 days a year.
Born on September 27, 1953, into an impoverished family in Parayakadavu village of Kollam district, Amma went on to become a global figure associated with humanitarian service, said HM Shah. He noted that her work has helped address deprivation, sorrow and despair in the lives of millions.
Describing the different facets of Amma’s life, HM Shah said they could be understood through ‘Bhav’ (devotion), ‘Karma’ (action) and ‘Karuna’ (compassion). He said compassion is a defining feature of her personality and that the affection experienced by those who receive her embrace has a profound impact.
HM Shah said that while many people engage in selfless service at different points in their lives, very few dedicate their entire lives to it. He added that Amma not only devoted her life to service but also institutionalised her service-oriented approach and transformed it into a global movement.
Highlighting her work in education, healthcare, livelihoods and social welfare, Shah said there are currently 86 Amrita Vidyalayas across the country. He also cited Amma’s relief efforts during the Gujarat earthquake, the tsunami, the Uttarakhand disaster, the Wayanad landslide and the COVID-19 pandemic.
HM Shah said Amma’s initiatives have included planting more than one million trees and supporting efforts in health, education and livelihoods, besides making 101 villages self-reliant.
He also highlighted Amma’s participation in international forums, saying she had conveyed the message of Hindutva and service at platforms including the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit and the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
HM Shah noted that during India’s G20 presidency, Amma presided over Civil-20, the official G20 engagement group representing civil society organisations.
He further said Amma has extended her blessings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Drug-Free India’ campaign. HM Shah expressed confidence that with her blessings, India would achieve the goal of becoming free from drugs.
Referring to the scriptural principle “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay” – the welfare and happiness of all – HM Shah said Amma had dedicated her life to following this path of service and compassion.
