Gayatri Parivar centenary: Virendra Kumar praises its role in Nasha Mukt Bharat drive

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar praised the Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar's role in the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan at its centenary celebration in Delhi.

The event at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium marked three anniversaries: the 100th birth anniversary of Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma, 100 years of the Akhand Deepak, and 100 years of the penance and spiritual practice of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya. Members from India and abroad attended.

The drug-free India message

Kumar said the organisation's work on spiritual awareness, education and the harmful effects of substance use has strengthened the national campaign against drug abuse, which the ministry runs in collaboration with it. He linked this to the Prime Minister's vision of a "Vyasanmukt Bharat, Sanskaryukt Bharat".

He said that since the Prime Minister's nationwide call in 2020, crores of people have joined the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. Participants at the centenary also took a collective resolve to overcome substance addiction, which he called a significant contribution to the campaign.

The minister also acknowledged Dr Chinmay Pandya, Vice-Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, and his team. The ministry said spiritual organisations, schools and colleges, civil society and citizens all need to take part to achieve a drug-free India.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (02 NOV 2026 4:16PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar’s Centenary Celebration Reaffirms Collective Resolve for a Drug-Free India.