Pakistan, Bangladesh Were Part Of Bharatvarsh: UP CM Yogi

Analysis of the claim that India is the Mother of Democracy, supported by archaeological finds, coin evidence, and demographic and economic history, with emphasis on civilisational continuity and village governance.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath linked India’s ancient political systems and present governance on Thursday, asserting that India is the “Mother of Democracy” and highlighting archaeological, economic and cultural evidence.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement at the G-20 Summit, Yogi Adityanath said India’s claim to be the Mother of Democracy stands on firm historical ground, citing the ancient republic of Vaishali as proof, and accused several western scholars of reshaping history to credit the West with the origins of democratic practice.

Yogi Adityanath democracy remarks and evidence from coins

The Chief Minister spoke at the launch of the Hinduja Foundation book 'Early North India and Its Coins’ at the Lucknow residence, stressing that archaeological material supports India’s long democratic tradition and shared heritage. He said, "India has always provided evidence connecting Sanatan culture and history. This book is an important document that presents India's democratic consciousness, historical unity and thousands of years old cultural heritage with evidence. It is a factual response to western propaganda. If anyone wants to know about democracy, they must learn from India,"

Discussing the book’s subject, Yogi Adityanath highlighted that copper, silver and alloy coins examined from areas including Ayodhya, Mathura, Kaushambi, Varanasi and Panchal, as mentioned in the study, help confirm the political boundaries, trade networks and local administration of that period, and added that India developed an early scientific system of weights, noting that traditional units like masha and tola still survive.

Yogi Adityanath democracy vision and civilisational unity

Yogi Adityanath asked which caste, religion or community worldwide had not received support or refuge in India, and said anyone born in the country was fortunate, while arguing that many western academics long claimed India had never existed as a single political or cultural unit, and describing the 1947 partition as a conspiracy of British rule.

Reaffirming a broader civilisational view, Yogi Adityanath stated, "Bharatvarsh historically included today's Pakistan and Bangladesh. Those who forget this thousands of years old heritage are the ones who question India's integrity," and said awareness of such continuity strengthens present democratic institutions and national integration.

Yogi Adityanath democracy narrative and economic history

Placing India’s political ideas alongside economic history, Yogi Adityanath called the Maurya era a golden period and said India’s share in the global economy then stood at 46%, stayed around 24% until the fifteenth century, and fell to between 1.5% and 2% by Independence after repeated foreign invasions, before rising again in recent years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Yogi Adityanath stressed that India is now counted among the world’s leading economies, saying it has become the fourth largest economy, and linked this growth to larger national goals under Modi’s long-term programme. Key economic figures mentioned by Yogi Adityanath are summarised below.

Linking cultural confidence with future targets, Yogi Adityanath said, "PM Modi's Vision-2047 connects every Indian with the Panch Pran and 11 resolutions. The first resolution is to feel pride in our heritage. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, the revival of Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the preservation of Sanatan heritage are the embodiments of this vision," and described these projects as part of a wider democratic awakening.

Author Prof Devendra Handa said a coin kept in the British Museum carries the inscription "Savitri Putra Janapadas", arguing that this suggests the Savitri-Satyavan account is rooted in historical events from Sanatan tradition rather than imagination, and also referred to coins related to Madra Raj and descendants of Porus, which, according to Prof Handa, question commonly accepted readings of ancient history; Dr. S K Chadda, president, Corporate Affairs, Hinduja Group, attended the function.

Yogi Adityanath democracy focus and Panchayati Raj newsletter

At a separate event the same day, Yogi Adityanath released the Panchayati Raj Department’s monthly newsletter titled 'Panchayaton Ki Pragati Gatha’, called gram panchayats the strongest democratic unit, and urged their empowerment for holistic progress in Uttar Pradesh, saying: "This monthly newsletter will serve as an effective medium to convey to the public the positive changes, innovations, and public welfare initiatives taking place in Gram Panchayats. Through this platform, successful development stories from villages will come together in 1 place and will also inspire other panchayats."