Uttarakhand Governor Gurmeet Singh and UP CM Yogi Adityanath Mark Valmiki Jayanti

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, India’s longest‑standing literary holiday – Mahashri Valmiki Jayanti – turned into a political showcase as senior leaders from the north‑central belt gathered to honor the ancient poet‑sage.

At the heart of the ceremony was a heartfelt message from Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh, Retired Governor of Uttarakhand, who praised Valmiki’s "Ramayana" as a timeless blueprint for moral leadership. In Lucknow’s historic Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh lit ceremonial lamps and addressed a crowd that stretched from senior BJP functionaries to local community groups.

Historical Context: Why Valmiki’s Birthday Matters

Valmiki, often hailed as the "Adikavi" or first poet, is credited with composing the Ramayana, a 24,000‑verse epic that shapes religious, cultural, and even political narratives across South Asia. The poet‑scholar’s teachings on dharma (righteousness), karuna (compassion) and samaanta (equality) have resurfaced in recent years as a rallying point for inclusive development policies.

Scholars note that the celebration of Valmiki’s birth gained state‑level prominence only in the early 2000s, when several north Indian administrations began pairing it with other reform‑oriented observances such as the Kabir, Ravidas and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar birthdays. The idea was to weave a broader tapestry of social justice, echoing Valmiki’s own legend of transformation from highway robber to enlightened poet.

Celebrations Across the Region

Uttarakhand’s capital Dehradun hosted a modest cultural program featuring folk dances and recitations of Valmiki’s verses. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh’s capital, the event at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan’s Jupiter Hall was a full‑scale production:

• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister lit oil lamps at 9:00 a.m., symbolising the illumination of truth.
• Parliamentarian Dinesh Sharma delivered a speech linking Valmiki’s egalitarian ethos to Uttar Pradesh’s poverty‑alleviation schemes.
• State BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary announced a scholarship fund for students from historically marginalized communities, citing the poet’s own rise from obscurity.
• Mayor of Lucknow, Sushma Kharkwal, presided over a community feast where volunteers served free meals to the under‑nourished.

Further north, in Haryana’s Kaithal district, former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar recalled his 2022 initiative to institutionalise Valmiki Jayanti alongside Kabir and Ravidas celebrations, cementing a trinity of saints who championed social equity.

In the remote village of Shri Nagar, Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, locals organized a traditional "Tablu" (a drum‑and‑flute ensemble) that became the evening’s headline act, drawing tourists from neighboring districts.

Leaders’ Statements: A Blend of Culture and Policy

Governor Gurmeet Singh’s speech, delivered in both Hindi and Garhwali, highlighted three core ideas:

1. Valmiki’s composition of the Ramayana as a model of narrative integrity – “a story that binds a nation together.”
2. The poet’s personal evolution as proof that “social mobility is possible when education is universal.”
3. An appeal to today’s policymakers to embed “truth, compassion and equality” into development plans.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, known for his strong‑handed governance style, pivoted his remarks toward public safety, noting that “the Ramayana’s battles teach us the cost of lawlessness.” He promised to boost funding for heritage schools that teach Sanskrit and regional folklore, arguing that cultural literacy can curb extremism.

Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak added a pragmatic note, pointing to the state’s new “Valmiki Skills Initiative” – a vocational training program targeting 15‑year‑old school dropouts in rural Uttar Pradesh.

Impact Assessment: From Symbolism to Tangible Outcomes

Analysts from the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) observed that the coordinated celebrations across three states could translate into a measurable uptick in social welfare enrollment. Their preliminary data, compiled from district‑level reports released on October 6, 2025, shows a 12% rise in applications for the state‑run scholarships announced in Lucknow.

Social activists, however, remain cautious. A spokesperson for the Dalit Solidarity Forum, speaking on the sidelines of the Lucknow event, warned that “ceremonial reverence must be backed by concrete actions such as land reform and caste‑based discrimination safeguards.”

Nevertheless, the day’s events succeeded in creating a nationwide media buzz. Television ratings for the Lucknow ceremony peaked at 8.7%, a notable jump from the average 5.2% for regular state‑level cultural broadcasts.

Future Outlook: Institutionalising Valmiki’s Legacy

Looking ahead, the Uttarakhand government plans to establish a “Valmiki Heritage Center” in Dehradun by March 2026, featuring interactive exhibits on ancient Indian literature. In Uttar Pradesh, the Department of Cultural Affairs intends to integrate Valmiki’s teachings into the school syllabus for grades 6‑8, starting the 2026‑27 academic year.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture at the national level has announced a funding pool of ₹45 crore (approximately $5.4 million) for states to develop “literary tourism circuits,” with Valmiki sites earmarked as priority locations.

When asked what the celebrations meant for ordinary citizens, a farmer from Lucknow’s Malihabad district summed it up: “It’s good to hear leaders talk about equality, but I hope they remember the farmer’s voice when they write new policies.”

Key Facts

• Date: October 7, 2025
• Primary Speakers: Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh (Uttarakhand Governor), Yogi Adityanath (UP Chief Minister)
• Locations: Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Kaithal (Haryana), Shri Nagar (Uttarakhand)
• New Initiatives: Valmiki Skills Initiative, scholarship fund for marginalized students, upcoming Valmiki Heritage Center
• National Funding: ₹45 crore allocated for literary tourism circuits