Mr Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, visited Ayodhya for a darshan with his wife Dr Priti Adani, elder son Karan Adani and daughter-in-law Paridhi Adani, to offer prayers and pay respects at the Shri Ram Temple, before proceeding to Shri Nishulk Gurukul Mahavidyalaya for an institutional interaction. The Shri Ram Temple, located at the birthplace of Lord Ram, stands as a symbol of faith, devotion and civilisational continuity.
Mr Adani said his visit, which coincided with Hanuman Jayanti, was a deeply personal moment, blending faith with a broader national narrative.
Describing the darshan as one of “extreme emotion and pride,” he positioned the shrine as more than a religious landmark, highlighting it as a symbol of India’s cultural continuity, unity and rising self-confidence, while invoking the ideals of Lord Ram — honesty, duty and service — as guiding principles for the nation’s journey ahead.
Carrying this reflection forward, the visit transitioned from a moment of faith to a living expression of India’s knowledge traditions at Shri Nishulk Gurukul Mahavidyalaya, located around 10 minutes from the temple.
Established in 1935 by Swami Tyaganand Ji and rooted in the principles of the Arya Samaj, a reformist movement that emphasises Vedic learning, social upliftment and accessible education, it follows the traditional gurukul system, a residential model where students live and study under the guidance of teachers.
Mr Adani interacted with students and faculty and observed a learning environment where discipline, inquiry and values come together to preserve and transmit India’s civilisational knowledge systems.
“When learning is rooted in values, it does not just shape individuals, it shapes the future of a nation. Our responsibility is to carry these traditions forward while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow,” he said. He emphasised the urgency of preserving India’s knowledge systems even as the country accelerates into an AI-driven future. He affirmed that the Adani Foundation, the social welfare and development arm of the Adani Group, will support the gurukul ecosystem by enabling a convergence of tradition and technology through an AI-enabled laboratory.
With around 200 students, the gurukul offers free education, ensuring that knowledge remains accessible and inclusive. The campus also includes a gaushala, a traditional cow shelter, reflecting the integration of cultural, ecological and rural practices within the learning environment. The institution carries a rich legacy, with Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose among its early visitors.
As students recited Sanskrit shlokas in unison, the cadence of their voices echoed across the campus, reflecting both rigour and reverence. Seated among them, Mr Adani listened closely, engaging with the faculty and observing the rhythm of a system where learning extends beyond the classroom into daily life.
For Mr Adani, these ideals find expression in seva, a philosophy he often describes as “Seva Hi Sadhana Hai,” where service is not an act but a sustained commitment to society, rooted in humility, responsibility and purpose.
Today’s visit builds on Mr Adani’s continued engagement with these traditions, including the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri last year, which he had described as a moment of collective national fulfilment, and his support for advancing the study of Indology through initiatives that encourage deeper engagement with India’s history, languages, philosophy and cultural heritage.