Andhra Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday marked the centenary of Sri Sathya Sai Baba by unveiling a Rs.100 commemorative coin and a set of postal stamps at Prasanthi Nilayam. The event drew thousands of devotees and students to the Hill View Stadium, where the Prime Minister spoke at length about the spiritual leader’s legacy of service.

Modi described the centenary as a blessing for the country and said Sathya Sai Baba’s message of love, harmony, and selfless work had shaped millions of lives.

He urged the audience to draw strength from Baba’s motto of Love All, Serve All, calling it an idea that still fits India’s cultural fabric and development goals.

The Prime Minister highlighted the charitable work carried out by the Sathya Sai organisations over the decades, from free medical services to drinking water projects that now cover more than 3,000 km of pipelines. He also recalled the massive relief operations undertaken during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake.

Modi pointed to the Trust’s financial support for girlchildren under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, noting its scale: more than four crore accounts with deposits exceeding Rs.3.25 lakh crore.

He used the platform to reiterate his pitch for Vocal for Local, saying that stronger local economies were central to the Viksit Bharat vision. As part of the programme, he handed over 100 Gir cows to economically weaker families through the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, linking the gesture to the government’s Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

Modi said similar efforts in Varanasi had helped the region breed more than 1,000 Gir cattle and referred to the growing global presence of Indian breeds, including in Rwanda.

Modi arrived at the Sri Sathya Sai International Airport in the morning and traveled by road to the Prasanthi Nilayam campus. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, and Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust Managing Trustee RJ Rathnakar received him on arrival.

Before heading to the main ceremony, Modi offered silent prayers at Baba’s Maha Samadhi. Across Puttaparthi, the district police placed the town under tight security with extensive digital surveillance.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally