Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday addressed the Maheshwari Global Convention and Expo 2026 in Jodhpur, highlighting the historic and contemporary contributions of the Maheshwari community to India’s nation building, economic growth and self reliance. The event was attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and several other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah said the Maheshwari community has consistently contributed to the country across generations and sectors, while remaining deeply connected to its cultural roots. He said members of the community have illuminated India’s progress in diverse fields, both within the country and globally, and have always risen to serve the nation whenever required.
Recalling history, the Home Minister said the Maheshwari community played a decisive role in supporting Indian rulers during conflicts against the Mughals by strengthening war treasuries, and later extended substantial financial support to the freedom movement against British rule. He said the business leaders of the community sustained Mahatma Gandhi’s movement, and although complete records may not exist, their contribution is widely acknowledged. From the struggle against foreign rule to post independence efforts to make India self reliant, he said the role of the Maheshwari community has been invaluable.
Shah said that after independence, as India sought to build a strong industrial base and pursue economic self reliance, the Maheshwari community remained at the forefront. Whether in manufacturing, trade, wealth creation or adoption of modern technology, the community has consistently demonstrated progressive thinking and foresight, proving that tradition and progress can move together.
Referring to a popular saying in Gujarat that Marwaris reach places even where trains do not, Shah said the Maheshwari community has spread across the world while continuing to enrich Rajasthan and India. He emphasised that strong community organisation does not divide the nation but strengthens it, adding that if every community ensures the upliftment of its weakest members, the welfare of the entire nation will naturally follow.
The Home Minister said Indian communities have never fragmented the country, but have symbolised organisation, discipline and collective strength. He cited initiatives such as providing dignified housing and care to over a thousand elderly persons as evidence of the Maheshwari community’s deep commitment to service. He said the idea of Apna Ghar reflects the community’s values of responsibility and compassion.
Highlighting the long legacy of organisation since 1891, Shah said the Maheshwari community has contributed not only to its own welfare but also to national causes. He described it as a community equally adept with both the sword and the scale, noting its contributions to defence, philanthropy and entrepreneurship. He added that the list of freedom fighters and philanthropists from the community is so extensive that it would fill pages.
Shah also referred to the Ram Temple movement, stating that the first two martyrs of the movement belonged to the Maheshwari community. He said the community has played a significant role in India’s cultural resurgence and urged its youth to actively contribute to building a self reliant nation.
Calling for Swadeshi and Swabhasha as guiding principles, Shah said the Maheshwari community has always been a job creator rather than a job seeker. He said self reliance can be achieved only by promoting indigenous manufacturing and encouraging the use of Indian languages to preserve culture and social continuity.
The Home Minister recalled that when India completed 75 years of independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed a collective resolve before the nation to build a developed India by 2047. He said that when 140 crore Indians move in one direction, the nation advances with unmatched momentum.
Shah said India has already made historic progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rising from the world’s eleventh largest economy in 2014 to the fourth largest today, and is poised to become the third largest in the coming years. He said manufacturing has grown by over 70 percent, exports have doubled, digital transactions have surged, and India has emerged as a global leader in sectors such as startups, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and mobile manufacturing.
Emphasising that Atmanirbhar Bharat is the only path to becoming the world’s leading economy, Shah appealed to traders and entrepreneurs to prioritise indigenous products wherever possible. He said Swadeshi and Swabhasha together form the foundation of a strong, self confident and culturally rooted India.
Concluding his address, Shah urged parents to speak to children in their mother tongue to strengthen cultural identity and historical awareness. He said the use of Indian languages keeps society and culture alive, enabling future generations to advance with confidence while remaining rooted in their heritage.
