Kanpur, Aug. 1 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that while many kingdoms bowed before the might of foreign powers it was spiritual personalities like Tulsidas who chose the path of silent resistance during turbulent chapters in India's history. Addressing a gathering during Tulsi Jayanti celebrations in Chitrakoot on Thursday, the chief minister said, "Several kingdoms surrendered before him (Akbar), but there were those who, without pausing or yielding, kept illuminating the world through bhakti. Tulsidas stood among them." He added that Tulsidas offered a model of non-violent defiance at a time when subjugation was the norm. "Who does not know that Akbar maintained a soft face for the public, but behind it lay cruelty. That same face of oppression can still be seen today," Adityanath said. "Yet even in those times, our saints challenged tyranny-not with swords, but by bringing Ramleela into every household. That was Tulsidas's way of resistance." He reflected on Tulsidas's deliberate choice to distance himself from royal patronage. "While Akbar's court lured poets and scholars into its fold, Rambola, later known as Tulsidas, refused to serve any king. He dedicated his life solely to Lord Ram," Adityanath said. Marking the 500th birth anniversary of the revered saint, the chief minister emphasised Tulsidas's role in awakening public consciousness through faith and cultural resistance. He stressed that the Ramcharitmanas, authored by Tulsidas, was not merely a spiritual epic but a civilisational document that reinforced India's cultural and moral compass during a period of political instability and external rule. Recalling his visit to Mauritius in 2017, Yogi Adityanath spoke about the spiritual resilience of the Indian diaspora during colonial rule. "When our ancestors were taken abroad as indentured labourers, they carried with them no wealth or status-only the verses of the Ramcharitmanas. It was their source of solace and cultural survival," he said. "Today, their descendants lead nations, yet the Manas has remained central to their lives." Chitrakoot, the site of the Tulsi Jayanti celebrations, holds particular significance as the place where Lord Ram is believed to have spent a major portion of his exile. "This land was once home to sages and seers. It nourished the roots of the Ramayan and the Ramcharitmanas," Adityanath said, adding that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, steps were being taken to link heritage conservation with sustainable development. He lauded the contributions of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and Ramkatha exponent Murari Bapu, both present at the event, for their continued efforts to keep Tulsidas's legacy alive. During the event, the chief minister conferred the Tulsi Award and Ratnavali Award on the Ramkatha narrators. "This recognition is not just ceremonial, it's a salute to those who uphold the values of Sanatan Dharma," he said. He also issued a pointed critique of those who, in his words, seek to manufacture controversy around revered saints. "Those who live in the shadow of their own irrelevance attempt to defame what they cannot comprehend. We must not let such distractions divide us," he said. He urged all sections of the society to remain united in protecting India's civilisational heritage. "Sanatan Dharma is not merely a religion but the spirit of India. It is our collective responsibility to preserve it, not just through rituals, but through conscious and unwavering commitment."...