Pm Shri Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat 30th January 2022 (Highlights)

·         Today (30th January) is the death anniversary of our revered Bapu Mahatma Gandhiji. Just a few days ago, we celebrated Republic Day as well. The display of the nation's valour and strength, which we witnessed on Rajpath in Delhi filled everyone with pride and enthusiasm. One change you must have noticed is that from now on, the Republic Day functions will start from the 23rd of January, i.e. the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and will continue till the 30th of January i.e. Gandhiji's death anniversary. A digital sculpture of Netaji has been installed at India Gate which was welcomed by our countrymen with much joy and reverence.

·         During the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the country is reestablishing its national symbols. The 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' near India Gate and the Jyoti lit at the 'National War Memorial' in the vicinity have been merged. Some former soldiers of the army have written to me saying that - "The 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' lit at the memorial is a symbol of the immortality of the martyrs".

·         In the midst of these events of Amrit Mahotsav, many important national awards were also given away in the country. One of them is the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Baal Puraskaar. The award awakens in our children the enthusiasm to bring glory to the country.

·         Padma awards have also just been announced. There are many recipients of Padma awards, about whom very few people know. These are the unsung heroes of our country, who have done extraordinary deeds in ordinary circumstances.

·         More than one crore children have written to me through their 'Mann Ki Baat' post cards from different parts of the country and abroad. These postcards show how broad and wide is the vision of our new generation for the future of the country. I have also received 75 postcards from Croatia. Students of the School of Applied Arts and Design in Zagreb, Croatia have sent these 75 cards to the people of India and congratulated them on the Amrit Mahotsav. On behalf of all countrymen, I thank Croatia and her people.

·         India has been the sacred land of education and knowledge. We have not confined education to bookish knowledge. Rather, we see it as a holistic experience of life. The great personalities of our country have also had a deep relationship with education. Even today, India has many torchbearers in the field of education. The awareness about education is visible at every level in the society. For example, Taimmalji of Udumalpet block of Trippur district of Tamil Nadu who had accumulated some capital by selling coconut water, recently donated Rs 1 lakh for the construction of infrastructure at the Chinnaveerampatti Panchayat Union Middle School in which her children study. Indeed, it takes a big heart, a sense of service, to do this. I have also come to know about a similar donation by an alumnus of IIT-BHU, Jai Chaudhary. He donated US$ 1 million, i.e. about Rs 7.5 crores to IITBHU Foundation.

·         To encourage such noble efforts, from September last year, Vidyanjali Abhiyan has been started in the country. Its objective is to improve the quality of education in schools across the country with the participation of various organizations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the private sector. Vidyanjali is furthering the spirit of community participation and owner-ship. To be constantly connected with your school, college, to contribute something according to your ability, it is something whose fulfill-ment and joy can be felt only through experience.

·         Love for nature and compassion for every living being is our culture as well as innate nature. A glimpse of these Sanskaras (values) of ours was seen recently when the tigress (officially named T-15 and lovingly called the 'collared tigress' by the locals) left the world in Pench Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh. The death of this tigress stirred a wave of emotion among the locals who performed her last rites and bid her farewell with full respect and affection. The collared tigress gave birth to 29 cubs in her lifetime and raised 25 of them to maturity. We also got to see a similar sight this time in the Republic Day when the charger mount of the President's Bodyguard, Virat took part in his last parade. Horse Virat came to Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2003 and used to lead the parade every time on Republic Day as Commandant Charger. In view of Virat's immense services, he was given a grand farewell on his retirement.

·         Meanwhile, the rhinoceros, which holds a place of great glory in the culture of Assam, has had to face difficulties. In 2013, 37 and in 2014, 32 rhinos were killed by poachers. To tackle this challenge, a huge campaign was launched in the last seven years with the special efforts of the Assam government. On the 22nd of September last year, on the occasion of World Rhino Day, more than 2400 horns seized from smugglers were burnt, sending out a strong message to poachers. As a result of such efforts, there is a steady decrease in the hunting of rhinos in Assam with only one instance of rhino poaching reported in 2021. I appreciate the resolve of the people of Assam to save the rhinoceros.

·         It will not be suprising if I say that Indian culture is very popular in America, Canada, Dubai, Singapore, Western Europe and Japan. But, if I say that Indian culture has a big attraction in Latin America and South America too, you will definitely be amazed. There is an organization in Argentina - Hastinapur Foundation which is involved in the propagation of Indian Vedic traditions in Argentina. It was founded 40 years ago by Professor Aida Albrecht, who turns 90 today (30th January 2022). Interestingly, when she was 18 years old, she was first introduced to the power of Indian culture. She spent a lot of time in India and studied about the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads in depth. Today the Hastinapur Foundation has more than 40,000 members and about 30 branches in Argentina and other Latin American countries. Other than publishing more than 100 Vedic and philosophical texts in Spanish language, the Hastinapur Foundation has an enchanting ashram which houses 12 temples dedicated to different Indian Gods and Goddesses and one special temple for Advaitwadi Dhyan.

·         Thounaojam Niranjoy Singh, a 24-year-old youth of Manipur, has made a record of 109 push-ups in a minute. Earlier too, he had held the record for most knuckle push-ups with one hand in a minute. I am sure you will be inspired by Niranjoy Singh and make physical fitness a part of your life.

·         Ladakh will soon be blessed with an impressive Open Synthetic Track and Astro Turf Football Stadium being built at a height of more than 10,000 feet. This will be the largest open stadium in Ladakh with the capacity of 30,000 spectators. The complex will also have a hostel facility with 1000 beds. This stadium has already been certified by FIFA. Whenever such big sports infrastructure comes up, it brings great opportunities to the youth of the country as tourism gets promoted and employment opportunities are created.

·         India is successfully fighting the new wave of corona. It is a matter of pride that almost 60% of youth in the age group of 15 to 18 years have got their vaccines within three to four weeks. 1 crore people have taken the precautionary dose as well. This trust of our countrymen on the indigenous COVID vaccine is our great strength. Now the cases of corona infection have also started decreasing - this is a very positive sign. People should be safe; the pace of economic activities of the country should be maintained - this is the wish of every countryman.

(This is an approximate English translation of the PM's Mann Ki Baat originally delivered in Hindi). Source: pmindia.gov.in