NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JULY 26
From the icy heights of Kargil where Indian soldiers wrote an immortal chapter of courage to the infinite expanse of space where young innovators are now launching India’s own rockets, the 136th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ unfolded as a breathtaking portrait of a nation rising—on the battlefield, in laboratories, on sporting arenas, in classrooms, in villages, in forests and in the cosmos. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message was unmistakable: the India of today is not merely remembering its heroes; it is building the strength, knowledge, innovation and collective resolve to become the India of tomorrow.
- PM Modi salutes Kargil heroes, calls for a secure, capable and self-reliant India
- From INS Mahendragiri and Pinaka to private-sector Vikram-1, India’s indigenous innovation powers a new era
- ‘Catch the Rain’ becomes a people’s movement as ponds, wells and water bodies return to life
- PV Sindhu scripts Japan Open history; Indian women conquer Lord’s in a landmark Test triumph
- Science Olympiad stars deliver a spectacular haul as Indian students dominate global competitions
- From Ahmedabad’s 3.5 lakh saplings to Gir’s returning Grey Hornbill, citizens turn conservation into a mass movement
- PM invokes Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s dream of a nation where talent, technology, tradition and patriotism touch the skies
Kargil’s courage, India’s eternal salute
Opening his address with a tribute to the heroes of the 1999 Kargil War, PM Modi said some dates do not need a calendar to be remembered.
“Today, the 26th of July, is one such date. Today is ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’. This day fills us with pride. This day reminds us of the extraordinary courage of our brave soldiers,” he said.
Recalling the towering peaks, harsh weather and enemy challenge faced by Indian soldiers, the Prime Minister said their spirit was greater than every obstacle.
“They sacrificed their all for the defence of Maa Bharati. Today, on ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’, I respectfully bow to all the brave martyrs and soldiers,” PM Modi said.
He also highlighted the ‘Shaurya Vijay Yatra’, a motorcycle rally that began on July 14 from the National War Memorial in Delhi and will reach the Kargil War Memorial in Dras.
Its message—“One Ride, One Nation, One Salute”—is a reminder that the sacrifice made for the nation can never be forgotten.
From ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ to a technological shield
India’s military strength, PM Modi said, is being matched by a decisive technological transformation.
The recent induction of INS Mahendragiri, designed and built in India, was cited as a powerful symbol of defence indigenisation, with more than 75% of the materials used in the warship being indigenous.
“This modern warship has been designed and built in India itself. More than 75 percent of the materials used in it are indigenous. It is a symbol of the growing strength of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the successful DRDO tests of the Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket and the Kusha missile.
Whether in defence production, defence exports or cooperation with friendly nations, India is scaling new heights, PM Modi said, referring to the agreement concerning BrahMos and Astra missiles during his recent visit to Indonesia.
“Global confidence in India’s defence equipment and technology is growing,” he said.
The message on Kargil Vijay Diwas was clear: remember the sacrifice, strengthen the shield and build a secure, capable and self-reliant India.
‘Catch The Rain’: When every drop becomes a national asset
From defending the nation’s borders to protecting its water security, the Prime Minister called for a nationwide movement to conserve every drop of rain.
“Conserve the water right where and when the rain falls,” he said, explaining the spirit behind the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign.
Since July 4, fresh momentum has been given to rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, rejuvenation of old water bodies and tree plantation.
Across the country, old ponds are being desilted, wells and stepwells revived, and disused borewells converted into groundwater-recharge channels.
Around 1,500 ponds have been constructed in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh, while ‘Amrit Sarovars’ have been restored in Narsinghpur. Water-storage capacity has been enhanced in Nashik, old ponds have been revived across gram panchayats in Nandyal, and encouraging results have emerged from Korba, Bhubaneswar and Vizianagaram.
“Come, let us also take responsibility for a pond, well, or stepwell in our vicinity—save every drop of water. Every drop saved today serves as the greatest asset for the future of coming generations,” PM Modi said.
Sindhu, women cricketers and India’s sporting ascent
India’s sporting confidence also found powerful expression in the episode.
PV Sindhu became the first Indian to win the Japan Open badminton title, an achievement PM Modi said had made the entire nation proud.
The Indian women’s cricket team added another historic chapter by winning its first-ever Test match at Lord’s in London by a massive 270-run margin.
PM Modi described the victory as historic, noting that it was the first Test match played by a women’s team at the iconic ground.
The victory carried an additional resonance: it was at Lord’s that India had won its first Cricket World Cup in 1983.
“Now, our ‘Nari Shakti’ has brought glory to the nation there,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted ‘Aksharakanduk’, an innovative Sanskrit initiative in a school in South Chittoor, Ernakulam, where Sanskrit letters are linked to football terminology, making learning engaging while connecting language and sport.
Vikram-1: India’s private space frontier takes flight
India’s space story, PM Modi said, is no longer confined to government institutions.
The successful launch of Vikram-1, India’s first rocket developed by the private sector, marked a historic moment for the country’s space ecosystem.
“Our young innovators achieved something that was once difficult to even imagine… they displayed remarkable skill, passion, and patience,” the Prime Minister said.
He recalled that India’s space sector had once remained closed to private participation, denying young talent the opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities.
“Keeping the interests of the youth in mind, we opened up the space sector to private enterprise, and today, the world is witnessing the results,” PM Modi said.
The message was transformative: India’s new frontier is not merely the sky—it is space itself.
Olympiad brilliance: India’s classroom talent conquers the world
India’s youth power delivered a spectacular performance in international Science Olympiads.
In the Physics Olympiad, all five Indian students won gold medals and India secured the top rank.
The Prime Minister noted that over the past decade, Indian students had won either a gold or silver medal in every Physics Olympiad.
In Chemistry, all Indian participants won gold medals, marking India’s best performance so far.
The Biology contingent won medals, including a gold, while in Mathematics, Indian students secured two gold and four silver medals.
“I am immensely proud of the nation’s youth power,” PM Modi said, expressing confidence that the growing culture of Olympiads and Hackathons would inspire more young Indians to compete on global platforms.
Kalam’s dream: ‘Dream big’ and serve the nation
On the eve of the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, PM Modi remembered the former President and legendary scientist as a teacher at heart.
“Dr. Kalam’s personality embodied many inspiring facets, yet the role of a teacher was closest to his heart. He inspired children and the youth to dream big,” he said.
Linking the remembrance of Dr Kalam with Guru Purnima, the Prime Minister paid tribute to parents, teachers and mentors who shape the lives of generations.
The spirit of Kalam’s message echoed through the entire episode: dream boldly, innovate fearlessly and remain rooted in the nation that nurtured the dream.
From Ahmedabad’s green record to Gir’s returning hornbill
The power of public participation came alive in Ahmedabad’s Bhadaj area, where more than 3.5 lakh saplings were planted within a single hour with the participation of over 25,000 people.
The achievement entered the Guinness Book of World Records.
PM Modi also highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s planting of over 35 crore saplings in a single day under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
In Gujarat’s Gir forests, the Indian Grey Hornbill has returned after nearly 60 years, reflecting the impact of long-term conservation and restoration efforts.
Calling the Hornbill the “farmer of the forest”, PM Modi explained how the bird disperses seeds and helps regenerate the forest.
“A small sapling planted today can become a legacy of greenery, clean air, and a beautiful future for generations to come,” he said.
Local roots, global reach
The Prime Minister also celebrated the revival of Kashmir’s traditional ‘Vagu’ mat, the success of a women’s self-help group’s Vidur Prerna Swadeshi Herbal Tea, and an astrophysicist from Manipur who named a newly discovered cluster of young galaxies the ‘Loktak Proto-cluster’ after the iconic Loktak Lake.
He called for stronger support to handloom, handicrafts, Khadi and traditional musical instruments.
“Vocal for Local” was reinforced as a movement that can preserve heritage, create livelihoods and carry India’s cultural identity to the world.
The Prime Minister noted that Khadi sales had increased six-fold over the last 12 years to nearly ₹8,000 crore, and urged citizens to buy at least one Khadi, handloom or handicraft product during the festive season.
The India that rises together
The 136th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ stitched together seemingly different stories into one powerful national narrative.
The soldier at Kargil, the scientist in a laboratory, the student at an Olympiad, the athlete on the world stage, the entrepreneur launching a rocket, the villager restoring a pond, the citizen planting a tree, the artisan reviving a forgotten craft and the woman entrepreneur building a brand from a ₹1-lakh investment—all are part of the same India story.
As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, PM Modi urged citizens to carry forward the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign with enthusiasm and display the Tricolour with the utmost respect.
From the heights of Kargil to the vastness of the cosmos, from a restored village pond to a global science podium, India’s message is now resonating across every frontier:
The nation remembers. The youth innovates. The people participate. India rises.
