NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, FEB 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the women of the country for taking the lead in every sphere on Sunday. Addressing the Mann Ki Baat programme on All India Radio, Modi said women are reaching new heights in various fields and dispelling myths.
International Women’s Day will be celebrated throughout the country on 8th of March. The Prime Minister said daughters of the country are playing new and bigger roles in the Armed Forces. He said the government has lifted the restrictions on the admission of girls in Sainik Schools. He also stressed on how half of the start-ups in the country have women in director roles.
Sex ratio changed due to the success of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’
The country is trying to give equal rights to men and women by fixing a common age for marriage. He said that the sex ratio in the country has changed due to the success of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme, Modi said.
The number of girls going to school has also improved. Modi also said that women got freedom from open defecation under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ scheme.
He stressed that a social evil like ‘Triple Talaq’ is also coming to an end. Ever since the law against triple talaq was enacted, there has been a reduction of 80 percent in triple talaq cases in the country. Prime Minister Modi stated that all these changes are happening because women themselves are now leading the change.
Lauds retrieval of idols from foreign countries
Modi expressed that India has been successful in bringing home the over one thousand-year-old idol of Avalokiteshvara Padmapani from Italy. This idol was stolen a few years ago from Kundalpur temple, Devi Sthan of Gaya in Bihar. Modi said that after innumerable efforts, India has now got this idol back.
He also recounted how the 600 to 700 year old idol of Lord Anjaneyaar, Hanuman was stolen from Vellore in Tamil Nadu a few years ago. Earlier this month, it was retrieved from Australia and the Indian Mission has since received it. He said the history of each of these idols depicts the influence of their times.
He added that not only were they a wonderful artistic examples of Indian sculpture, but people’s faith was also connected with them. Modi said many idols were stolen and taken out of India and now it is people’s responsibility towards the nation to bring those idols home.
The Prime Minister also mentioned how the countries where the stolen idols were taken away to, started to feel that it could have immense significance in diplomacy with India. He also noted how a few days ago, the idol of Annapurna Devi, which was stolen from Kashi, was brought back. He called it an example of the changing global outlook towards India.
Till the year 2013, nearly 13 idols had been brought back to India. But, in the last seven years, India has successfully brought back more than 200 precious idols. He added that many countries such as the US, Britain, Holland, France, Canada, Germany, and Singapore have understood this sentiment of India and helped retrieve these idols.
Talking about Indian culture and heritage, Modi introduced two Tanzanian siblings to his Mann Ki Baat listeners – Kili Paul and his sister Nima. They have recently become popular in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Modi said they have a passion for Indian music. He praised their technique of lip-syncing. Recently, a video of Kili Paul singing ‘Jana Gana Mana’ on the occasion of Republic Day went viral.
A few days ago, he also paid a soulful tribute to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar by presenting her song. A few days ago, Kili Paul had been honoured by the Indian Embassy in Tanzania. Mr Modi stated that the magic of Indian music is such that it fascinates everyone.
Prime Minister Modi recalled how a few years ago, singers and musicians from more than one hundred and fifty countries, rendered their version of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite song ‘Vaishnav Jan’. Mr Modi added that similar initiatives can be carried out regarding patriotic songs when India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
He said foreign nationals or famous singers from abroad can be invited to render Indian patriotic songs. He also pointed out that if Kili and Neema from Tanzania can lip-sync the songs of India, Gujarati children too can do that with Tamil songs.
‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’
He emphasised that an environment can be created in which people can experience ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’. He urged the youth to make videos of popular songs of various Indian languages in their own way.
International Mother Language Day was celebrated recently. Prime Minister Modi stressed that mother tongue shapes a person’s life. He recounted how he had witnessed a Telugu family in the US keep their mother tongue alive and converse strictly in Telegu at the dinner table. He took pride in the fact that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Kutch to Kohima, there are hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects.
Proud to say Tamil is an oldest language in the world
He said every Indian should be proud of the fact that the world’s oldest language – Tamil – is from India. He expressed awe that there are 121 different languages in the country and 14 of these languages are spoken by more than one crore people in everyday life. He highlighted that Hindi was ranked third among the most spoken languages of the world in 2019.
Prime Minister also spoke about 84-year-old Surjan Parohi in Suriname who writes very good poetry in Hindi. His name is considered among the national poets in Suriname. The people of Suriname have also built a museum in the name of Surjan Parohi. Modi said Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Divas is being observed today.
This day is dedicated to Marathi Kaviraj, Vishnu Vaman Shirvadkar, Shriman Kusumagraj. Today is also the birth anniversary of Kusumagraj. The PM said Kusumagraj wrote poems and plays in Marathi and took Marathi literature to new heights.
The Prime Minister also spoke about how emphasis is being laid on studies in mother tongue in the National Education Policy. He said efforts are also being made so that professional courses are also taught in regional languages. He said he would like people to know about the qualities of their mother tongue and write something in it.
The Prime Minister recounted his recent meeting with former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga. He termed this meeting as interesting but very emotional. Mr Odinga’s daughter had to undergo a surgery due to brain tumour. Rosemary almost lost her eyesight due to side effect of the surgery.
After many unsuccessful attempts to cure Rosemary, someone suggested Odinga to come to India for Ayurveda treatment. Rosemary’s eyesight returned to a great extent after receiving treatment at an Ayurvedic hospital in Kerala. Now, Odinga wants the knowledge and science of Ayurveda of India to be brought to Kenya.
Prime Minister said it is a matter of great happiness that Indian tradition alleviated such a great suffering from someone’s life. He pointed out that Prince Charles from Britain is also a big admirer of Ayurveda with awareness of many Ayurvedic institutions of India.
He said, the formation of the Ministry of AYUSH has further strengthened country’s resolve to popularise traditional methods of medicine and health. Modi exuded happiness that many new start-ups have emerged in the field of Ayurveda in recent years.
Mission Jal Thal
The Prime Minister spoke about the mass movement named “Mission Jal Thal” which is underway in Srinagar, Kashmir. It is a unique effort to clean the lakes and ponds of Srinagar and restore their old glory.
He also expressed satisfaction that the ‘Clean India Mission’ which began eight years ago has expanded manifold with the passage of time. He also praised a group of morning walkers in Assam’s Kokrajhar who undertook a commendable initiative under the ‘Clean and Green Kokrajhar’ mission.
All of them gave a motivational message of cleanliness by cleaning the three-kilometre long road in the new flyover area. Modi also spoke about the ‘Clean India Campaign’ in Visakhapatnam under which cloth bags are being promoted instead of polythene.
Modi also lauded the students of Somaiya College in Mumbai who have also included beautification in their campaign of cleanliness. They have decorated the walls of Kalyan railway station with beautiful paintings. He also mentioned how the youth from Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan have started a campaign named ‘Mission Beat Plastic’ in Ranthambore. He said this spirit of Sabka Prayas strengthens public participation in the country.
Tributes to CV Raman
Tomorrow is ‘National Science Day’. This day is also known for the discovery of Raman Effect. Prime Minister Modi paid tributes to CV Raman and all the scientists who have contributed in enriching country’s scientific journey. On this Science Day, Modi urged all parents to start with small efforts to develop scientific temperament in their children. He said this is the Collective Scientific Responsibility towards the country.
Prime Minister also appreciated the role of Indian scientists in the fight against COVID. He said that it was possible to manufacture Made In India vaccines due to their efforts. He also reminded everyone to go ‘Vocal for Local’ in the upcoming festivals like Shivratri and Holi.
