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Stating that “there is excitement and enthusiasm in the entire country in connection with the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed it a “historic moment” and urged all people to share artistic creations in connection with this using a common hashtag.
Speaking at the 108th episode of his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme – the last one in 2023 – PM Modi mentioned the excitement surrounding the Ram temple and said “people are expressing their feelings in a multitude of ways”.
“During the last few days, many new songs and new bhajans have been composed on Shri Ram and Ayodhya. Many people are also writing new poems. There are many experienced artists in it and new emerging young artists have also composed heart-warming bhajans,” he said. Pointing out that he himself had shared some songs and bhajans on his social media handles, PM Modi said “it seems that the art world is becoming a participant in this historic moment in its own unique style.”
“I request you to share your creations on social media with the hashtag Shri Ram Bhajan (#shriRamBhajan)” adding, “this compilation will turn into a flow of emotions and devotion in which everyone will be immersively imbued with the ethos of Ram”.
PM Modi reviewed some of the nation’s accomplishments in 2023, including the passing of the “Nari Shakti Vandan Act,” India’s rise to the rank of fifth largest economy, and the G20 Summit’s success. The PM also mentioned how proud he and the nation were of the scientists who worked on Chandrayaan-3, particularly the women scientists.
He praised “The Elephant Whisperers” documentary and the Naatu Naatu song for winning Oscars, saying that “through them the world saw the creativity of India and understood our bonding with the environment.”
Modi said that in 2023, “our athletes…performed marvellously in sports” winning 107 medals in Asian Games and 111 medals in Asian Para Games. “Indian players won everyone’s heart with their performance in the Cricket World Cup. The victory of our women’s cricket team in the Under-19 T-20 World Cup is very inspiring. The achievements of players in many other sports added to the glory of the country. Now Paris Olympics will be held in 2024, for which the whole country is encouraging her players,” he said.
“Today every corner of India is brimming with self-confidence, imbued with the spirit of a developed India; the spirit of self-reliance,” the PM said, and added that “we have to maintain the same spirit and momentum in 2024 as well”. Modi, who has been a keen supporter of ‘vocal for local’, said “the record business on Diwali proved that every Indian is giving importance to the mantra”.
Stating it has been his belief that “the development of a country which does not give importance to innovation, stops”, PM Modi said that “India, becoming an Innovation Hub is a symbol of the fact that we are not going to stop. In 2015 we were ranked 81st in the Global Innovation Index – today our rank is 40th. This year, the number of patents filed in India was high, of which about 60% were from domestic funds. This time the highest number of Indian universities have been included in the QS Asia University Rankings. If we start making a list of these achievements, it can never be completed.”
“This is just a glimpse of how effective India’s potential is – we have to take inspiration from these successes of the country; these achievements of the people of the country; take pride in them, make new resolves,” he added.
Speaking on the need for a “Fit India”, PM Modi said “nowadays we see how much talk there is about Lifestyle related Diseases, it is a matter of great concern for all of us, especially the youth”. He recalled that though India’s efforts, 2023 was celebrated as International Year of Millets and that this had given a lot of opportunities to the startups working in this field. The PM also underlined the need to focus on mental health.
Speaking of the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence, Modi said that at the recently held Kashi Tamil Sangamam, he was able to communicate using the AI tool Bhashini, enabling the audience to hear his Hindi speech in Tamil simultaneously.
“The day is not far when an address will be delivered in one language and the public will listen to the same speech in their own language in real-time. The same will happen with films also when the public will listen to Real Time Translation with the help of AI in the cinema hall. You can imagine how big a change would take place when this technology starts being widely used in our schools, our hospitals, our courts,” he said, and urged the younger generation to further explore AI tools related to Real Time Translation and make them 100 per cent foolproof.
PM Modi remembered the valor and bravery of Rani Velu Nachiyar in his fight against the British, as well as the contributions made by Savitribai Phule to social change and education. Nation First is the greatest mantra, he declared, and he urged everyone to “continuously work for the development of India keeping in mind the Panch Pran.”
“Whatever work we do, whatever decision we make, our first criterion should be… what the country will get from it; what benefit it will bring to the country. Rashtra Pratham – Nation First – There is no greater mantra than this. Adhering to this mantra, we Indians will make our country developed and self-reliant,” he said.
Source:IE
