Calls for participation in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign
Traditional fairs great source of energy for society
Hails Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra for recent performances
Appeals people to use national flag as profile pictureÂ
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the youth were making the country proud in every field, while praising ace shuttler PV Sindhu and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra for their recent feat in the Singapore Open and World Athletics Championship, respectively.
“Be it the classroom or the playground, today our youth in every field are making the country proud. PV Sindhu won her first title of Singapore Open, while Neeraj Chopra also continued his excellent performance and won the silver medal for the country in the World Athletics Championship this month, ” the PM said in his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat.
Highlighting the recent achievements in various sports, Modi said, “At the Ireland Para Badminton International as well, our players boosted the glory of the country by winning 11 medals. Indian players also performed well in the World Cadet Wrestling Championship held in Rome.
“Our athlete Suraj has done wonders in the Greco-Roman event. He has won the Gold Medal in wrestling after a long gap of 32 years. For the players, this entire month has been full of action.
“It is also a great honour for India to host the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai. This tournament kicked off on July 28 and I got the privilege of attending its opening ceremony. Commonwealth Games also began in the UK on the same day. An Indian team, full of youthful enthusiasm, is representing the country there,” the Prime Minister added.
Modi extended his best wishes to all the players and athletes on behalf of the countrymen.
“I am also happy that India is going to host the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the tournament will be held around October and it will enhance the enthusiasm of the daughters of the country towards sports.
Calls fairs as great source of energy for society
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the traditional ‘fairs’ being organised in different states were a great source of energy for the society.
“Fairs are, in themselves, a great source of energy for our society and life. In modern times, these old links of the society are very important to strengthen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat- Shreshtha Bharat’,” Modi said in his monthly radio programme, ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
Highlighting the traditional fairs in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, the PM said, “There are many traditional fairs of tribal societies in different states in our country. Some of these fairs are associated with tribal culture, while some are organised in connection with tribal history and heritage.”
Mentioning about the four-day Samakka-Saralamma Jatara fair in Telangana’s Medaram, Modi said, “This fair is called Mahakumbh of Telangana. The Saralamma Jatara mela is celebrated in honour of two tribal women heroes – Samakka and Saralamma. It is a big center of faith for the Koya tribal community, not only in Telangana, but also in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.”
Similarly, many fairs like Tarnetar and Madhopur are very famous in Gujarat, he added.
As per the Prime Minister, “Our youth must join them and whenever you go to such fairs, share the pictures on social media too. They can also use a specific hashtag. Through this other people will also know about those fairs. They can also upload photos on the website of the Ministry of Culture.
“In the next few days, the Culture Ministry is going to start a competition, wherein those who send the best pictures of the fairs, will also be rewarded. So do not delay, visit the fairs, share their pictures, and maybe you will get rewarded too,” he added.
Hails Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra for recent performances
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday showered praise on Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra and shuttler PV Sindhu for bringing laurels to the nation by winning medals at World Athletics Championships and Singapore Open 2022, respectively.
While addressing the nation during Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said, “Friends, be it the classroom or the playground, today our youth, in every field, are making the country proud. This month, PV Sindhu has won her first title of the Singapore Open.
“Neeraj Chopra also continued his excellent performance and won the silver medal for the country in the World Athletics Championship.”
In July, Sindhu clinched her maiden Singapore Open 2022 title after defeating China’s Wang Zhiyi in the final of the women’s singles category. Neeraj clinched a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships 2022. He ended the country’s 19-year-long wait for a medal at the championships by recording a distance of 88.13 metres in his fourth attempt in the men’s javelin throw final.
The Prime Minister also hailed India’s para-shuttlers and World Cadet Wrestling Championships gold winner Suraj.
The 4-Nations Para-Badminton International Tournament was held in Dublin, Ireland from July 11-17 this year. India had clinched 11 medals at the event, consisting of two gold, four silver and five bronze medals. And at the World Cadet Wrestling Championships held in Rome, Suraj became India’s first U-17 Greco-Roman wrestling champion in 32 years.
“At the Ireland Para Badminton International as well, our players have boosted the glory of the country by winning 11 medals. Indian players also performed well in the World Cadet Wrestling Championship held in Rome.
“Our athlete Suraj has done wonders in the Greco-Roman event. He has won the gold medal of wWrestling in this event after a long gap of 32 years. For the players, this entire month has been full of action. It is also a great honour for India to host the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai. This tournament commenced on July 28 and I had the privilege of attending its opening ceremony.
“Commonwealth Games also began in the UK on the same day,” said PM Modi.
“An Indian team, full of youthful enthusiasm, is representing the country there. I extend my best wishes to all the players and athletes on behalf of the countrymen. I am also happy that India is going to host the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup as well. This tournament will be held around October, which will enhance the enthusiasm of the daughters of the country towards sports.”
Appeals people to use national flag as profile picture
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to put the “tiranga” (‘tricolour’, the national flag) as their display pictures on social media profiles between August 2 and 15. In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, he flagged a movement called ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ (tricolour on every house) being organised from August 13 to 15. “Let us further this movement by hoisting the National Flag at our homes,” he said.
The drive is part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (‘Pious Festival of Freedom’), which has been celebrated with several events and schemes in the lead-up to the 75th anniversary of Independence this year. The PMs said it’s turning into a mass movement.
On choosing August 2 to begin the social media profile-picture drive, he said the date marks the birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya, “who designed our national flag”.
Venkayya’s initial design in 1921 — which he presented to Mahatma Gandhi — was, in fact, slightly different from what eventually became the national flag, but it served as a prototype. His design had the three colours that we have today, but had a charkha (spinning wheel, a symbol of self-reliance) at the centre.
A stamp issued in memory of Pingli Venkayya (also spelt Venkaiah) by the Indian government in 2009. (Image:Â postagestamps.gov.in)
PM Modi also referred to “Madam Cama”, whose full name was Bhikaiji Rustom Cama, as having played “a key role in giving shape to the national flag”. Her version from 1907 had three colours too, besides several cultural and religious symbols, with ‘Vande Mataram’ in the centre.
For the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, the central government has also tweaked the Flag Code. Now, all kinds of materials can be used for making the flags — polyester, cotton, wool, silk and Khadi bunting material — while earlier machine-made and polyester flags were not allowed. There is also no restriction on the size of the flag, neither on the timing of its display. Earlier, the flag was allowed to be flown only from sunrise to sunset.
According to an official statement, over 20 crore national flags would be unfurled on top of houses for the three days.
PM Modi, in the address, mainly focused on events to celebrate Independence. “People from all walks of life and from every section of the society are participating in different programmes across the country,” he said. “When India completes 75 years of its Independence, all of us are going to witness a glorious and historic moment.”
He spoke of some schemes of his government, too. Fairs of several cultures also found a mention, as did Ayurveda. He also congratulated sportspersons who achieved success during July.
“A few days ago the results of Class 10 and 12 have been declared across the country,” he further said, “I congratulate all those students who have achieved success through their hard work and dedication.”
Calls for participation in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon people to participate in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign and called upon them to post the tricolour as their display pictures on social media from August 2 to 15.
Talking about Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Prime Minister mentioned the Har Ghar Tiranga movement, and said “The Tricolor connects us, inspires us to do something for the country.”
“I also have a suggestion that from the 2nd of August to the 15th of August, all of us can place the tricolor in our social media profile pictures,” he said.
The PM highlighted that August 2 is the birth anniversary of Pingali Venkaiah. India’s national flag is based on a flag designed by him.
He also remembered the great revolutionary Madam Cama. Her role in shaping the Tricolor has been very important.
PM Modi noted that the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is taking the form of a mass movement. “People from all walks of life and from every section of the society are participating in different programs connected with it,” he said.
He also said that 75 railway stations across the country, which are associated with the history of the freedom movement, have been revamped. He mentioned Gomoh Junction in Jharkhand which is now officially known as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Junction Gomoh, Kakori Railway Station near Lucknow, and Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu.
“You should also take out time to visit one such historical station in your vicinity. You will get to know in detail about pages from the history of the freedom movement that you have not been aware of,” he said.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that the fight against corona is still on, and talked about the significance of Ayush medicines.
“The whole world is still struggling today. The increasing interest of people in Holistic Healthcare has helped everyone a lot in this”.
He said there is a growing interest in Ayurveda and Indian medicine around the world and Ayush Exports have witnessed a record growth.
This was the 91st episode of PM’s radio program Mann Ki Baat that started in 2014. (UNI/IANS)
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