Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: “India’s coffee is coffee at its finest. It is brewed in India and loved by the world,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the 127th episode of his monthly radio programme Man Ki Baat. Joining the thread from where he had left last year – talking about Araku coffee of Andhra Pradesh – PM Modi in his October 26 broadcast commended the Koraput coffee of Odisha. He said he was told that Koraput coffee tastes amazing, and not only that; besides the taste, coffee cultivation is also benefiting people. The PM, as always included a whole range of issues in the latest episode of his Mann Ki Baat.
The following are the excerpts: …On this occasion of festivals, I had written a letter to all of you sharing my feelings. In the letter, I had mentioned the achievements of the country that have made this year’s festivals even more vibrant. In response to my letter, I have received messages from many citizens of the country. Indeed, ‘Operation Sindoor’ has filled every Indian with pride. This time around, lamps of joy were lit even in those areas where the darkness of Maoist terror once prevailed. People want the complete eradication of the Maoist terror that had jeopardized the future of their children.
There is also a lot of enthusiasm among people regarding the GST Bachat Utsav. This time, something equally pleasant was observed during the festivals. The purchase of indigenous goods in the markets has increased tremendously. In the messages people have sent me, they have mentioned what indigenous products they have purchased this time… Do you know what would be the most satisfying thing for me in the topics we discuss in ‘Mann Ki Baat’? I would say that the topics we discuss in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ inspire people to do something good, something innovative for society. This brings forth many aspects of our culture and our country…
The 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel is a very special occasion for the entire country. Sardar Patel has been one of the greatest luminaries of the nation in modern times. His towering personality encompassed many qualities. He was an exceptionally brilliant student. He excelled in his studies both in India and Britain. He was also one of the most successful lawyers of his time. He could have earned even more fame in the field of law, but, inspired by Gandhiji, he completely dedicated himself to the freedom movement. Sardar Patel also laid a strong foundation for India’s bureaucratic framework. He made unparalleled efforts for the unity and integrity of the country…
You all know about my association with tea; but today I thought, why not discuss coffee in ‘Mann Ki Baat’! You may recall, last year we talked about Araku coffee in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Some time ago, many people from Odisha also shared their feelings with me regarding Koraput coffee. They wrote to me saying that Koraput coffee should also be discussed in ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
Friends, I have been told that Koraput coffee tastes amazing, and not only that; besides the taste, coffee cultivation is also benefiting people. There are people in Koraput who are cultivating coffee through their sheer passion. They were doing handsome jobs in the corporate world… but they liked coffee so much that they entered this field and are now successfully working in it. There also are many women whose lives have been pleasantly transformed by coffee… Indian coffee is becoming very popular all over the world. Be it Chikmagalur, Coorg and Hassan in Karnataka; the areas of Pulney, Shevaroy, Nilgiri and Annamalai in Tamil Nadu; the Biligiri region on the KarnatakaTamil Nadu border; or the areas of Wayanad, Travancore and Malabar in Kerala – the diversity of Indian coffee is truly remarkable.
I have been told that our North-East is also progressing in coffee cultivation. This is further strengthening the identity of Indian coffee worldwide – that’s why coffee lovers say: India’s coffee is coffee at its finest. It is brewed in India and loved by the world. My dear countrymen, in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ now, let’s talk about a subject that is very close to everyone’s hearts.
This subject is our national song – India’s national song, ‘Vande Mataram’. A song whose very first word evokes a surge of emotions in our hearts. ‘Vande Mataram’ – this one word contains so many emotions, so many energies. In simple terms, it makes us experience the maternal affection of Ma Bharati. It makes us aware of our responsibilities as children of Ma Bharati. If there is a moment of difficulty, the chant of ‘Vande Mataram’ fills 140 crore Indians with the energy of unity.
Friends, patriotism… love for Ma Bharati… if this is an emotion beyond words, then ‘Vande Mataram’ is the song that lends tangible voice form to that abstract feeling. It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay to infuse new life into an India weakened by centuries of servitude. ‘Vande Mataram’ might have been written in the 19th century, but its spirit is connected to the immortal consciousness of India that is thousands of years old…
