Today is the holy festival of Vijay Dashami. My heartiest greetings on this occasion of Vijay Dashami to one and all! Through the medium of radio, I would like to share few heartfelt thoughts with you today. And, I hope that not only today, this series of conversation may be carried out regularly in future. I will try my best, if possible, to take out time twice a month or even once to speak with you. In future, I have also decided that whenever I will speak to you, it would be on Sundays and time would be morning 11. In that way, it would be convenient for you too and I will feel contented with the fact that I am successful in sharing my thoughts with you.”
Thus began Mann ki Baat. It was October 3, 2014; the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi started sharing his thoughts with the people of India over radio. It was a unique idea of direct communication with citizens. Since then, he has spoken on a variety of issues.
At the same time, the Prime Minister wanted to know the views of the people, and requested citizens to share ideas and topics. An Open Forum was created on ‘MyGov’ for citizens to share their comments. Anyone could share ideas and best practices on development, good governance, and other issues. The PM would then include the suggestions on subsequent programmes and even give credits and praise such opinions.
AIR Special Series
And on April 30, the most popular programme on All India Radio (AIR) will complete its 100th edition. In the run-up to the centenary episode, AIR has launched a Special Series from March 15 to focus on the impact of the programme on the transformation of India.
The series brings out 100 Identified themes highlighted in the PM’s Mann Ki Baat episodes. The relevant sound bytes are broadcast in all bulletins and other programmes across AIR network. The series concludes on April 29, a day before the momentous 100th episode.
The special series can be heard on any of AIR’s 42 Vividh Bharati stations, its 25 FM Rainbow channels, the four FM Gold channels, or any of the 159 primary channels. Citizens can also listen to the programme on ‘News On AIR’ app or YouTube channels of All India Radio.
Social change platform
Mann Ki Baat has been the genesis, medium, and amplifier of social change. The Prime Minister has addressed topics like Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Water Conservation, Vocal for Local, etc. With its innovative and unique interactive style of presentation, the programme has carved out a niche for itself as a unique paradigm of communication. It has shown tremendous impact on industries like Khadi, the Indian toy industry, Health and AYUSH startups, etc.
On March 2, 2019, the thenFinance Minister, Late Arun Jaitley, released a book titled ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio’. The book is based on 50 episodes of the PM’s heart-to-heart talk with his beloved citizens over AIR.
It sheds light on various aspects of his outreach, the remarkable response it continuously received from the people, the mass movement it has inspired and the profound impact it ingrained in the minds and hearts of the youth of India. The book also gives insight into behindthe-scenes research done on the massive public feedback received through various channels since the first episode of Mann Ki Baat.
Book’s key contribution
The book gives a rare and exclusive opportunity to discover several unknown facets of the Prime Minister’s thinking and beliefs related to Mann Ki Baat. The insights that emerge from the transcripts of the radio address are the book’s most important contribution.
The book, compiled by BlueKraft Digital Foundation, focuses on Jan Shakti as a means to usher in social transformation. It explores the phenomenon of a highly successful and tech-savvy political leader counter-intuitively taking to a seemingly obsolete medium of radio to speak to his nation.
This book displays the common thread of positivity and optimism that PM Narendra Modi has woven through his Mann Ki Baat and how this thread has been picked up by common Indians and turned into a mass movement.
Interesting anecdotes shared by the members of the PM’s core team and people from AIR and MyGov shed light over the minute but interesting details of how the idea of the radio programme came up, how the name and frequency were decided and how the format was chalked out, among other things
MUSINGS
PM appreciates citizens’ ideas, says keep sharing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on October 29, 2014, appreciated the comments and ideas received for ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio programme. “Do keep sharing your ideas on the MyGov Open Forum,” he tweeted.
Different feeling while speaking to the farmers
The PM addressed farmers on March 22, 2015, saying, “When I speak to farmers, I speak to the village and its residents, and also to the farm labourers. I am also speaking to the mothers and sisters who work on the farm fields. And in this context probably this feeling is a little different from all the interactions I had through Mann ki Baat.”
Women playing a pioneering role
On January 28, 2018, PM Modi shared his thoughts on woman power. He said the country’s woman power has contributed a lot in the positive transformation being witnessed in our country and society. He reflected how woman power is playing a pioneering role and establishing milestones and there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti.
A sacred bath in the month of Magh
The Prime Minister, on February 28, 2021, reminded citizens that in the month of Magh, a bath in any holy water body is considered sacred. Speaking on water conservation, he went on to add: “Friends, possibly there is another reason to associate the month of Magh with water – after this, winters come to an end and summers start knocking. Hence, for the conservation of water, we should begin efforts right away.
Reiterating an invite to share comments
In a tweet on January 19, 2022, PM reiterated his invite to citizens to share ideas and suggestions for Mann Ki Baat. He wrote: “On the 30th on this month, the first #MannKiBaat of 2022 will take place. I am sure you have lots to share in terms of inspiring life stories and topics. Share them on @ mygovindia or the NaMo App. Record your message by dialling 1800-11-7800.”
