Meaning of democracy

DESCRIBING June 25, 1975 Emergency as the blackest chapter in postIndependent India’s history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said recalling its horror “will make it easier for the today’s young generation to fathom the meaning and importance of democracy.”

Reminding listeners that June 25 – the day the Emergency was imposed in 1975 – was nearby, the PM said, “I wish that, today, when we are celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we must also have a glance at such crimes which endanger the freedom of the country. This will make it easier for today’s young generation to understand the meaning and significance of democracy.”

Addressing a special out-of-turn episode of Mann Ki Baat on June 18, PM Modi sought the blessing of the citizens for his US trip that would deepen the ties between the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy

TB-free India

In the episode, PM Modi hailed the progress that is being made towards a tuberculosis-free India by 2025, spoke of how dairy farming is picking up pace in Jammu & Kashmir’s Baramulla, India’s strong disaster response strategy as seen in the preparations for Cyclone Biparjoy, the need to conserve nature through means like rainwater harvesting and afforestation, and the continuous hard work of the nation’s sportspersons, which was bringing India international laurels.

PM Modi tied the themes of his topics around public participation, citing the role of the people in helping preparations for Biparjoy, their efforts to conserve water, and their active participation in the mission to eradicate TB.

Comparing the people’s efforts to the efforts of a tiny squirrel that helped build the Ram Setu in Ramayana, the PM said, “When the intention is noble, there is honesty in the efforts, no goal remains insurmountable.”

The PM mentioned the Nikshay Mitra programme, under which social organisations, villages, panchayats and individuals can ‘adopt’ TB patients to help and support and, thereby remove the stigma attached to it.

Children’s efforts

He also praised the efforts of children who were putting in their pocket money and breaking their piggy banks to contribute to the TB-free India campaign, while speaking of three children from Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal who had done so.

The PM also hailed the efforts of afforestation across the country, especially through the Japanese Miyawaki technique, which was being used by governments and individuals in India now. He spoke of how a Kerala teacher Raafi Ramnath had done the same to build a biodiversity zone with over a hundred tree species.

Sporting achievements

The Prime Minister also spoke of the sporting achievements of India across the country in the last few weeks, mentioning India’s medal haul at the Under-17 Women’s Asia Wrestling Championship in Kyrgyzstan.

The PM mentioned India’s wins at the hockey Junior Asia Cup, the Junior Shooting World Cup, the Asian under Twenty Athletics Championship, and the Paris Diamond League (long jump).

He credited the consistent hard work of national sportspersons and the “enthusiasm” with which sporting events are held across the country now. Yoga Day at UN PM Modi also highlighted that the International Day of Yoga was upcoming and that this year, he would have the opportunity to participate in these celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York.

“People in every nook and corner of the world are eagerly waiting for the International Day of Yoga. I see that even on social media, there is tremendous enthusiasm about Yoga Day,” he said.

Before closing the episode, the PM also wished citizens for the upcoming Rath Yatra celebrations and hailed the festival as an example of the principle of Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat.