In Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi urges everyone to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram

“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,” he said.

He said many programmes related to the anniversary would be organised across the country. “Crores of countrymen have always felt an immense surge of national pride in the rendition of Vande Mataram. Our generations have seen a vibrant and magnificent image of India in the words of Vande Mataram…This is the very India we have to build. Vande Mataram will always be our inspiration in these efforts,” he said.

The prime minister started his 30-minute address by sharing greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja, particularly for the people of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal.

Indian dog breeds
Speaking of an issue that he discussed five years ago in Mann Ki Baat, he said he had urged citizens and security forces to adopt Indian dog breeds.

“I am happy to say that our security agencies have made commendable efforts in this direction. BSF and CRPF have increased the number of Indian breed dogs in their contingents… Now the BSF has started the tradition of assigning Indian names to its dogs instead of foreign names. Our indigenous dogs have also displayed amazing courage. Last year, during a patrol in a Maoist-affected area of Chhattisgarh, an indigenous dog of CRPF detected 8 kg of explosives,” he said.

Modi also paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose 150th birth anniversary is on October 31. “He made unparalleled efforts for the unity and integrity of the country. I urge all of you to participate in the Run For Unity being organised across the country on the 31st of October, Sardar Saheb’s birth anniversary, and not just participate alone, but along with others. This should become an opportunity for youth awakening; this run for unity will strengthen unity. This will be our true tribute to that great luminary who united India,” he said.

Modi highlighted some initiatives, including content creators who produce videos in Sanskrit, cultivation of coffee in Koraput, Odisha, plantation of mangroves in Dholera and Kutch, Gujarat, and a “garbage cafe” in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, where customers can pay for food by handing in plastic waste.

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