PM Modi on Mann Ki Baat: He spoke about bird watching and cherry blossoms
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi adressed the country through his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat today. Days ago, he had asked for suggestions from the people what he could speak about today. On his last Mann ki Baat, the Prime Minister urged everyone to buy local products during the festival season and talked about Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama which is emerging as a hub for making pencils.
Here are the Highlights of PM Modi’s Mann ki Baat:
- India’s culture and scriptures have always been the world’s centre of attraction.
- Many people came to India in search of them and stayed here for life while many returned to their countries as cultural ambassadors of India.
- I got to know about the works of Jonas Masetti, also known as ‘Vishvanath’. Jonas teaches Vedanta, Bhagvad Gita in Brazil. He runs an organization called Vishvavidya, located in Petropolis, about an hour’s drive from Rio De Janeiro. After completing his mechanical engineering degree, Jonas worked for a stock market company, later he was attracted towards India’s culture, especially towards Vedanta.
- From market to meditation, stocks to spirituality it has been a long journey for him. Jonas studied Vedanta in India and spent 4 years in a Gurukulam in Coimbatore. Jonas also uses technology to carry forward his message. He conducts online programs, podcasts regularly
In the last 7 years, Jonas has taught over 1.5 lakh students through his free open courses. He is doing significant work in a language which is quite prevalent.
- Opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor in November last year was historic.
- The legacy of langars of feeding needy people had continued through the coronavirus by Sikh communities.
- Influence of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is distinctly visible all over the world.
- It was Guru Nanak Dev Ji who started the tradition of Langar and the Sikh community all over the world continued the tradition of feeding people during this period of coronavirus.
PM Modi on Mann ki Baat
PM Modi lauded Dr Gaurav Sharma, one of the newly-elected MPs in New Zealand, who took oath in Sanskrit in the country’s Parliament.
- The 125th birth anniversary of Dr Salim Ali was on 12th November.
- Dr Salim Ali did pioneering work in the field of bird watching.
- He attracted attention of bird watchers towards India and always admired people with hobby of bird-watching.
- With immense patience they watch birds for long hours and share their knowledge with us.
- There are several bird watching societies active in India as well. You must associate with this subject too.
- Recently from my busy schedule, I got to spend some memorable moments with birds in Kevadia.
- Time spent with birds will bring you close to nature and also encourage you to work for the environment.
- While it is important to take our cultural heritage to people through technology, technology should be used well also in conservation of our heritage.
- North of Norway in an island called Svalbard, a project named Arctic world archive in which valuable heritage data is preserved so that it is not affected by any natural or man-made disaster
- Recently it has been informed that digitized form of Ajanta caves is also being preserved in this archive. One can have complete glimpse of Ajanta caves here.
- This will include digitized and restored paintings as well as related documents and quotes.
PM Modi on Mann ki Baat
We are strengthening cultural bonds in the time of the global pandemic.
- Pandemic has changed the way we do things, also gave us an opportunity to experience nature in a different way.
- Our attitude towards nature has changed.
- As we advance towards winters, we will get to see different colors of nature.
- From the past few days, pictures of cherry blossoms have been viral on social media. These viral pictures are not from Japan, but from Shillong in Meghalaya.
- Despite coronavirus pandemic, we saw people celebrating Heritage week in an innovative manner.
- Culture is of great use in times of crisis. It plays an important role in overcoming it. Through technology, culture acts like an emotional recharge.
- Today several museums and libraries are working on digitization of their collections.
- New Delhi’s National museum has done commendable work in this area
- it is working on a project to introduce 10 virtual galleries. Now you can visit the museum sitting at home.
- Every Indian will be proud to know that a very old idol of Devi Annapurna is returning to India from Canada. This idol was stolen from a temple of Varanasi and smuggled out of the country around 100 years ago.
- I thank Canada government for making this possible. Mata Annapurna has deep relations with Kashi. The return of her idol brings us joy.
- Just like this idol, many of our other historical treasures have been targeted by international gangs. These gangs sell them at exorbitant prices in international markets.
- Strong steps been taken to stop this, India has stepped up efforts to bring them back.
- Due to these efforts India has been able to bring back many such artefacts.
- There is a coincidence associated with return of Mata Annapurna. A few days back we celebrated World Heritage week which provides culture enthusiasts an opportunity to look back into the past.