PM Modi Live | Mann Ki Baat 134th Episode Live Broadcast

My dear countrymen, greetings. I am very happy to connect with you once again in Mann Ki Baat. People in different parts of the country are doing wonderful things for the nation and society, and hearing about them gives us new inspiration. Today I will start the program with a similar achievement in athletics. A few days ago, the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition was held in Ranchi, Jharkhand. About 800 athletes from across the country participated. During this, four national records were broken in four different events. Gurinderveer Singh, Vishal TK, Tejaswini Shankar, Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar made new records in different categories. First of all, I congratulate all of them. Friends, one event that is being talked about a lot across the country is the 100 meter race. In just two days, the national record in the men's 100 meter race was broken three times. The two athletes who showed this feat are Gurinderveer Singh and Animesh Kujur. I thought I would talk to both these players this time in Mann Ki Baat. Namaskar Animesh ji, Namaskar Gurinderveer. Sat Sri Akal.

You have achieved a great achievement. Your pair has also done wonders. We have seen jugalbandi in music, but in challenges, there is a jugalbandi where one challenges, the other takes up the challenge, and then a third time. It has been a very interesting subject. I want the listeners of Mann Ki Baat to know about you and your valor.

And what about Gurinder Veer ji?

Wow, that is a great thing.

You both have done a great feat. In just two days, you have broken the national record three times in the 100 meter race. Running the 100 meters and, as Gurinder Veer ji said, people say that Indians' bodies are not meant for this. Despite it being so difficult, you have done it. I would like to know from both of you, and the listeners of Mann Ki Baat would also like to hear: What was the spirit? What was the victory? What did you think and how did you do it? How difficult is it?

You know, I also have a curiosity, and others will too. I have heard that you are good friends. Did you have a pact that if you break my record, I will break yours? First, tell me, Animesh.

Gurveer, what would you like to say?

You have competed to enhance the country's honor, to take the country to this position in the future, and you have done it with a positive spirit. I believe that this sportsman spirit of yours, to play, to challenge each other, to strive to move ahead, and to help each other to progress, is wonderful. I congratulate you from my side. My best wishes to you. You will make the country proud, I am confident. Keep working hard like this. You will progress a lot. My best wishes to you.

Thank you very much. My dear countrymen, most parts of the country are experiencing intense heat. Strong sunlight, hot winds — in such weather, it is very important to take care of yourself. Keep drinking water. If you must go out in the sun, go cautiously. Do not forget the guidelines issued by various government departments in this regard. Friends, the way to fight the heat is often found in the kitchen as well. You must have noticed that as the heat increases, the taste and type of food in the kitchen changes. Sometimes the matka water comes out, sometimes curd is set, sometimes raw mangoes are boiled, and then the season of desi drinks begins. You are also familiar with desi drinks. If you go to North India, you will find Aam Panna at many places — the taste of raw mango and relief from heat. In Punjab-Haryana, you will find lassi, large glasses of lassi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, buttermilk becomes a companion with every meal. In Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, sattu sharbat — it fills the stomach and gives energy. In Konkan and Goa, kokam sharbat and solkadhi. In South India, panakam, neermor, sambharam. In Odisha, bel pana. This is not just a drink; it is part of the tradition of different regions of India and reflects the spirit of 'One India, Best India'. And please note, most of these things come from our own kitchen, from our fields. There is no big branding, but generations of experience are embedded in them. Enjoy these desi drinks during summer. Friends, with the arrival of summer, another discussion begins in every household: mangoes. Mango is a topic of discussion. There is hardly any house in India where mangoes are not talked about in summer. Each region has its own mango, its own taste, its own fragrance. Maharashtra and Konkan's Hapus (Alphonso), Gujarat's Kesar — this is the essence of Aamras. Uttar Pradesh's Dasheri and my Kashi's Langda — langda mango has a special quality: even after ripening, its color often remains green. Bihar's Jardalu, whose fragrance is recognizable from afar. Chausa, Malda — people's memories are attached to each name. Go to South India, there is Banganapalli, Totapuri, Neelam, Malgova. Bengal's Himsagar. Odisha and Andhra's Swarna Rekha. The place changes, the shape, color, and taste of the mango also change. And friends, this journey of mango is now reaching from villages to the global market. Through Mann Ki Baat today, I congratulate our farmer brothers and sisters associated with mango production. You are not ordinary farmers; you are very special for the country's agricultural economy. Continue to shine. Friends, during these summer days, schools are usually on vacation. But I will talk about a class that will make you want to enroll. Friends, imagine a school where children come, youth come, and elders also come. There is no fee, no big building, no classroom. And the most interesting thing is that the class takes place in a river. Friends, this is not a story; this is a real effort. In Aluva, Kerala, Saji Vala Sheril ji is running such a swimming club. So far, more than 15,000 people have learned to swim here. Saji ji has also taught swimming to children with disabilities. There is also a pain behind this effort. A few years ago, many students died in a boat accident. That incident deeply shook Saji. He thought that if the children had known how to swim, perhaps many lives could have been saved. Just from there, his campaign began. Friends, the life of Saji Vala Sheril ji gives us a great lesson: big means are not necessary for service. What is needed is a good intention and continuous effort. With these, change can be brought in the lives of thousands of people. My dear countrymen, in the past days, I got an opportunity to visit the Netherlands in Europe. I participated in several meetings. During this, there was a moment that filled every Indian with pride. In a special ceremony organized in the Netherlands, ancient copper plates of the Chola period were returned to India. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands was also present at that event. I am continuously receiving messages from India and abroad about these copper plates. People are expressing happiness and pride. The Tamil community around the world is also especially enthusiastic about this. Friends, there is also a lot of curiosity among people about these copper plates. So today, I want to share some things with you. Among these are 21 large and three small copper plates. This is mainly related to fulfilling a vow by King Rajendra Chola I for his father Raja Raja Chola. It mentions donating the village of Anaimangalam to a Buddhist vihara. These copper plates also describe the achievements of the Chola dynasty. They reveal how strong the maritime power of the Chola empire was. Information about their relations with Southeast Asian countries is also found in them. We all are very proud of the rich history and culture of the Chola empire. Friends, our government is continuously making efforts to preserve such invaluable heritage of India. In this regard, under the Kanya Bharatam campaign, an important discovery has been made in Malhar, Chhattisgarh. Three rare copper plates have been found there. These are believed to be associated with the reign of Maharshi Balarjuna of the Panduvanshi dynasty. Experts believe that the inscriptions are from the 6th-7th century, meaning these copper plates are 1400-1500 years old. They are written in ancient Brahmi script and Pali language. They provide important information about the governance, religion, and culture of that time. Friends, we Indians have always had a special attraction towards astronomy. Our country still has century-old observatories. Wonderful mathematical discoveries have been made here. Navigation, calendars, our festivals — all of these are connected to the sky and stars. In our India, astronomy has sparked curiosity in every generation and inspired exploration. Even today's youth show great enthusiasm for it. You must be seeing that astronomy clubs are becoming increasingly popular across the country. From big cities to small towns, from schools to parks, their activities are visible. I came to know about the Bengaluru Astronomical Society. Observational sessions are organized here. This institution has also started a mission to popularize astronomy in rural areas. A team called Khagol Mandal has started a very innovative 30-hour course. Friends, gazing at the stars at night is a wonderful experience in itself. An organization named Astro Kerala organizes night observation camps and workshops. Here, young companions learn to make telescopes and use star maps. The Big Bang Astronomy Club in Rajkot has organized many astronomy events from the Gir forests to the Rann of Kutch. Jyotirvidya Parisanstha is also one of the oldest institutions of astronomy. Here, along with observational facilities, there are books, a library, and a telescope library. I would also like to mention I-SEC. It is a student-led nationwide network that connects astronomy and astrophysics clubs. Friends, it is very important to take out time for your hobby and keep learning new things. I urge young people to definitely join an astronomy club and, during these holidays, also visit a planetarium. Friends, those who are watching the Mann Ki Baat program on TV, I request you to definitely watch one video. This video was widely discussed recently. In it, some people are very patiently and carefully trying to save a Ganga dolphin. You will be surprised to know that this entire effort took about 13 hours, and finally, the dolphin was saved. Friends, a major role was played by India's first Ganga Dolphin Rescue Ambulance. This incident is from Uttar Pradesh. A Ganga dolphin had got trapped in a canal. At such a time, this ambulance, made under the Namami Gange campaign, reached as a hope for it. Then, very carefully, it was taken out, examined, treated, and later released safely into the Ghaghra River. In a way, a life returned home. Friends, this Dolphin Rescue Ambulance is very special. It has been prepared like a mobile hospital. It has arrangements to safely keep the dolphin, oxygen facility, a special stretcher, rescue equipment. That is, if a dolphin gets injured, trapped in a canal, or separated from the river, it can be helped immediately. Friends, when we save the Ganga dolphin, we are not just saving one species; we are saving the biodiversity of the Ganga, the entire life system of the river, and preserving a priceless natural heritage for our future generations. My dear countrymen, many of you must have memories associated with river, pond, and well water. Someone might remember swimming in a pond, playing on the bank with friends, or the fragrance of that soil. Such childhood memories stay with us forever. Friends, an inspiring story of preserving such memories has come from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh. Akash Gupta of Basti was very sad to see the Manorama river in his village. Because the river he saw as full of life in his childhood had, over time, become filled with plastic and garbage, and the dirt was increasing. Mr. Akash decided that he would not complain; he would make a new beginning. 'Shikayat nahi, shuruat' became his mantra. He brought his friends along. They had only a net, a shovel, and a basket. But the biggest strength was the resolve to change something. These young people would get into the river, remove water hyacinths, bring out plastic and garbage. Sometimes, 50-60 kg of waste was removed from the river in a single day. Gradually, that part of the Manorama river started looking clean again. People nearby also paid attention to this work. Awareness about cleanliness increased among the people. Friends, a similar inspiring story has also come from Goa. Balakrishna Ayyaji of Goa is a retired teacher, but his enthusiasm to work for society remains the same. The water problem in the Maddi Tolab area troubled him a lot. He also started working for a solution. Balakrishna ji played a key role in laying a pipeline. This brought water to many homes. For families who had to struggle for water daily, this was a great relief. Friends, last month, I had a very good experience. It is also related to Mann Ki Baat, so today I want to share it with you. In Nagar Koyil, Tamil Nadu, I met a teacher. I had met her about three decades ago. I am talking about Girija Amma ji. During this meeting, some young students were also with her. Friends, Girija Amma ji runs about 15 schools. Among them, Chennai's Jai Gopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya is very prominent. Her patriotism is inspiring for every Indian. Inspired by Mann Ki Baat, she resolved to contribute to many soldiers of the country. For this, she motivated the students of all her schools. She told the children to contribute ₹1 every day for the brave soldiers. That is, ₹365 per student per year was collected. From these small contributions, about ₹40 lakh were collected. Girija Amma ji handed over the cheque for this entire amount to me. During the conversation with her, I felt how deep her dedication to Mother India is. Just last year, Chennai's first Hindu Vidyalaya completed 50 years. The role of the school network in advancing the country's education and cultural pride is very commendable. I congratulate all the people associated with this and especially appreciate those students who contributed for their brave soldiers. Friends, in every village and city of India, something is happening that inspires us. Many times, these efforts are not widely discussed. But when we learn about them, our faith strengthens that the country is progressing with the power of its people. I urge you to definitely look at such efforts around you. Identify those who are doing good work for society. Appreciate them. Learn from them, and if possible, connect yourself to some good work. Next month, I will connect with you again in Mann Ki Baat with some more inspiring stories. Thank you very much. Namaskar.