#MannKiBaat: PM Modi pays tribute to Dhyanchand, recalls his contribution to Indian hockey
#MannKiBaat: Daughters of our country have made the nation proud at #Rio2016, says PM Modi
#MannKiBaat: Performance of our sportspersons at #Rio2016 is laudable, says the PM
A sports committee will make roadmap for upcoming Olympics: PM during #MannKiBaat
Share your views on ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App’ how India can do better in the upcoming Olympics
PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Dr. S Radhakrishnan during #MannKiBaat
#MannKiBaat: Role of teachers as important as Mothers, says PM Modi
Share your memories & anecdotes how teachers shaped your lives on ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App’
Lokmanya Tilak said “Swaraj is our birthright”, but today our priority should be ‘Surajya’: PM during #MannKiBaat
#MannKiBaat: Mother Teresa spent her entire life in upliftment of the poor, says PM Modi
Honour for every Indian that Mother Teresa would be regarded as Saint on September 4th: PM during #MannKiBaat
Centre has coordinated with five states for Swachh Ganga: PM Modi during #MannKiBaat
#MannKiBaat: Swachhta has become a part of everyone’s life, says PM Modi
Over a lakh children in villages wrote letters to their parents for constructing toilets in their homes: PM #MannKiBaat
Urge people to use clay idols during Ganesh Chaturthi & Durga Puja: PM during #MannKiBaat
India always wants good relationships with her neighbours: PM Modi during #MannKiBaat
Rashtrapati ji inaugurated #AkashvaniMaitree that will further people to people ties between India & Bangladesh: PM during #MannKiBaat
All parties came further for passing GST Bill. Credit goes to everyone: PM Modi during #MannKiBaat
Loss of lives in Kashmir, be it youth or security personnel, it is our country’s loss: PM during #MannKiBaat
All parties stand united on Kashmir, says PM Modi during #MannKiBaat
India is a diverse country. We must further strengthen the country’s unity: PM Modi during #MannKiBaat

My dear countrymen, Namaskar,

Tomorrow, 29th August is the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. This occasion is celebrated as ‘National Sports Day’ throughout the country. I offer my tributes to Dhyan Chand ji and wish to remind you all about his invaluable contribution. He played a pivotal role in helping India win Hockey Gold Medals in Olympic Games of 1928, 1932 and 1936. All of us cricket lovers know Bradman’s name very well. He had complimented Dhyan Chand ji by saying that ‘he scores goals like runs’. Dhyan Chand ji was a living example of sportsman spirit and nationalism. During a match in Kolkata one player from the opposite team hit him on the head with the hockey stick. At that point, only 10 minutes were left in the game. And, Dhyan Chand ji scored three goals in just those ten minutes and said – “I avenged the hit by scoring goals”.  

Dear countrymen, as the time of Mann Ki Baat draws near, a very large number of suggestions are received on MyGov or NarendraModiApp. These are on diverse topics. But, I saw that this time in most of these suggestions, people had asked me to say something about the Rio Olympics. I find it a very positive sign that our common people have such attachment and awareness about Rio Olympics and they are insisting that the Prime Minister of the country says something on this matter. It shows that besides Cricket, our people have so much involvement in and awareness and knowledge about other sports and games also. For me, even reading these messages proved to be a source of inspiration. One Shri Ajit Singh ji has written on NarendraModiApp – “Please, this time in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ do talk about the education of our daughters, our ‘Betis’ and their participation in sports because they have brought laurels for the country by winning medals at the Rio Olympics.” One Shri Sachin has written to urge that in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ this time a mention may please be made about Sindhu, Saakshi and Deepa Karmakar. Whatever medals we got have been earned by our daughters. These Betis have once again proved that they are second to none in any respect. One of these daughters is from North India while there is one who belongs to South India and then there is one from the Eastern part. All in all, they represent all corners of our country. It seems that our daughters in the whole of India have decided to take up the responsibility of bringing glory to the nation.

Shikhar Thakur has written on MyGov that we could have performed better at the Olympics. He has written – “Respected Modi Sir, first of all, congratulations on our winning two medals at Rio. However, I want to draw your attention to the question - was our performance really good? And, the answer is ‘No’. We have to go a long way in the field of sports. Our parents, even today, insist on focusing on studies and academics. Sports are considered a waste of time in our society. We need to change this mindset. Society needs motivation for this. And, no one can do this better than you.”

Similarly, one Shri Satya Prakash Mehra ji has written on NarednraModiApp – “In Mann Ki Baat, there is a need to focus on extra-curricular activities, especially on encouraging children and youth to play.” Thousands of people have expressed similar sentiments. There is no denying the fact that we could not perform up to the expectations. Some of our players could not even touch during these Games their own performance level which they had achieved during the domestic events in India. In the medals chart, our tally was only two medals. However, it is also a fact that if we look closely, we shall find that despite missing medals, Indian players gave a very good account of themselves for the first time in some of the events.

See, our Abhinav Bindra very narrowly missed the medal and got fourth place in Shooting. Dipa Karmakar produced a superb performance in Gymnastics, although she remained at the fourth place and missed a Bronze by a very narrow margin. But, how can we forget that she is India’s first daughter to qualify in Gymnastics for the Olympics and also to reach the final round. The pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna met almost a similar fate in Tennis. Our athletes this time gave a creditable performance. After 32 years of P.T. Usha’s feat, Lalita babar qualified for the finals in track and field. Our Women’s Hockey Team qualified for the Olympic Games after a space of 36 long years. Men’s Hockey Team reached knock out stage after 36 years. Our team is quite strong. And the interesting part is that Gold Medalist Argentina lost just one match in the entire tournament and the team which defeated them was INDIA. Thus, the future surely seems bright for us.

Vikas Krishna Yadav reached the quarter finals in Boxing but could not win Bronze. Many players like Aditi Ashok, Dattu Bhokanal, Atanu Das gave a very good performance. But my dear countrymen, we do have to go a long way. And if we stick to the same routine, we may perhaps keep facing the same disappointment. I have announced setting up of a committee. The Government of India will make an in depth in-house analysis and will study the practices being followed around the world. We shall prepare a roadmap on how we can do better. We have to prepare a far reaching plan keeping in view the Olympics in 2020, 2024, 2028. I urge the State Governments also to set up similar committees to find out as to what we can do in sports. What can each state do? The states can take up one or two sports of their choice and display their strength.

I urge our sports associations also to do objective and impartial brainstorming on this. And, I also request all citizens of the country who have interest in this matter to mail their suggestions on NarendraModiApp. They may write to the government; associations may discuss these issues and submit their memoranda to the government. State governments too should deliberate on this matter and provide their suggestions. But, we must prepare ourselves fully and thoroughly. And, I am confident that we, the nation of 125 crore people comprising 65 percent youth population can reach an exalted status in the world of sports too. We have to move ahead with this resolve.

My dear countrymen, 5th September is ‘Teachers Day’. For many years, I have been spending a lot of time with students on Teachers Day and that too as a student myself. I used to learn quite a lot from those young children. For me, 5th September was Teachers Day as well as an Education Day. But, this time I have to leave for G-20 Summit and so felt in my heart that I should express my feelings in this regard in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ today.

In our life, a teacher holds the same place which a mother does. We have also seen such teachers who care more for their pupils than for themselves. They devote their lives for their disciples, their students. These days, after Rio Olympics, Pulela Gopi Chand ji is being talked about everywhere. He is a player first but he has set up a glorious example of what a good coach, that is, a teacher should be. I see Gopi Chand ji today as an excellent teacher besides being a very accomplished player. And, on Teachers Day, I salute Pulela Gopi Chand ji for his hard work, his dedication towards sports and his manner of finding happiness in the success of his disciples. We always feel the contribution of our teachers in our lives. 5th September happens to be the birthday of India’s former President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan ji and the country celebrates this as Teachers Day. Whatever post he held in his life, he always tried to live like a teacher, an educator. Not only this, he always said that “a good teacher can only be one who keeps the student within always alive”. Dr. Radhakrishnan ji showed this by living as a teacher and by keeping alive the student within him despite holding the highest office of the President.

 Some times when I think of it, I remember so many incidents related with my teachers because they were our heroes in our small village. However, I can happily say that even now I receive a hand written letter every month from one of my teachers, who has turned 90 now. In this letter, he mentions books read by him during that month along with quotations. He also gives his comments on what he deems correct or otherwise in whatever I have done during the month. It is as if he is, even now, teaching me in the class room. In a way, he is conducting a correspondence course for me even today. And, about his handwriting even at the age of 90, I marvel that he writes so beautifully whereas my own handwriting is very poor. That is why, whenever I look at somebody’s good handwriting, I have a great respect for it. You may also be having similar experience. If you tell the world about whatever good has happened in your life because of your teachers, people’s attitude towards teachers would change. It will be a matter of pride and it is our duty to enhance the honour of our teachers in the society. If you have a photograph with your teacher or an incident connected with your teacher or an inspirational thing associated with your teacher, please do share the same on NarendraModiApp. Looking at the contribution of teachers in the country from the point of view of students is also immensely valuable in itself.

My dear countrymen, Ganesh Utsav is drawing near. Ganesh ji removes all obstacles and let us all wish that our country, our society, our families, and each one of us may lead a life free of obstacles. But, when we mention Ganesh Utsav, it is natural to remember Lokmanya Tilak ji. The tradition of public celebration of Ganesh Utsav is Lokmanya Tilak’s gift to us. By publicly celebrating Ganesh Utsav, he turned this religious occasion into a festival of national awakening and social refinement. These Ganesh festivities included holding wide-ranging discussions on the issues that touched our lives and society, and comprised such programmes which provided a new vigour and vitality to our social fabric. Also, his mantra “Swaraj, that is, freedom is my birthright” should have the main focus thereby strengthening the freedom movement. Now, not in Maharashtra alone but in each corner of India, Ganesh Utsav is celebrated publicly. Young people make elaborate preparations, they are full of vigour. Some people even now try to follow the path shown by Lokmanya Tilak ji. They organise debates on topics of public interest, and hold essay competitions and rangoli competitions. Tableus depict the issues of social concern in a very artistic manner. In a way, a mass campaign of public education gets underway through these Ganesh festivities. Lokmanya Tilak ji gave us the inspirational mantra – “Swaraj, that is, freedom is our birthright.” But now we live in independent India. So do we through these public Ganesh festivals move now to SURAAJ, that is, good governance by proclaiming ‘SURAAJ is my birthright’. Good governance, SURAAJ, should be our priority; can we not recite this mantra and give a message for it in the public Ganesh festival celebrations? Come on, I invite you all.

It is true that festivals express the vitality of a society. Festivals infuse new life into individuals as well as the society. Life seems to be impossible without festivals but these have to be moulded according to the needs of the changing times.  I have seen that this time, many people have written to me mentioning Ganeshotsav and Durga Puja. They are worried about environment. One Shri Shankar Narayan Prashant has strongly urged –“Modi ji, kindly tell the people through your Mann Ki Baat that they should not use Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris. Why should we not use Ganeshji idols made of the clay from the village pond. POP idols are not environment friendly”. He has expressed a great pain, others have also. I request you all as to why should we not use clay in making Ganesh and Durga idols and revert to our old tradition. This will help in environment preservation, prevent pollution of our rivers and ponds and also provide protection to small creatures living in water. This is also the service of God. Ganesh ji removes obstacles. So, we should not make such Ganeshji idols, which create problems. I do not know how you will take my suggestions but it is not just me but many other people saying the same thing. I have heard about many such people including Pune based sculptor Shri Abhijit Dhondphale, Kolhapur institutions Nisarg-Mitra and Vigyan Prabodhini, Nisarg Katta in Vidarbh, Gyan Prabodhini of Pune, and Girgaoncha Raja of Mumbai. Many such institutions work hard to promote Ganesh idols made from clay and they also propagate it. Eco-friendly Ganeshotsav is also social service. There is still time left before the start of Durga Pooja festivities. If we resolve now, our efforts will lead to employment generation for those families which traditionally used to make clay idols in the past. Also the clay will go back and get dissolved in the pond or the river and will thus help in protecting the environment. I offer my best wishes to you all for Ganesh Chaturthi.

My dear countrymen, Bharat Ratna Mother Teresa will be canonized, that is, accorded sainthood on 4th September. Mother Teresa devoted her entire life to the service of the poor in India. Though she was born in Albania and her mother tongue was not English, yet she transformed her life and did everything to be able to serve the poor. When Mother Teresa, who served the poor in India all through her life, is accorded Sainthood, it is quite natural for we Indians to feel proud. Indian government will send an official delegation under the leadership of our External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to represent 125 crore Indians at the canonization ceremony to be held on 4th September. We keep learning something or the other from great men and women, saints, sages, holy people. We shall continue to receive something, learn something from them and keep on doing some good things.

My dear countrymen, when development becomes a mass movement, a big transformation takes place. Peoples’ power is, in a way, considered to be a divine incarnation. Government of India has made a successful effort to clean the Ganga and involve the people for this project with the cooperation of five State governments. Pradhans of villages situated on the banks of the river Ganga were invited to Allahabad on the 20th of this month. They included men as well as women. They came to Allahabad and took an oath before Mother Ganga that they will make all out efforts to immediately stop the practice of open defecation in their villages situated on the banks of Ganga, start a campaign of building toilets and also that these villages will make their full contribution in cleaning up Ganga and will ensure that Ganga is not polluted now. I congratulate all the Pradhans who had assembled in Allahabad with this resolve from different States; they had come from Uttrakhand, from Uttar Pradesh, from Bihar, from Jharkhand and from West Bengal. I also congratulate all those Ministries of the Government of India and also those ministers who turned this vision into reality. I also want to thank the Chief Ministers of these five States for taking the vital step in the direction of making Ganga clean by involving people’s power.

My dear countrymen, certain things touch me very deeply and my heart bows in respect to those who visualize such heartwarming initiatives. In Kabirdham district of Chhatisgarh more than 1.25 lakh students from about 1700 schools collectively wrote letters to their parents. Some students wrote in English, some wrote in Hindi and some in Chhatisgarhi to their parents telling them that there should be toilets in their houses. They demanded building toilets. Some students even wrote that they would rather go without celebrating birthday but the toilet must be constructed.

Students of age between seven to seventeen took up this task. And this had such an impact, such an emotional impact that while the students were going to school the next day, their parents handed over reply letters to them addressed to the teacher in which they promised to build toilets by a certain date positively. My compliments to those who visualized this idea, compliments to these students and special compliments to those parents who took their childrens’ letters so seriously and also took a decision to construct a toilet. This is what inspires us.

In Koppal district of Karnataka, a sixteen year old girl Mallamma started a Satyagrah against her own family. She launched the Satyagrah and stopped eating and she did that not to ask something for herself, not to demand good clothes or have sweets. This daughter Mallamma was adamant to have a toilet built in her house. But, the family was not in a good position economically. The daughter stuck to her demand and was not prepared to end her Satyagrah. The village pradhan Mohammad Shafi came to know about this. He was told that Mallamma had protested to press for her demand for getting a toilet built in her house. Now, look at the gesture of village Pradhan Mohammad Shafi, he arranged eighteen thousand rupees and got a toilet built within a week. Just see the power and strength in Mallamma’s protest, and also consider the grand gesture of a village Pradhan like Mohammad Shafi. Look how the solutions to problems are found, this is the power of the people.

My dear countrymen, Swachha Bharat has become the dream of each Indian. Some Indians have made it their resolve. Some Indians have made it their aim and purpose. But, each one is connected to it in one or the other way and everyone is making a contribution. Daily we hear about the various innovative efforts in this direction. Acting on one such idea, the Government of India has called upon the people to make short films of 2 to 3 minutes duration on Swachhta, that is, cleanliness and send these to the Government. You can find details of this plan on website. A competition will be held and the winners will be awarded prizes on Gandhi Jayanti Day on 2nd October. I request TV channels also to invite such films and hold a competition. Creativity can give a new strength to Swachhata Abhiyan or cleanliness campaign. New slogans will emerge, newer methods will come to knowledge, a new inspiration will be generated and all this will happen with the great support of the people. Lesser known artists could be taken and it is not necessary to have a big studio and a big camera. You can even shoot a film these days using your mobile phone camera. I call upon you all to come forward and participate.

My dear countrymen, India has always tried its best to have close, cordial and vibrant relations with its neighbours. A very important event took place recently. The Honourable President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a new radio channel named ‘Akashvani Maitree Channel’ at Kolkata. Now, some people may wonder whether Honourable President should inaugurate a Radio Channel? But this is no ordinary Radio Channel, it is a very big and very important step. We have Bangladesh as our neighbour. We know that both Bangladesh and West Bengal continue to have a common cultural heritage. So, Akashvani Maitree on this side and Bangladesh Betaar on that side will mutually share the content and Bengali speaking people on both sides will enjoy the programmes of Akashvani, that is, All India Radio. This people to people contact is a big contribution of Akashvani. The President launched this radio channel. I extend my thanks to Bangladesh also for collaborating with us in this initiative. I congratulate the friends in All India Radio too for making their contribution in our foreign policy also.

My dear countrymen, although you have entrusted me with the responsibilities of Prime Minister but I also am a human being just like you. At times, sensitive events touch me a little too deeply. Such sentimental incidents generate new energy, give new inspiration and this is what motivates us Indians to do some remarkable things. I received a letter recently which touched my heart. A motherly lady of about 84 years of age who is a retired teacher wrote that letter to me. If she had not forbidden me from revealing her name, I from the core of my heart wanted to announce her name while talking to you. She wrote in her letter that after my appeal to the people to forego their cooking gas subsidy, she had given up her subsidy and then she even forgot about it. However, a few days ago a person on my behalf went to her and delivered a letter in which she was thanked for her giving up the subsidy. And, she has said that a letter from the Prime Minister was no less than a Padma Shree honour for her.

Dear countrymen, you may be knowing that I have tried to send a letter, to be delivered personally through my representatives, to all those who surrendered their cooking gas subsidy on my appeal. My effort is to send letters to more than one crore people. Under this plan my letter had reached this mother who wrote back to me saying that I was doing a good work under the campaign of providing relief to those poor ladies who are getting freedom from the smoke of a Chulha. I am a retired teacher and will cross the age of 90 years within a few years and I am sending you a donation of fifty thousand rupees which you can use in this mission of providing relief from the Chulha smoke to the poor women. You may well imagine the missionary spirit of this retired teacher living on pension and donating an amount of fifty thousand rupees for the sake of provision of gas connection to the other poor mothers and sisters, in order to save them from the ill effects of Chulha smoke. It is not a question of 50 thousand rupees but the basic question is of the empathy in this old lady and it is because of the blessings of this lady and of crores of our other mothers and sisters which strengthens my confidence in the future of the country. And, she did not write to me this letter as a Prime Minister but she straightforwardly wrote – “Modi Bhaiya!” I salute this wonderful mother and I also salute crores of similar mothers in India who keep doing something or the other all the time for the benefit of others despite facing many difficulties themselves.

My dear countrymen, we were struggling with drought-like conditions last year but this August we have been facing the fury of floods all through. In some parts of the country, there have been repetitive floods. State governments, Union government, local self-government bodies, social organisations and the citizens did whatever best could be done. Yet, even amidst the reports of these floods, some such events happened which should be remembered. Which show the power of unity, and how big results can be achieved by working together? The month of August this year has become memorable. In August 2016, about 90 political parties in the country, many of these parties in the Parliament, which were staunch opponents of each other and which do not miss the slightest opportunity against each other, all these parties got united and passed the GST Act. The credit for this goes to all the parties. And, this is an example which shows that great tasks can be accomplished by working in unison to move ahead. Similarly, about the incidents that took place in Kashmir and all that happened in Kashmir, all political parties in the country collectively expressed their views in one voice. A message was sent to the whole world, a message also went to the separatist forces and our sympathy was expressed towards the people of Kashmir. Whatever interaction with whomsoever I had on Kashmir resounded with these views quite prominently and if I may try to summarise these views and comments, the gist and essence were unity and affection; these two were the fundamental points. And, we all are of the view, and this is the view of all 125 crore Indians, right from the village Pradhan to the Prime Minister that every loss of life in Kashmir – whether it is of a young man or of a security personnel – it is our own loss, a loss of our people, a loss for the nation! Those trying to disturb peace in Kashmir by putting small children in the front and hiding behind them will have to be answerable to these very innocent children some day.

My dear countrymen, ours is a vast nation, full of diversities. To keep this country of manifold diversities united, we all as citizens, as society and as the government, have a responsibility to encourage things which strengthen our national unity and highlight these with full vigour, only then we can make our country’s future bright, and, of course, this will be achieved. I have full faith in the power of my 125 crore countrymen. That is all for today, many many thanks.

Explore More
78-ാം സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യ ദിനത്തില്‍ ചുവപ്പ് കോട്ടയില്‍ നിന്ന് പ്രധാനമന്ത്രി ശ്രീ നരേന്ദ്ര മോദി നടത്തിയ പ്രസംഗം

ജനപ്രിയ പ്രസംഗങ്ങൾ

78-ാം സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യ ദിനത്തില്‍ ചുവപ്പ് കോട്ടയില്‍ നിന്ന് പ്രധാനമന്ത്രി ശ്രീ നരേന്ദ്ര മോദി നടത്തിയ പ്രസംഗം
India’s Biz Activity Surges To 3-month High In Nov: Report

Media Coverage

India’s Biz Activity Surges To 3-month High In Nov: Report
NM on the go

Nm on the go

Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
...
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participates in ‘Odisha Parba 2024’ celebrations
November 24, 2024
Delighted to take part in the Odisha Parba in Delhi, the state plays a pivotal role in India's growth and is blessed with cultural heritage admired across the country and the world: PM
The culture of Odisha has greatly strengthened the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', in which the sons and daughters of the state have made huge contributions: PM
We can see many examples of the contribution of Oriya literature to the cultural prosperity of India: PM
Odisha's cultural richness, architecture and science have always been special, We have to constantly take innovative steps to take every identity of this place to the world: PM
We are working fast in every sector for the development of Odisha,it has immense possibilities of port based industrial development: PM
Odisha is India's mining and metal powerhouse making it’s position very strong in the steel, aluminium and energy sectors: PM
Our government is committed to promote ease of doing business in Odisha: PM
Today Odisha has its own vision and roadmap, now investment will be encouraged and new employment opportunities will be created: PM

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the ‘Odisha Parba 2024’ celebrations today at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he greeted all the brothers and sisters of Odisha who were present at the event. He remarked that this year marked the centenary of the death anniversary of Swabhav Kavi Gangadhar Meher and paid tributes to him. He also paid tributes to Bhakta Dasia Bhauri, Bhakta Salabega and the writer of Oriya Bhagavatha, Shri Jagannath Das on the occasion.

“Odisha has always been the abode of Saints and Scholars”, said Shri Modi. He remarked that the saints and scholars have played a great role in nourishing the cultural richness by ensuring the great literature like Saral Mahabharat, Odiya Bhagawat have reached the common people at their doorsteps. He added that there is extensive literature related to Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Oriya language. Remembering a saga of Mahaprabhu Jagannatha, the Prime Minister said that Lord Jagannath led the war from the forefront and praised the Lord’s simplicity that he had partaken the curd from the hands of a devotee named Manika Gaudini while entering the battlefield. He added that there were a lot of lessons from the above saga, Shri Modi said one of the important lessons was that if we work with good intentions then God himself leads that work. He further added that God was always with us and we should never feel that we are alone in any dire situation.

Reciting a line of Odisha poet Bhim Bhoi that no matter how much pain one has to suffer, the world must be saved, the Prime Minister said that this has been the culture of Odisha. Shri Modi remarked that Puri Dham strengthened the feeling of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'. He added that the brave sons of Odisha also showed direction to the country by taking part in the freedom struggle. He said that we can never repay the debt of the martyrs of Paika Kranti. Shri Modi remarked that it was the good fortune of the government that it had the opportunity to issue a commemorative postage stamp and coin on Paika Kranti.

Reiterating that the entire country was remembering the contribution of Utkal Kesari Hare Krishna Mehtab ji at this time, Shri Modi said that the Government was celebrating his 125th birth anniversary on a large scale. The Prime Minister also touched upon the able leadership Odisha has given to the country from the past till now. He added that Draupadi Murmu ji, hailing from a tribal community, was the President of India. And it was a matter of great pride for all of us. He further added that it was due to her inspiration, schemes worth thousands of crores of rupees for tribal welfare were implemented in India today and these schemes were benefiting the tribal society not only of Odisha but of the entire India.

Remarking that Odisha is the land of women power and its strength in the form of Mata Subhadra, the Prime Minister said that Odisha will progress only when the women of Odisha progress. He added that he had the great opportunity to launch the Subhadra Yojana for my mothers and sisters of Odisha a few days back which will benefit the women of Odisha.

Shri Modi highlighted the contribution of Odisha in giving a new dimension to India's maritime power. He noted that the Bali Jatra was concluded yesterday in Odisha, which was organised in a grand manner on the banks of the Mahanadi in Cuttack on the day of Kartik Purnima. Further, Shri Modi remarked that Bali Jatra was a symbol of India's maritime power. Lauding the courage of the sailors of the past, the Prime Minister said that they were brave enough to sail and cross the seas despite the absence of modern technology like today. He added that the traders used to travel by ships to places like Bali, Sumatra, Java in Indonesia, which helped promote trade and enhance the reach of culture to various places. Shri Modi emphasised that today Odisha's maritime power had an important role in the achievement of a developed India's resolve.

The Prime Minister underlined that today there is hope for a new future for Odisha after continuous efforts for 10 years to take Odisha to new heights. Thanking the people of Odisha for their unprecedented blessings, Shri Modi said that this had given new courage to this hope and the Government had big dreams and had set big goals. Noting that Odisha will be celebrating the centenary year of statehood in 2036, he said that the Government’s endeavour was to make Odisha one of the strong, prosperous and fast-growing states of the country.

Noting that there was a time when the eastern part of India including states like Odisha were considered backward, Shri Modi said that he considered the eastern part of India to be the growth engine of the country's development. Therefore, he added that the Government has made the development of eastern India a priority and today all the work related to connectivity, health, education in the entire eastern India had been expedited. Shri Modi highlighted that today Odisha was getting three times more budget than the central government used to give it 10 years ago. He added that this year, 30 percent more budget had been given for the development of Odisha as compared to last year. He assured that the Government was working at a fast pace in every sector for the holistic development of Odisha.

“Odisha has immense potential for port-based industrial development”, exclaimed the Prime Minister. Therefore, he added that trade will be promoted by developing ports at Dhamra, Gopalpur, Astaranga, Palur, and Subarnarekha. Remarking that Odisha was the mining and metal powerhouse of India, Shri Modi said that this strengthened Odisha's position in the steel, aluminium and energy sectors. He added that by focusing on these sectors, new avenues of prosperity can be opened in Odisha.

Noting that the production of cashew, jute, cotton, turmeric and oilseeds was in abundance in Odisha, Shri Modi said that the Government's effort was to ensure that these products reach the big markets and thereby benefit the farmers. He added that there was also a lot of scope for expansion in the sea-food processing industry of Odisha and Government’s effort was to make Odisha sea-food a brand that is in demand in the global market.

Emphasising that Government’s effort was to make Odisha a preferred destination for investors, the Prime Minister said that his government was committed to promoting ease of doing business in Odisha and investment was being promoted through Utkarsh Utkal. Shri Modi highlighted that as soon as the new government was formed in Odisha, an investment of Rs 45 thousand crore was approved within the first 100 days. He added that today Odisha had its own vision as well as a roadmap, which would promote investment and create new employment opportunities. He congratulated the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi ji and his team for their efforts.

Shri Modi remarked that by utilising the potential of Odisha in the right direction, it can be taken to new heights of development. Emphasising that Odisha can benefit from its strategic location, the Prime Minister said that access to domestic and international markets was easy from there. “Odisha was an important hub of trade for East and South-East Asia”, said Shri Modi and added that Odisha's importance in global value chains would further increase in the times to come. He further added that the government was also working on the goal of increasing exports from the state.

“Odisha has immense potential to promote urbanisation”, highlighted the Prime Minister and added that his Government was undertaking concrete steps in that direction. He further added that the Government was committed to build a large number of dynamic and well-connected cities. Shri Modi underscored that the Government was also creating new possibilities in the tier two cities of Odisha, especially in the districts of western Odisha where development of new infrastructure can lead to creation of new opportunities.

Touching upon the field of higher education, Shri Modi said that Odisha was a new hope for students across the country and there were many national and international institutes, which inspired the state to take the lead in the education sector. He added that these efforts were promoting the startup ecosystem in the state.

Highlighting that Odisha has always been special because of its cultural richness, Shri Modi said the art forms of Odisha fascinate everyone, be it the Odissi dance or the paintings of Odisha or the liveliness that is seen in the Pattachitras or the Saura paintings, a symbol of the tribal art. He added that one got to see the craftsmanship of Sambalpuri, Bomkai and Kotpad weavers in Odisha. The Prime Minister remarked that the more we spread and preserve the art and craftsmanship, the more the respect for Odia people would increase.

Touching upon the abundant heritage of architecture and science of Odisha, the Prime Minister remarked that the science, architecture and vastness of the ancient temples like Sun Temple of Konark, the Lingaraj and Mukteshwar amazed everyone with their exquisiteness and craftsmanship.

Noting that Odisha was a land of immense possibilities in terms of tourism, Shri Modi said there was a need to work across multiple dimensions to bring these possibilities to the ground. He added that today along with Odisha, the country also had a Government that respects Odisha's heritage and its identity. Underlining that one of the conferences of G-20 was held in Odisha last year, Shri Modi said that the Government presented the grand spectacle of the Sun Temple in front of the heads of states and diplomats of so many countries. The Prime Minister said he was pleased that all the four gates of the Mahaprabhu Jagannath Temple complex have been opened along with the Ratna Bhandar of the temple.

The Prime Minister emphasised that there was a need to undertake more innovative steps to tell the world about every identity of Odisha. He cited an example that Bali Jatra Day can be declared and celebrated to make Bali Jatra more popular and promote it on the international platform. He further added that celebrating Odissi Day for arts like Odissi dance could also be explored along with days to celebrate various tribal heritages. Shri Modi said that special events could be organised in schools and colleges, which would create awareness among people about the opportunities related to tourism and small scale industries. He added that Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan was also going to be held in Bhubaneswar in the upcoming days and was a huge opportunity for Odisha.

Noting the rising trend of people forgetting their mother tongue and culture across the globe, Shri Modi was pleased that the Oriya community, wherever it lives, had always been very enthusiastic about its culture, its language and its festivals. He added that his recent visit to Guyana had reaffirmed how the power of mother tongue and culture kept one connected to their motherland. He added that about two hundred years ago, hundreds of labourers left India, but they took Ramcharit Manas with them and even today they are connected to the land of India. Shri Modi emphasised that by preserving our heritage, its benefits could reach everyone even when development and changes take place. He added that in the same way, Odisha can be propelled to new heights.

The Prime Minister underscored that in today's modern era, it was important to assimilate modern changes while strengthening our roots. He added that events like the Odisha Festival could become a medium for this. He further added that events like Odisha Parba should be expanded even more in the coming years and should not be limited to Delhi only. Shri Modi underlined that efforts must be undertaken to ensure that more and more people join it and the participation of schools and colleges also increases. He urged the people from other states in Delhi to participate and get to know Odisha more closely.

Concluding the address, Shri Modi expressed confidence that in the times to come, the colours of this festival would reach every nook and corner of Odisha as well as India by becoming an effective platform for public participation.

Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, President of Odia Samaj, Shri Siddharth Pradhan were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Odisha Parba is a flagship event conducted by Odia Samaj, a trust in New Delhi. Through it, they have been engaged in providing valuable support towards preservation and promotion of Odia heritage. Continuing with the tradition, this year Odisha Parba was organised from 22nd to 24th November. It showcased the rich heritage of Odisha displaying colourful cultural forms and will exhibit the vibrant social, cultural and political ethos of the State. A National Seminar or Conclave led by prominent experts and distinguished professionals across various domains was conducted.