Published By : Admin | January 18, 2013 | 13:12 IST
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"Khel Mahakumbh 2012-13 commences with a grand ceremony "
"Over 25 lakh athletes, including 7 lakh women athletes and 1 lakh specially abled athletes cutting across all age groups to participate in Khel Mahakumbh "
"We have seen that during the Khel Mahakumbh our players have broken our own records and I am sure due to initiatives such as Khel Mahakumbh, increased professionalism and healthy competition a day is not far when Gujarat’s sportspersons will break records of the nation: Shri Modi "
"There can be no sportsman spirit without sports. We do not want to restrict sports only till a field. We want to take it to the entire Gujarat so that it becomes a field of sportsmanship: Shri Modi "
"Gujarat is standing shoulder to shoulder with the nation in commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary. We commemorated 2012 as Yuva Shakti Varsh and would continue to commemorate 2013 as the same: Shri Modi"
The Khel Mahakumbh 2012-13 got off to a grand start on the morning of Friday 18th January 2013. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Modi affirmed that the Government is leaving no stone unturned to promote sports across the state.
The Chief Minister shared that a record 25-lakh athletes will be joining this mega sports extravaganza, which includes 7 lakh women athletes. He added that this time there are 1 lakh specially abled athletes who will participate in the Mahakumbh and he specially congratulated the parents of these specially abled athletes. Shri Modi stated that if there were no elections towards the later part of 2012 then this Mahakumbh would have been completed before December 2012 and added that this year there will be 2 Khel Mahakumbhs- one of 2012 and the other of 2013 that will take place towards the end of the year.
Talking about the efforts to promote sports across the state, Shri Modi recalled that that in the past there were Taluka Games, State Games but these remained matters restricted to various schools and colleges only. “Governments gave budget but only those schools where there was an active sports teacher, sportspersons or interested parents that we saw interest. Sports were being played, money was being spent but something was lacking,”
He went on to say, “Not to give importance to sports is a great disservice.” Shri Modi affirmed that the Gujarat Government has made several efforts to promote sports across the state. “We have seen that during the Khel Mahakumbh our players have broken our own records and I am sure due to initiatives such as Khel Mahakumbh, increased professionalism and healthy competition a day is not far when Gujarat’s sportspersons will break records of the nation,” the Chief Minister avowed.
The Chief Minister shared that prizes, budgets for promoting sports have been increasing and the condition of the grounds are also getting better across the state.
Shri Modi opined that there can be no sportsmanship without sports and further said, “We do not want to restrict sports only till a field. We want to take it to the entire Gujarat so that it becomes a field of sportsmanship!”
Shri Modi said that the nation is commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and till January 2014 Gujarat is standing shoulder to shoulder in commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary. He shared that Gujarat commemorated 2012 as Yuva Shakti Varsh and would continue to commemorate 2013 as the same. He spoke about the creation of Vivekananda Yuva Kendras and the emphasis given towards skill and personality development.
He wished the athletes the very best for the sports extravaganza and urged them to keep decorum on the field. He also asked people to come in large numbers to the venues and support the athletes. Shri Modi concluded by declaring Khel Mahakumbh 2012 open.
Cabinet Ministers Shri Ramanlal Vora and Shri Ganpat Vasava, MoS Shri Nanubhai Vanani, Shri Bhagyesh Jha were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
Earlier this morning, Shri Modi shared a blog ‘Ramshe Gujarat, Jeetshe Gujarat’ in which he talked about the importance of sports in our lives and the efforts by the state Government to promote a culture of sport among the people.
Text of PM Modi's address to the Indian Community in Guyana
November 22, 2024
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Your Excellency President Irfan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Philips, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Former President Donald Ramotar, Members of the Guyanese Cabinet, Members of the Indo-Guyanese Community,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Namaskar!
Seetaram !
I am delighted to be with all of you today.First of all, I want to thank President Irfan Ali for joining us.I am deeply touched by the love and affection given to me since my arrival.I thank President Ali for opening the doors of his home to me.
I thank his family for their warmth and kindness. The spirit of hospitality is at the heart of our culture. I could feel that, over the last two days. With President Ali and his grandmother, we also planted a tree. It is part of our initiative, "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam", that is, "a tree for mother”. It was an emotional moment that I will always remember.
Friends,
I was deeply honoured to receive the ‘Order of Excellence’, the highest national award of Guyana. I thank the people of Guyana for this gesture. This is an honour of 1.4 billion Indians. It is the recognition of the 3 lakh strong Indo-Guyanese community and their contributions to the development of Guyana.
Friends,
I have great memories of visiting your wonderful country over two decades ago. At that time, I held no official position. I came to Guyana as a traveller, full of curiosity. Now, I have returned to this land of many rivers as the Prime Minister of India. A lot of things have changed between then and now. But the love and affection of my Guyanese brothers and sisters remains the same! My experience has reaffirmed - you can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an Indian.
Friends,
Today, I visited the India Arrival Monument. It brings to life, the long and difficult journey of your ancestors nearly two centuries ago. They came from different parts of India. They brought with them different cultures, languages and traditions. Over time, they made this new land their home. Today, these languages, stories and traditions are part of the rich culture of Guyana.
I salute the spirit of the Indo-Guyanese community. You fought for freedom and democracy. You have worked to make Guyana one of the fastest growing economies. From humble beginnings you have risen to the top. Shri Cheddi Jagan used to say: "It matters not what a person is born, but who they choose to be.”He also lived these words. The son of a family of labourers, he went on to become a leader of global stature.
President Irfan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, former President Donald Ramotar, they are all Ambassadors of the Indo Guyanese community. Joseph Ruhomon, one of the earliest Indo-Guyanese intellectuals, Ramcharitar Lalla, one of the first Indo-Guyanese poets, Shana Yardan, the renowned woman poet, Many such Indo-Guyanese made an impact on academics and arts, music and medicine.
Friends,
Our commonalities provide a strong foundation to our friendship. Three things, in particular, connect India and Guyana deeply. Culture, cuisine and cricket! Just a couple of weeks ago, I am sure you all celebrated Diwali. And in a few months, when India celebrates Holi, Guyana will celebrate Phagwa.
This year, the Diwali was special as Ram Lalla returned to Ayodhya after 500 years. People in India remember that the holy water and shilas from Guyana were also sent to build the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Despite being oceans apart, your cultural connection with Mother India is strong.
I could feel this when I visited the Arya Samaj Monument and Saraswati Vidya Niketan School earlier today. Both India and Guyana are proud of our rich and diverse culture. We see diversity as something to be celebrated, not just accommodated. Our countries are showing how cultural diversity is our strength.
Friends,
Wherever people of India go, they take one important thing along with them. The food! The Indo-Guyanese community also has a unique food tradition which has both Indian and Guyanese elements. I am aware that Dhal Puri is popular here! The seven-curry meal that I had at President Ali’s home was delicious. It will remain a fond memory for me.
Friends,
The love for cricket also binds our nations strongly. It is not just a sport. It is a way of life, deeply embedded in our national identity. The Providence National Cricket Stadium in Guyana stands as a symbol of our friendship.
Kanhai, Kalicharan, Chanderpaul are all well-known names in India. Clive Lloyd and his team have been a favourite of many generations. Young players from this region also have a huge fan base in India. Some of these great cricketers are here with us today. Many of our cricket fans enjoyed the T-20 World Cup that you hosted this year.
Your cheers for the ‘Team in Blue’ at their match in Guyana could be heard even back home in India!
Friends,
This morning, I had the honour of addressing the Guyanese Parliament. Coming from the Mother of Democracy, I felt the spiritual connect with one of the most vibrant democracies in the Caribbean region. We have a shared history that binds us together. Common struggle against colonial rule, love for democratic values, And, respect for diversity.
We have a shared future that we want to create. Aspirations for growth and development, Commitment towards economy and ecology, And, belief in a just and inclusive world order.
Friends,
I know the people of Guyana are well-wishers of India. You would be closely watching the progress being made in India. India’s journey over the past decade has been one of scale, speed and sustainability.
In just 10 years, India has grown from the tenth largest economy to the fifth largest. And, soon, we will become the third-largest. Our youth have made us the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world. India is a global hub for e-commerce, AI, fintech, agriculture, technology and more.
We have reached Mars and the Moon. From highways to i-ways, airways to railways, we are building state of art infrastructure. We have a strong service sector. Now, we are also becoming stronger in manufacturing. India has become the second largest mobile manufacturer in the world.
Friends,
India’s growth has not only been inspirational but also inclusive. Our digital public infrastructure is empowering the poor. We opened over 500 million bank accounts for the people. We connected these bank accounts with digital identity and mobiles. Due to this, people receive assistance directly in their bank accounts. Ayushman Bharat is the world’s largest free health insurance scheme. It is benefiting over 500 million people.
We have built over 30 million homes for those in need. In just one decade, we have lifted 250 million people out of poverty. Even among the poor, our initiatives have benefited women the most. Millions of women are becoming grassroots entrepreneurs, generating jobs and opportunities.
Friends,
While all this massive growth was happening, we also focused on sustainability. In just a decade, our solar energy capacity grew 30-fold ! Can you imagine ?We have moved towards green mobility, with 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol.
At the international level too, we have played a central role in many initiatives to combat climate change. The International Solar Alliance, The Global Biofuels Alliance, The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Many of these initiatives have a special focus on empowering the Global South.
We have also championed the International Big Cat Alliance. Guyana, with its majestic Jaguars, also stands to benefit from this.
Friends,
Last year, we had hosted President Irfaan Ali as the Chief Guest of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. We also received Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in India. Together, we have worked to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many areas.
Today, we have agreed to widen the scope of our collaboration -from energy to enterprise,Ayurveda to agriculture, infrastructure to innovation, healthcare to human resources, anddata to development. Our partnership also holds significant value for the wider region. The second India-CARICOM summit held yesterday is testament to the same.
As members of the United Nations, we both believe in reformed multilateralism. As developing countries, we understand the power of the Global South. We seek strategic autonomy and support inclusive development. We prioritize sustainable development and climate justice. And, we continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to address global crises.
Friends,
I always call our diaspora the Rashtradoots. An Ambassador is a Rajdoot, but for me you are all Rashtradoots. They are Ambassadors of Indian culture and values. It is said that no worldly pleasure can compare to the comfort of a mother’s lap.
You, the Indo-Guyanese community, are doubly blessed. You have Guyana as your motherland and Bharat Mata as your ancestral land. Today, when India is a land of opportunities, each one of you can play a bigger role in connecting our two countries.
Friends,
Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz has been launched. I call upon you to participate. Also encourage your friends from Guyana. It will be a good opportunity to understand India, its values, culture and diversity.
Friends,
Next year, from 13 January to 26 February, Maha Kumbh will be held at Prayagraj. I invite you to attend this gathering with families and friends. You can travel to Basti or Gonda, from where many of you came. You can also visit the Ram Temple at Ayodhya. There is another invite.
It is for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas that will be held in Bhubaneshwar in January. If you come, you can also take the blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Puri. Now with so many events and invitations, I hope to see many of you in India soon. Once again, thank you all for the love and affection you have shown me.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
And special thanks to my friend Ali. Thanks a lot.
