Day: August 27, 2023

Rich flora of Himalayan region can unlock potential in Ayush sector

 The Regional Review Meeting of NERern states of India was ceremonially inaugurated by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal along with Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma here today. The ceremony was also attended by health ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura along with senior officials from Meghalaya, Nagaland as well as other states of the region. The Union Minister of State for Ayush and Women & Child Development, Dr. Mahendrabhai Munjapara along with Secretary of Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha and other senior officials from the ministry, state governments were also present.

The Union Ayush Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the Regional Review Meeting of NERern states here today. During the meeting, all the participating states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim & Tripura presented detailed presentations on the state of Ayush and progress of leading Ayush programmes under implementation. The Health Ministers of the states who physically attended and deliberated in the brainstorming session were Alo Libang of Arunachal Pradesh; Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh of Manipur; Dr R Lalthangliana of Mizoram; Kunga Nima Lepcha of Sikkim and Finance Minister of Tripura, Pranajit Singha Roy.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Today, we had a very fruitful discussion on the promotion and propagation of Ayush system of medicine in the country. Along with the rest of the world, the importance and popularity of traditional system of medicine has risen significantly in our beautiful Himalayan region. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, India has made significant progress in reinventing the age old and proven benefits of traditional system of medicine to enrich the quality of lives of the people. Modi ji has not only encouraged the use of traditional medicine in India but has also led a global movement to invest, innovate and integrate traditional medicine with modern medicine to develop a holistic line of healthcare solutions. In this spirit, I would like to call all the states of NER India to explore the possibility of setting up an Integrated Ayush Department in all its leading state hospitals, in line with the setting up of similar departments in all 19 AIIMS, under the guidance of Modi ji. Today, we are presented with this unique opportunity to kick start a movement to set up integrated medicine departments in all our leading state hospitals, thereby popularising and implementing the concept of Integrated medicine to be emulated by the whole country. We can realise the vision of Modi ji by further boosting traditional medicine practices and become hub of an Ayush led economic growth, promoting employment & trade, especially in the Himalayan region of our country.”

During the deliberations, the Health Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Alo Libang said that the state is planning to set up a full fledged Directorate of Ayush Healthcare Services to promote traditional medicine in the Himalayan state. A Special Panchakarma Centre in the middle of Loktak lake was proposed to be set up, as confirmed by the Health Minister of Manipur, Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh. The Mizoram Health Minister, Dr R Lalthangliana also applauded the benefit of traditional medicine and how Ayush gram initiative and Jan Arogya Samiti is popularising the Ayush system of medicine in the state. 

Ministry of Ayush is supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for implementation of different activities as proposed by the States through their respective State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) through Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of National Ayush Mission (NAM). NAM is the flagship scheme of Ministry of Ayush, Govt of India.

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Team ISRO on success of Chandrayaan-3

 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru after his arrival from Greece and addressed Team ISRO on the success of Chandrayaan-3. The Prime Minister met and interacted with ISRO scientists involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission where he was also briefed about the findings and progress in the Chandrayaan-3 Mission.

Addressing the scientists, the Prime Minister expressed great delight in being present at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru and said that such an occasion is extremely rare when the body and mind get filled with such happiness. Referring to the few special moments in everyone’s lives when impatience starts to dominate, the Prime Minister noted that he experienced the exact same emotions during his tour to South Africa and  Greece and said that his mind was focussed on the Chandrayaan 3 Mission at all times. Observing the inconvenience caused to the scientists at ISRO due to his impromptu plans to visit the ISTRAC, a visibly emotional  Prime Minister said that he was eager to visit and salute the scientists for their diligence, dedication, courage, devotion and passion. 

The Prime Minister said that this is not a simple success. He said this achievement heralds India’s scientific power in infinite space. An elated Prime Minister exclaimed, “India is on the Moon, We have our national pride placed on the Moon”. Highlighting this unprecedented achievement, the Prime Minister said “This is today’s India that is fearless and relentless. This is an India that thinks new and in a novel way, the one that goes to the dark zone and spreads light in the world. This India will provide solutions to the big problems of the world in the 21st century.”

The Prime Minister said that the moment of the touchdown has become immortal in the consciousness of the nation. “The moment of touchdown is one of the most inspiring moments of this century. Every Indian took it as his or her own victory ”, he said. The Prime Minister credited the scientists for this grand success. 

The Prime Minister, describing the photographs of the strong footings of the Moon lander said, “Our ‘Moon Lander’ has firmly set its foot on the Moon like ‘Angad… On the one side is the valor of Vikram then there is bravery of Pragyan on the other”. He said these are pictures of the never seen parts of the moon and this has been done by India. “Entire world recognizes India’s scientific spirit, technology and temperament,” said Shri Modi.  

“The success of Chandrayaan 3 is not just India’s alone but it belongs to all of humanity”, the Prime Minister remarked and underlined that the explorations of the mission will open new doors of possibilities for moon missions of every country. He stated that the mission would not only unravel the secrets of the moon but also contribute to overcoming the challenges on Earth. The Prime Minister once again congratulated every scientist, technician, engineer and all members associated with Chandrayaan 3 Mission. 

The Prime Minister announced, “The point where the moon lander of Chandrayaan-3 landed will now be known as ‘Shiv Shakti’”. “In Shiv, there is resolution for the welfare of humanity and Shakti gives us strength to fulfil those resolutions. This Shiv Shakti Point of the moon also gives a sense of connection with Himalaya to Kanyakumari”, he added. 

Emphasizing the welfare core of the pursuit of science, the Prime Minister said that these pious resolutions need the blessings of Shakti and that Shakti is our Nari Shakti. In the success of Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, our women scientists, the country’s Nari Shakti have played a big role, he emphasized. Shri Modi remarked. “Shiv Shakti Point of the Moon will bear witness to this scientific and philosophical thinking of India”, he added. 

The Prime Minister stated that the point where Chandrayaan 2 left its footprints will now be called ‘Tiranga’. This point, the Prime Minister said, will serve as an inspiration for every effort that India makes and remind us that failure is not the end. “Success is a guarantee where there is strong will power”,  he said. 

Emphasizing that India has become only the 4th nation to have a successful touchdown on the surface of the Moon, the Prime Minister said that the feat becomes more immense when we consider the humble beginnings of India’s space program. He recalled the times when India was considered a third-world country and did not have the required technology and support. Today, the Prime Minister said, India has become the 5th largest economy in the world and it is now among the first-world countries be it trees or technology. “In the journey from ‘third row’ to ‘first row’, institutions like our ‘ISRO’ have played a huge role”, the Prime Minister exclaimed as he highlighted its contributions and said that they have taken Make In India to the Moon today. 

The Prime Minister took the occasion to convey the hard work of ISRO to the countrymen. “From Southern India to the South of the Moon, this was not an easy journey,” the Prime Minister said and informed that ISRO even created an artificial moon in its research facility. The Prime Minister credited the zeal for innovation and science among the youth of India to the successes of such space missions. “Successes of Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan and preparation for Gaganyaan have given a new attitude to the young generation of the country. Your big achievement is awakening a generation of Indians and energizing that”, Shri Modi said. Today, the name of Chandrayaan is resonating among children of India. Every child is seeing his or her future in the scientists, he said. 

The Prime Minister declared that 23rd August, the day of the soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon will be commemorated as ‘National Space Day’. He said that National Space Day will celebrate the spirit of Science, Technology and Innovation, and inspire us for an eternity. 

The Prime Minister noted that the capabilities of the space sector are not limited to launching satellites and space explorations, and its strength can be seen in Ease of Living and Ease of Governance. He recalled the workshop that was organized for the Joint Secretary level officers in the central government with ISRO during the initial years of his Prime Ministership. He mentioned the tremendous progress made to link the space applications with  Governance. He mentioned the role of Space technology in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan;  education, communication and health services to far flung areas; tele-medicine and tele-education.  He also talked about the role of the NAVIC system and support during natural calamities. “Space technology is also the basis of our PM Gatishakti National Master Plan. This is helping a lot in the planning, execution and monitoring of projects. This scope of space application, which is increasing with time, is also increasing opportunities for our youth”, the Prime Minister added.  

The Prime Minister requested ISRO to organize national hackathons on ‘Space Technology in Governance’ in collaboration with various departments of center and state governments.  “I am confident that this National Hackathon will make our governance more effective and provide modern solutions to the countrymen”, he said. 

The Prime Minister also gave a task to the young generation of the country. He said “I want the new generation to come forward to scientifically prove the astronomical formulas in the scriptures of India, to study them anew. It is also important for our heritage and also important for science. In a way, this is a double responsibility for the students of schools, colleges and universities today. The treasure of scientific knowledge that India has, has been buried, hidden during the long period of slavery. In this Azadi ka Amrit Kaal, we have to explore this treasure too, do research on it and also tell the world about it.” 

The  Prime Minister referred to the estimates of the experts that India’s space industry will reach 16 billion dollars from 8 billion dollars in the next few years. While the government is working relentlessly for space sector reforms, the youth of the country is also making efforts as, during the last 4 years, the number of space-related startups has gone up from 4 to about 150. The Prime Minister also urged students across the country to take part in a huge quiz competition on Chandrayaan mission organized by MyGov from 1st September.  

Emphasizing the importance of taking the lead in science and technology in this period of the 21st century, the Prime Minister said that India has become the youngest talent factory in the world. “From the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky, to the depths of space, there’s a lot for the young generations to do”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted opportunities ranging from ‘Deep Earth’ to ‘DeepSea’,  and the next generation computer to genetic engineering. “New opportunities are constantly opening up for you in India”, he added. 

The Prime Minister underlined that guidance for future generations is a necessity and it is them who will further the important missions of today. He said that scientists are their role models and their research and years of hard work have proved that anything can be accomplished if you set your mind to it. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said that the people of the country have faith in the scientists, and when the blessings of the people are bestowed, India will become a global leader in science and technology with the dedication shown towards the country. “Our same spirit of innovation will make the dream of a developed India come true in 2047”, Shri Modi said. 

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Kashi – spiritual capital of India

 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh via video link today.

The Prime Minister welcomed the dignitaries to Varanasi, also known as Kashi, and expressed delight that the G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting is taking place here as the city is his parliamentary constituency. Referring to Kashi as one of the oldest living cities, the Prime Minister mentioned the nearing town of Sarnath where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. “Kashi is known to be a treasure chest of knowledge, duty and truth and it is indeed the cultural and spiritual capital of India”, the Prime Minister remarked and suggested the guests witness the the Ganga Aarti program, pay a visit to Sarnath and try out the delicacies of Kashi.

Highlighting the inherent potential of culture to unite and enable us to understand diverse backgrounds and perspectives, the Prime Minister said that the work of the G20 Culture Ministers Group holds immense significance for entire humanity. “We in India are very proud of our eternal and diverse culture. We also attach great value to our intangible cultural heritage”, Shri Modi said as he underlined that India has been working hard to preserve and revitalize its heritage sites. He mentioned mapping the country’s cultural assets and artists at the national level as well as village level. He also mentioned building several centers to celebrate India’s culture and gave the example of the tribal museums located in different parts of the country which showcase the vibrant culture of India’s tribal communities. Referring to the Prime Ministers’ Museum in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said that it is a one-of-a-kind effort to showcase India’s democratic heritage. He also mentioned developing the ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat’ National Museum, which upon completion will stand as the world’s largest museum showcasing India’s history and culture spanning over 5,000 years.

Speaking about the important issue of restitution of cultural property, the Prime Minister welcomed the efforts of the working group and said that tangible heritage is not only of material value but it is also the history and identity of a nation. Shri Modi remarked, “Everyone has the right to access and enjoy their cultural heritage.” Since 2014, the Prime Minister informed that India has brought back hundreds of such artifacts that showcase the glory of its ancient civilisation. He also commended the efforts towards living heritage as well as contributions to ‘Culture for LiFE’. After all, the Prime Minister said, cultural heritage is not just what is cast in stone, it is also the traditions, customs and festivals that are handed down the generations. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the efforts of the working group will foster sustainable practices and lifestyles.

The Prime Minister underlined that heritage is a vital asset for economic growth and diversification, and it is echoed in India’s mantra of ‘Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi’ which means development as well as heritage. “India takes pride in its 2,000-year-old craft heritage, with nearly 3,000 unique arts and crafts”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the ‘One District, One Product’ initiative which showcases the uniqueness of Indian crafts while fostering self-reliance at the same time. He emphasized that the efforts of G20 nations towards promoting cultural and creative industries hold profound significance as they will facilitate inclusive economic development and support creativity and innovation. In the coming month, the Prime Minister informed that India is going to roll out the PM Vishwakarma Yojana with an initial outlay of 1.8 billion dollars. He stated that it would create an ecosystem of support for traditional artisans and enable them to flourish in their crafts and contribute to the preservation of India’s rich cultural heritage.

Noting that technology is an important ally in celebrating culture, the Prime Minister mentioned India’s National Digital District Repository which is helping rediscover the stories of freedom struggle. He emphasized India’s usage of technology to ensure better preservation of its cultural landmarks while also making places of cultural importance more tourist-friendly.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister expressed delight that the G20 Culture Ministers’ working group has launched the ‘Culture Unites All’ campaign which encapsulates the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future. He also commended their pivotal role in shaping a G20 Action Plan with tangible outcomes. “Your work reflects the importance of the four Cs – Culture, Creativity, Commerce and Collaboration. It will enable us to harness the power of culture to build a compassionate, inclusive and peaceful future”, the Prime Minister concluded.

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Productive trip to South Africa & Greece

 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi landed at Bengaluru after his four day visit to South Africa and Greece, today. The Prime Minister participated in the BRICS Summit in South Africa and later visited Greece. The Prime Minister had various bilateral meetings and meetings with local thought leaders. He also met with the vibrant Indian communities in both the countries. The Prime Minister who had witnessed the landing of Chandrayaan-3 Moon Lander via VC landed in Bengaluru to interact with the ISRO team later.

PM Modi who was given a warm welcome outside HAL  Airport started his address to the gathered citizens with Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and added Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan. Shri Modi said that he witnessed the same enthusiasm in South Africa and Greece over India’s momentous success.

Expressing his eagerness to be with the ISRO team,The Prime said that he had decided to come to Bengaluru first on his return.  The Prime Minister thanked the Governor, Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister for their cooperation regarding  his request for not taking troubles related to the  protocol.  

The Prime Minister thanked everyone for the welcome and noted the enthusiasm among the gathered citizens and proceeded to ISRO to be among the Chandrayaan team in a roadshow.

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DS/TS

PM’s address at G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting

 Welcome to Varanasi, also known as Kashi. I am delighted that you are meeting in Varanasi, which happens to be my Parliamentary Constituency. Kashi is not just the world’s oldest living city. Not far from here is Sarnath, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. Kashi is said to be the city of ‘’सुज्ञान, धर्म, और सत्यराशि’’ – a treasure chest of knowledge, duty, and truth. It is indeed the cultural and spiritual capital of India. I hope you have kept some time in your program to watch the Ganga Aarti, to visit Sarnath, and sample the delicacies of Kashi.

Excellencies, 

Culture has an inherent potential to unite. It enables us to understand diverse backgrounds and perspectives. And therefore, your work holds immense significance for entire humanity. We in India are very proud of our eternal and diverse culture. We also attach great value to our Intangible Cultural Heritage. We have been working hard to preserve and revitalize our heritage sites. We have mapped our cultural assets and artists, not just at the national level, but also at the level of all villages in India. We are also building several centers to celebrate our culture. Prime among them are the tribal museums in different parts of the country. These museums will showcase the vibrant culture of India’s tribal communities. In New Delhi, we have the Prime Ministers’ Museum. This is a one of its kind effort which showcases India’s democratic heritage. We are also building the ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat’ National Museum. Once completed, it will stand as the world’s largest museum. It will showcase India’s history and culture spanning over 5000 years.

Excellencies, 

The issue of restitution of cultural property is an important one. And, I welcome your efforts in this regard. After all, tangible heritage is not only of material value. It is also the history and identity of a nation. Everyone has the right to access and enjoy their cultural heritage. Since 2014, India has brought back hundreds of such artefacts that showcase the glory of our ancient civilization. I also commend your efforts towards ‘living heritage’ as well as your contributions to ‘Culture for LiFE’. After all, cultural heritage is not just what is cast in stone. It is also the traditions, customs and festivals that are handed down the generations. I am confident that your efforts will foster sustainable practices and lifestyles.

Excellencies, 

We believe that heritage is a vital asset for economic growth and diversification. This is echoed in our mantra, ‘Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi’- Development as well as Heritage. India takes pride in its 2,000 years old craft heritage, with nearly 3,000 unique arts and crafts. Our ‘One District, One Product’ initiative showcases the uniqueness of Indian crafts, while fostering self-reliance. Your efforts towards promoting Cultural and Creative Industries hold profound significance. These will facilitate inclusive economic development, and support creativity and innovation. In the coming month, India is going to roll out the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. With an initial outlay of one point eight billion dollars, it will create an eco-system of support for traditional artisans. It will enable them to flourish in their crafts and contribute to the preservation of India’s rich cultural heritage.

Friends,

Technology is an important ally in celebrating culture. In India, we have a National Digital District Repository. It is helping to re-discover the stories of our freedom struggle. We are using technology to ensure better preservation of our cultural landmarks. We are also using technology to make our cultural places more tourist friendly.

Excellencies, 

I am glad that your group has launched the ‘Culture Unites All’ campaign. It encapsulates the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future. I also commend the pivotal role you are playing to shape a G20 Action Plan with tangible outcomes. Your work reflects the importance of the four Cs – Culture, Creativity, Commerce and Collaboration. It will enable us to harness the power of culture to build a compassionate, inclusive and peaceful future. I wish you all a very productive and successful meeting.

Thank You!

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G20 Summit a grand success

 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi arrived to a grand welcome in Delhi. The Prime Minister landed in Delhi from Bengaluru today  after interacting with the ISRO team in the aftermath of the successful landing of the Chandrayaan – 3 moon lander. The Prime Minister had gone to Bengaluru directly after his 4 day tour of South Africa and Greece. Shri JP Nadda welcomed the Prime Minister and felicitated him on the achievements of his successful visit and the momentous achievement of the Indian scientists.

Responding to the warm civic reception, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the enthusiasm of the people for the success of the Chandrayaan-3. The Prime talked about his interaction with the ISRO team and informed  that “the point where the moon lander of Chandrayaan-3 landed will now be known as ‘Shiv Shakti’” He elaborated that Shiv denotes Shubh and Shakti exemplifies Nari Shakti. Shiv Shakti also stands for the connection of Himalaya and Kanyakymari. Similarly, the Prime Minister informed that the point where Chandrayaan 2 left its footprints in 2019 will now be called ‘Tiranga’. He said that there was a proposal at that time too, but somehow heart was not ready. He said that a quiet resolution was taken to name the point of Chandrayaan-2 only after a fully successful mission. “Tiranga gives strength to deal with every Challenge”, the Prime Minister said. He also informed about the decision to celebrate August 23 as National Space Day. The Prime Minister conveyed the greetings and congratulatory messages that the global community showered to India during his visit.

The Prime Minister said that India is creating a new impact on the basis of its achievement and successes and the world is taking note.

Mentioning his visit to Greece, first in the last 40 years by an Indian Prime Minister, PM Modi highlighted love and regard for India in Greece and said that in a way Greece will become India’s gateway to Europe and will be a strong medium for robust India EU relations.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to take the youth’s involvement in Science further. Therefore, he said there is a need to see how space science can be leveraged for good governance and ease of living for the common citizen. He reiterated his decisions to deploy government departments in finding out ways of leveraging space science in service delivery, transparency and perfection. For this Hackathons will be organized in the coming days. 

The Prime Minister said that the 21st century is technology driven. “We have to move on the path of science and technology more firmly in order to achieve a Viksit Bharat by 2047”, he said. In order to instil scientific temper among the new generation, the fervour generated by the Chandrayaan success needs to be channelled into Shakti. For this a quiz competition will be organized on MyGov from September 1. New National Education Policy also has ample provisions for science and technology, he said.

The upcoming G-20 Summit, the Prime Minister said, is an occasion where the entire nation is a host but the maximum responsibility falls on Delhi. “Delhi has the good fortune to get an opportunity of keeping the flag of nations’ prestige flying high”, Shri Modi said. He emphasized that Delhi needs to follow the tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ as this is a critical occasion to show the hospitality of India. “There will be a lot of activities between 5-15 September. I apologise in advance for the inconvenience that may be caused to the people of Delhi. As a family, all the dignitaries are our guests and we have to make our G20 Summit grand with collective efforts.”

Talking about the upcoming Raksha Bandhan and Indian tradition of treating Moon as a brother of Mother Earth, the Prime Minister called for a happy Raksha Bandhan and hoped that the fun filled spirit of the festival introduces the world to our traditions. He said in the month of September, the people of Delhi will give new strength to the achievements of our scientists by making the G20 Summit  a grand success.

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ISRO Centre in Bengaluru

 Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

This morning, I was in Bengaluru. I arrived very early in the morning and decided to meet the scientists who have brought such great achievements to the country. So, I went there early in the morning. However, the way people celebrated the success of Chandrayaan, holding the Tricolour in their hands even before sunrise, was incredibly inspiring. And now the sun is scorching equally in this intense heat which can even pierce the skin. It’s fortunate for me too to be a part of the celebration and share in the joy of Chandrayaan’s success in this intense heat with you who have come here. I congratulate all of you for this, and for me, it’s also a privilege to be a part of this celebration. I congratulate all of you for this.

Today, when I arrived at ISRO in the morning, I had the privilege of releasing the images captured by Chandrayaan for the first time. Perhaps, you might have seen those images on TV as well by now. Those beautiful images were a significant scientific success in itself. Traditionally, it’s a global tradition to name such points which are part of such successful campaigns. After much deliberation, I felt that the point where Chandrayaan-3 has successfully landed should be given a name, and that name is ‘Shivshakti’. When we talk about Lord Shiva, it signifies auspiciousness, and when we talk about power, it signifies the strength of the women of my country. When we talk about Lord Shiva, the Himalayas come to mind, and when we talk about Shakti (power), Kanyakumari comes to mind. Therefore, that point has been named ‘Shivshakti’ to capture the essence of this sentiment from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari. In fact, this name was brought to my notice during Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. However, my mind wasn’t ready. Deep down in my mind, I had resolved that Chandrayaan-2 Point would only get a name after we truly succeed in our journey. And when Chandrayaan-3 succeeded, the point of Chandrayaan-2 also got its name, and that point has been named ‘Tiranga’ (the Indian Tricolour flag). The Tricolour gives the strength to overcome all challenges and the Tricolour provides the inspiration to manifest every dream. Hence, as Chandrayaan-2 faced failure and Chandrayaan-3 achieved success, the Tricolour turned into inspiration. This is why the Chandrayaan-2 point will now be known as Tiranga. Another significant aspect that I mentioned this morning is that August 23 is a milestone in India’s scientific journey of development. Therefore, every year, India will celebrate August 23 as National Space Day.

Friends,

I was in South Africa for the BRICS Summit in the past few days. This time, along with members of the BRICS Summit, the entire Africa was also invited there. During the BRICS Summit, I observed that there was hardly anyone in the world who did not mention Chandrayaan, or had not conveyed their congratulations. The congratulations I received there, I instantly shared them with all the scientists. And I’m also sharing all the congratulations from across the world with you.

Friends,

Everyone wanted to know about Chandrayaan’s journey, its timeless accomplishment, and the impact of New India, new dreams, new resolutions, and successive achievements, one after another. The world is sensing the emergence of a new influence, based on the capabilities of our Indian Tricolour, our successes and achievements. Today, the world is not only experiencing this influence but also acknowledging and respecting it.

Friends,

After the BRICS Summit, I went to Greece. It had been 40 years since any Indian Prime Minister had visited Greece. I am fortunate that many tasks that are left undone are destined to be done by me. India was accorded respect for its capabilities in Greece as well. Greece perceives that it can become a gateway to Europe due to the friendship between India and Greece and the friendship between India and Greece will serve as a significant means to strengthen the relationships between India and the European Union.

Friends,

We also have some responsibilities in the days to come. Scientists have done their part. Whether it’s satellites or Chandrayaan’s journey, it has a significant impact on the lives of ordinary people. Therefore, we need to work so that the interest of the youth of my country in science and technology develops further. We are not just people who get stuck with celebrations, enthusiasm, and energy. When we achieve success, we are prepared to take strong steps forward for new advancements. Hence, we should explore how space science can work, how satellite capabilities can be used and how this journey can be useful for good governance, for last-mile delivery, for improvements in the lives of ordinary people. And therefore, I am sounding out all the departments of the government to use space science, space technology and the capabilities of satellites for improvement in delivery, quick response, transparency and perfection. We need to explore all these aspects within our respective departments. I also wish to organize hackathons for the country’s youth in the coming days. In recent days, the country’s students have provided excellent ideas by working non-stop for 30-40 hours during various hackathons, creating an environment of innovation. I want to initiate a series of such hackathons very soon. This will allow the young minds, the young talents of the country, to use space science, satellites, and technology for finding solutions to the challenges faced by ordinary people. We will work in that direction.

Alongside this, we also need to attract the new generation towards science. The 21st century is technology-driven, and the country that progresses ahead in the world will be the one with prowess in science and technology. Therefore, the demand of the time is that by 2047, as we strive to make our country a developed India, we must advance further on the path of science and technology with greater strength. We need to prepare our new generation right from childhood with a scientific temperament. Hence, the significant success we have achieved, the enthusiasm and energy we have, need to be channelled into strength. To channelize this strength, a quiz competition will begin on MyGov from September 1. Through this, our youth will engage with small questions and answers, and gradually develop an interest. Our new education policy has made ample provisions for science and technology. Our new education policy is such that gives significant emphasis to this, and the quiz competition will help our students develop interest in science and technology. Today, I would like to tell the youth of the country, to the students of my country, and to every school, to participate actively in this quiz competition which is centred round Chandrayaan. Millions and millions of youth in the country should become a part of it, and we should take it forward. I believe this will yield significant results.

Today, I want to draw your attention to one more thing. Despite the world’s increasing curiosity, attraction, and belief in India, there are still occasions when it should experience these aspects first hand. There will be an immediate opportunity before us, especially for the people of Delhi, and that is the G20 Summit. In a way, the world’s significant decision-making leadership will be on the soil of Delhi, in the land of India. While the entire India is the host, the guests are coming to Delhi.

The hosting of the G20 Summit is a responsibility of the entire country, but the greater responsibility lies with my brothers and sisters of Delhi, the citizens of Delhi. Therefore, we need to show the world that Delhi can handle this responsibility without any glitches. The privilege of raising the flag of our country’s honour, dignity, and prestige is in the hands of the people of Delhi. There is bound to be some inconvenience when a significant number of guests come. Even when some 5-7 guests visit us, we accommodate them in the main sofa even though we have to sit on smaller chairs. We have the tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ i.e., treating guests as gods. The more respect, honour, and welcome we extend to the leaders of the world, the more will they enhance our own pride, our dignity, and our reputation. Therefore, there will be numerous activities taking place here from September 5th to September 15th. Therefore, I apologize in advance to the people of Delhi for the inconvenience which will be caused to them in the days to come. I request the citizens of Delhi to be patient with the inconveniences that may arise during these upcoming days. I urge them to understand that these guests are everyone’s guests, and we might experience some discomfort, changes in traffic arrangements, and restrictions on movement. But some things are necessary. And as we know if there is a wedding in the family, even if a small cut happens while trimming nails, people say, “Take care, it’s a special occasion, nothing bad should happen.” Therefore, this is a significant opportunity, and just as in a family, all these guests are ours. With the collective efforts of all of us, I believe that our G20 Summit will be spectacular, vibrant, and the entire Delhi will be immersed in colours. My fellow citizens of Delhi will showcase this through their endeavours, and I have full confidence in this.

My dear brothers and sisters, my family members,

In just a few days, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is approaching. Sisters tie a rakhi to their brothers. And we have all grown up saying, “Chanda Mama”. From childhood, we are taught about Chanda Mama, and from childhood, we are taught that earth is our mother. The earth is our “mother” and the moon is “mama”. It means that our Mother Earth is the sister of Chanda Mama. Our Mother Earth is going to celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan with Chanda Mama this time. And so, let’s celebrate this Raksha Bandhan festival in a splendid way, with brotherhood, unity, and a loving atmosphere, so that in the G20 Summit too, this brotherhood, this unity, this love, our culture, and our traditions introduce the world to this essence. I believe that the upcoming festivals will be grand, and in September, our achievements will once again introduce India in various ways on the world stage. Just as the scientists have raised our flag high with the success of Chandrayaan, we, the citizens of Delhi, will strengthen that flag with our splendid hosting of the G20 Summit. I have full confidence in this. I extend my warm wishes to all of you who have gathered here in this bright sunshine to collectively celebrate the achievements of our scientists, to wave our Tricolour with pride, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations. Let’s chant together –

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Thanks a lot!

 

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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blind cricket team for winning the Gold at the IBSA World Games

 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian women’s blind cricket team for winning the Gold at the IBSA World Games. 

Shri Narendra Modi posted on X

“Kudos to the Indian women’s blind cricket team for winning the Gold at the IBSA World Games! A monumental achievement that exemplifies the indomitable spirit and talent of our sportswomen. India beams with pride!”

 

 

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