New Delhi: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast on Sunday touched upon a host of topics, including India’s rich spiritual tradition and the boost the sporting culture has received after its performance in the Tokyo Olympics and also paid glowing tributes to hockey legend Dhyan Chand, saying he conquered the world of hockey for the country.
PM Modi urged the people of India to maintain the “success of ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission” amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Asking citizens to continue to maintain COVID-19 precautions, PM Modi said, “More than 62 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country, but still we have to be careful, be vigilant.”
The National Sports Day is celebrated every year on August 29 to mark Dhyan Chand’s birthday. Noting that India won an Olympic medal in the men’s hockey after over four decades, PM Modi said the youth is now drawn towards sports and their parents are happy to back them. This itself is a great tribute to Dhyan Chand, Modi said.
Asserting the young population’s mindset has undergone a sweeping change, he said it is now keen on new destinations and new goals by taking new paths and having new aspirations. The momentum sporting culture has received must be further advanced, he said, calling for having sport competitions at the village level.
“Let us all countrymen strive to further this momentum as much as we can, contributing whatever we can. Let us transform the mantra of Sabka Prayas’ (everyone’s effort) into reality,” he said. Noting that the world has been paying heed to Indian spiritual traditions and philosophy, the prime minister said people then also have a responsibility to carry forward these great traditions.
“That which was temporary and has perished has to be left behind but what is timeless has to be carried forward. Let us celebrate our festivals, understand their scientific meaning, and the connotation behind them. There is an underlying message in every festival,” he said, wishing people a happy Janmashtami, which falls on Monday.