Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the bravehearts of the nation today on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, stating that India is continuously scaling new heights, be it defence production, defence exports, or political cooperation with friendly nations.

 

Addressing the nation in his Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani, Mr Modi said today, the 26th of July, is a date that does not require a calendar to be remembered, as Kargil Vijay Diwas is being celebrated today.

 

Mr Modi said this day fills everyone with pride and reminds people of the extraordinary courage of the nation’s brave soldiers. He bowed to the martyrs and soldiers, saying they sacrificed their all for the defence of Mother India. 

 

Mr Modi urged everyone to pay tribute to the martyrs and further strengthen the resolve to build a secure, capable, and self-reliant India.

 

The Prime Minister said that a special ‘Shaurya Vijay Yatra’ has been organised this year, which began on the 14th of July from the National War Memorial in Delhi.

 

This motorcycle rally will reach the Kargil War Memorial in Drass. Its message is – “One Ride, One Nation, One Salute.” Mr Modi said that this journey reminds everyone that the sacrifice made for the nation can never be forgotten.

 

Mr Modi said India is continuously strengthening her technological capabilities. He highlighted the recent induction of INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy. This modern warship has been designed and built in India itself. More than 75 per cent of the materials used in it are indigenous.

 

The Prime Minister called it a symbol of the growing strength of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. He was pleased to note that the DRDO also successfully tested the Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket this very month. 

 

DRDO also successfully tested the Kusha missile a few days ago. Mr Modi lauded the collective perseverance of Indian scientists and engineers.

 

The prime minister stated that a major agreement regarding BrahMos and Astra missiles was concluded during his Indonesia visit earlier this month. He expressed satisfaction at the growing global confidence in India’s defence equipment and technology. 

 

The prime minister said every Indian is filled with pride following the successful launch of ‘Vikram-1’ last Sunday. He elaborated that it is India’s first rocket developed by the private sector. Mr Modi praised young innovators for displaying remarkable skill, passion, and patience.

 

He said that the country’s space sector remained closed to the private sector for a long time, denying many interested young people the opportunity to showcase their talent. He emphasised that his government opened up the Space sector to private enterprise, and the world is witnessing the results today. 

 

Speaking about the ‘Catch The Rain’ campaign, Prime Minister Modi said a special nationwide campaign has been underway since the 4th of July.

 

Under this initiative, fresh momentum is being given to rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, rejuvenation of old water bodies, and tree plantation. Mr Modi expressed delight at the overwhelming participation from people everywhere – be it villages or cities, panchayats or social organisations.

 

He informed that at some places, silt is being removed from old ponds, while wells and stepwells are being revived at other places. Borewells no longer in use are serving as channels for groundwater recharge. 

 

The Prime Minister added that around 1,500 ponds have been constructed in the Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh. ‘Amrit Sarovars’ have been restored in Narsinghpur and significant water storage capacity has been developed in Nashik, Maharashtra. In Nandyal of Andhra Pradesh, all Gram panchayats have joined this campaign, and old ponds have been made functional again.

 

Mr Modi said that encouraging results from this campaign are visible in Chhattisgarh’s Korba, Odisha’s Bhubaneswar and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh. He urged everyone to take responsibility for a pond, well, or stepwell in their vicinity and save every drop of water.  

 

In his Mann Ki Baat address today, the Prime Minister said every Indian is cheering for all the athletes participating in the Commonwealth Games, which began in Glasgow a few days ago. He said it is every citizen’s wish that all players and athletes perform exceptionally well.  

 

The Prime Minister exuded pride that Indian youth have achieved remarkable feats in sports recently. PV Sindhu has become the first Indian to win the Japan Open title in badminton.

 

The Indian women’s cricket team also won its first-ever Test match at the Lords Stadium in London. Mr Modi termed it a historic victory. The Indian team won the match by a massive margin of 270 runs.

 

Mr Modi highlighted that in the long history of Lord’s, this was the first Test match played by a women’s team. It was on this very ground that India won her first Cricket World Cup in 1983 and now, Nari-Shakti has brought glory to the nation there.  

 

Prime Minister Modi mentioned a Sports-related initiative in South Chittoor, Ernakulam, Keralam. A school there has a Sanskrit club where a teacher, Abhilash, is popularising Sanskrit in a unique way.

 

This project has been named ‘Aksharakanduk’; it explains Sanskrit letters in a simple manner by linking them to terms used in football. Mr Modi said that this makes learning enjoyable while also fostering a deeper connection between people and Sports.

 

The prime minister also spoke about science Olympiads, noting that a large number of students participate in these events. Olympiads in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics were held this month.

 

The Indian contingent delivered a spectacular performance in these competitions. In the Physics Olympiad, all five students from India won gold medals, and India secured the top rank.

 

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that over the past decade, students from India have won either a gold or a silver medal in every Physics Olympiad. In the Chemistry Olympiad as well, all students from India won gold medals. Mr Modi called this India’s best performance so far. 

 

All students from India also won medals in the Biology Olympiad, including a gold medal. On the other hand, in the Mathematics Olympiad, country’s students secured two gold and four silver medals.

 

The Prime Minister said he is proud of the nation’s youth power, expressing confidence that more and more young people across the country will keep the flag of India flying high at such forums.

 

In this edition of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi mentioned Kashmir’s traditional ‘Vagu’ mat, which is crafted out of reeds and paddy straw.

 

The tradition of making this eco-friendly mat dates back many years. The process begins with harvesting grass and reeds from the marshy regions of Kashmir. Mr Modi said that it takes approximately four days for two artisans to complete a single mat. 

 

He said the usage of this mat had declined over the last few years, when Ghulam Hussain from Srinagar and his daughter, Tanzila, dedicated themselves to reviving the tradition of the ‘Vagu’ craft. He added that Ghulam Hussain significantly advanced this craft and also received local government support for his mission. 

 

Today, ‘Vagu’ is rapidly gaining popularity and reaching other parts of the country. Mr Modi said that the country is moving forward with the mantra of ‘Vocal for Local’ and urged people to make Kashmir’s ‘Vagu’ a part of their homes.

 

The Prime Minister also mentioned a self-help group in Bijnor’s Lakhiwala village, which has created ‘Vidur Prerna Swadeshi Herbal Tea.’

 

The tea contains natural ingredients such as lemongrass, Giloy, Mulethi, Tulsi, Raw Turmeric, Cinnamon, Cardamom, and Fennel seeds. Mr Modi remarked that due to its unique taste and qualities, this tea has quickly carved a niche for itself among the people.

 

This herbal tea garnered immense appreciation at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj and the International Food Festival in Delhi.

 

Mr Modi observed that the entire venture started with an investment of just one lakh rupees. He said the brand has reached major institutions across the country today.  

 

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that people across the country are fulfilling their responsibility towards nature through the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.

 

He cited the example of Ahmedabad’s Bhadaj area, in which over 3.5 lakh saplings were planted within a single hour. More than 25 thousand people joined the effort.

 

This achievement has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Mr Modi highlighted that the resolve of the people was also evident in Uttar Pradesh, where over 35 crore saplings were planted in a single day on the 12th of July. He termed it a matter of special pride as a Member of Parliament representing a constituency in UP. 

 

Mr Modi also expressed happiness that the Indian Grey Hornbill is once again making its abode in the Gir forests of Gujarat after nearly 60 years. He attributed this to years of conservation and restoration efforts in Gir. 

 

On the subject of plastic pollution, Mr Modi expressed concern that waste from single-use plastic continues to harm nature for years. He stressed the proper disposal of plastic. He gave an example of ‘Waste to Wealth’ from Sitamarhi in Bihar, where waste is being recycled to create attractive benches.

 

About 40 kilograms of single-use plastic are consumed to make one bench. These benches are not only strong, durable, and comfortable but also eco-friendly.

 

They are installed in government schools, parks, and public spaces. The Prime Minister said that this initiative in Sitamarhi shows that ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’ is no longer just a slogan but is becoming a part of people’s lives.

 

Mr Modi reiterated his call for everyone to worship Lord Ganesha idols made from the country’s own clay during Ganesha Utsav, instead of idols made of POP. He said people have sent him messages stated their resolve to install idols of Lord Ganesha made from local clay. 

 

The Prime Minister also mentioned Dr. Ronaldo Laishram from Manipur who is an astrophysicist working in Japan. He has been part of the team that discovered a massive cluster of young galaxies. He named this entire cluster the ‘Loktak Proto-cluster,’ linking it to the beautiful Loktak lake in Manipur. Loktak is a vast freshwater lake.

 

Mr Modi expressed delight that Manipur’s Loktak is today shining not only on the country’s map but also across the vast cosmos. 

 

The nation will celebrate ‘National Handloom Day’ on the 7th of August. The Prime Minister said that country celebrates the skills and creativity of weavers on this day. He urged people to honour weavers by encouraging handloom crafts and further strengthen the spirit of being ‘Vocal for Local’.

 

Mr Modi emphasised that the way handloom is being promoted in the country today is improving the lives of a large number of people.

 

He said there are many examples of this, from Pochampally to Patna and from Kuthampally to Kutch. He said that some are carrying forward the beautiful tradition of ‘Pochampally Ikat’, while others are engaging women weavers to create wool products. 

 

He added that some are preserving Keralam’s traditional ‘Kasavu Kala’. 

 

The Prime Minister also mentioned Khadi, saying that ‘Khadi’ was very dear to Mahatma Gandhi. He noted that ‘Khadi’ has become quite popular during recent years. Its sales have increased six-fold over the last 12 years.

 

This sales figure has now reached nearly 8,000 crore rupees. Mr Modi urged people to buy at least one product made of Khadi, handloom, or handicraft during the upcoming festive season. 

 

In today’s Mann Ki Baat episode, Mr Modi also spoke about the ‘Chongpreng’ musical instrument from Tripura. He said it is quite popular among the tribal communities there.

 

The instrument is made of bamboo and features three strings. The prime minister said it produces a melodious tune that bears resemblance to the sarod. 

 

He said that its popularity among the youth had begun to wane when Suraj Kumar Debbarma resolved to revive its popularity. A short piece of music from this instrument was played during Mann Ki Baat for the listeners.   

 

The Prime Minister commended Mr Debbarma’s  efforts to popularise traditional music. He urged everyone to share information about traditional musical instruments found in their vicinity on social media. 

 

Tomorrow, the 27th of July, marks the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Mr Modi said Dr. Kalam’s personality embodied many inspiring facets, yet the role of a teacher was closest to his heart.

 

He said the former President inspired children and the youth to dream big. Mr Modi said Guru Purnima will also be celebrated this week. He said Guru Purnima is an occasion to express gratitude towards all mentors. 

 

Concluding his address, Mr Modi spoke about Independence Day which will be celebrated on 15th of August. He said it is a day to remember the countless heroes who dedicated their all for the freedom of the nation.

 

He said that over the past few years, the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign has united the entire nation with a remarkable spirit.

 

He added that this year as well, the Har Ghar Tiranga must be carried forward with great enthusiasm. He urged all to share their myriad ideas and suggestions before the 15th of August, as always, on MyGov.  

 

Tanzeela, who is working to revive Kashmir’s traditional Vagu mat craft, has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning her family’s efforts to revive the art in today’s Mann Ki Baat programme.

 

Speaking to Akashvani News, Tanzeela said she is thankful to the prime minister for recognising their efforts. She said the acknowledgement is a proud moment for her family and has motivated them to work even harder to revive and promote the traditional craft.

 

She said the recognition has strengthened their resolve to preserve the art and inspire the younger generation to carry forward Kashmir’s rich craft heritage.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted several achievements of Andhra Pradesh during his Mann Ki Baat programme. Highlighting water conservation efforts, the Prime Minister appreciated the work carried out under the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign in Andhra Pradesh. He said all Gram Panchayats in Nandyal district have joined the movement by restoring old tanks and rejuvenating Amrit Sarovars. He also noted that people in Vizianagaram have actively participated in rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge activities.

Mr. Modi also referred to the induction of the indigenous warship INS Mahendragiri into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam. He said the warship, built with over 75 per cent indigenous equipment, is a shining example of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

The Prime Minister congratulated badminton star P. V. Sindhu on becoming the first Indian woman to win the Japan Open title. He also recalled the successful launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. People across Andhra Pradesh expressed happiness over the Prime Minister’s mention of the state’s achievements on the national platform.