Love’ for Himalayas Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

By Nirendra Dev

The whole country celebrated the 100th episode of “Mann Ki Baat” programme of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s famous Radio this month. Hitherto all Prime Ministers used to address the nation over AIR, Door Darshan and  appear  physically on two national occasions –  Republic Day and Independence Day. At times of crisis Prime Ministers have addressed the nation too. But Modi is the first head of the Government who is trying to reach all over the country through his Maan Ki Baat programme each month. Through this unique programme he interacts with citizens of India on themes and issues that matter to the Nation.

The 100th episode was a historic moment as it was broadcast live in the United Nations headquarters in New York. But if one analyses the contents or focus of his “Maan Ki Baat” programmes Himalayan region and its people have touched him most. Interestingly, through his journey in the Himalayas in his youth Modi wanted to become a  monk.  But it was, late Swami Atmasthananda, president of the Belur- headquartered Ramakrishna Math and Mission who advised him not to do so but serve the people.

During the celebrations of Maan Ki Baat, Pradeep Sangwan, who is on a mission to clean the Himalayas of the waste left behind by tourists, said he had almost given up his initiative but a mention from Prime Minister on his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme gave a renewed impetus to his efforts. Sangwan had established the Healing Himalayas Foundation for the purpose nearly seven years ago. The Haryana native   interacted with Modi during the 100th episode of the programme. Sangwan was about to give up the arduous work in the absence of adequate response but things changed once Modi mentioned this work in his Mann Ki Batt. He also spoke to Sunil Jaglan, another Haryana native and the man behind the ‘Selfie with Daughter’ initiative.

Large scale  lotus farming in Dal Lake, lavender cultivation in Doda district through floriculture and farming of unique saffron by farmers  of  Kashmir had drawn Modi’s attention before anyone else could do. He also lauded the sacrifices made by the soldiers in Indo-China borders during the ongoing conflict. It is not only major efforts in particular that drew Modi’s attention. Puran Singh Rathore, a visually impaired folk artist from Bageshwar, in Uttarakhand found mention in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme. In the 95th edition of his monthly radio programme talked about “Muscular Dystrophy” and appreciated the effort of a health centre by Manav Mandir Hospital in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan in spreading awareness about it.

Turning to the North East, Modi had mentioned about Manipur’s sister Vijayashanti Devi who makes clothes from lotus fibres. In her own words, Vijayshanti says, PM’s reference about her work has added a unique selling proposition (USP) to her work. “I have got a market  from  the US now and also they want to buy in bulk”. It may be mentioned that Manipur has found special mentions a number of times in the Prime Minister’s Radio programme. The state has given voice to the spirit of sportsmanship of the state along with hailing   traditional forms of sport and has given encouragement to youths and artists, Modi had said.

In his 79th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’,  the Prime Minister had talked about Moirang Day. The tiny town of Moirang  in  Manipur was once a  major  base of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army. Even before Independence, Col Shaukat Malik ji of INA had unfurled  the flag here. During Amrit Mahotsav, on April 14th, 2022 the esteemed tricolour was once again hoisted at that very Moirang.

On 25th October 2015’s ‘Mann-ki-Baat’ radio programme Modi took the name of the hitherto little-known Mizoram’s Khawalailung village from the remote Champai district. Almost the entire state must have echoed in one tone ‘kalaw mein’ (Thank You in Mizo language) to Modi for his radio talk. It may be mentioned that the Khawalailung village was adopted earlier by Mizoram’s only Lok  Sabha  member C L Ruala (Congress) under the Adarsh Gram Yojana which was also mentioned about Modi.

Modi received a comprehensive report on the iconic Kongthong village popularly known as “whistling village” from Rajya Sabha member, Rakesh Singh who has adopted the village along with several others and initiated many developmental programmes. The PM had even expressed gratitude to the people of Kongthong for composing a special tune in his honour and in appreciation of the Government of India’s efforts in promoting the village as a prime tourism  destination. The crystal clear Umngot River, the Cherry Blossom Festival and Asia’s cleanest village Mawlynnong, and many places of Meghalaya also have found mention on his Twitter handle and Mann Ki Baat programmes earlier.

The  Prime  Minister in  his  programme had also talked about Sange Shermpa of Sikkim who is working for protection of the environment at an altitude of  12,000  feet of eastern Himalayas. Because of his efforts there are garbage bins around lakes and glaciers in this part of the mountain range, he had said. The Prime Minister cited examples of companies in different parts of the country even in remote Arunachal Pradesh using the internet to grow their business. Letter of one Bhavesh Deka  from   Assam had promoted Modi to discuss the issues facing the region.

Outstanding efforts of Lidi Kro-U were recognized by Modi in the 95th episode of Mann Ki Baat. Nagaland’s cultural heritage receives a boost, as Lidi Kro-U, a woman-led group, endeavours to revive and promote the traditional practices and values of the Angami Naga culture. Tripura’s Bio villages and Apple Ber cultivation came up in the Mann Ki Baat programme. Modi also referred to many Padma Shri Awardees and several other personalities of Tripura who set shining   examples before the nation in terms of achievements and outstanding contributions in various fields in his talk programme.

Meanwhile, an independent study has also lauded the radio programme benefitting the region. It is rather also an attempt to renew the terms of engagement with the region and an endeavour to mainstream this representation of the region in the public imagination of India, the study said. Culture emerges as the source of unification and acts as the buckle that joins North East India with the rest of India, the study titled “Framing Civilisational Continuity: Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and North East India, “ said.