Abu Road ( Rajasthan ): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the focus on talking about and fighting for rights in the 75 years since Independence had kept the country “weak” and the next 25 years would be for hard work, sacrifice and “tapasya” or penance.
Mr. Modi was addressing the launch of the Brahma Kumaris’ year-long programme of events as part of the government’s celebration of 75 years of Independence, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Addressing the gathering virtually, Mr. Modi called for preserving Indian culture, civilisation, values and promoting spirituality and diversity, while continuously modernising technology, infrastructure, education and health.
He said the coming 25 years, which will end with the celebration of 100 years of Independence in 2047, was not a time for dreaming but for fulfilling resolutions.
“The coming 25 years are the period of utmost hard work, sacrifice, and tapasya. This is a period of 25 years to get back what our society has lost in hundreds of years of slavery,” Mr. Modi said.
He said it should be acknowledged that the evil of ignoring duties had become a part of the national life.
“In the last 75 years, we only kept talking about rights, fighting for rights and wasting time. The talk of rights, to some extent, for some time, may be right in a particular circumstance, but forgetting one’s duties completely has played a huge role in keeping India weak,” Mr. Modi said.
He called on everyone to walk “on the path of duty”, which he said would lead the country reach new heights.
Mr. Modi also called on organisations like the Brahma Kumaris that have international presence to encourage people to visit the country. He said there had been a tendency to tarnish India’s image on the international stage but if people visited the country they would get to know it. He asked the Brahma Kumaris to send 500 people each from the locations of their international centres to India every year.
“We cannot get away from this [tendency to tarnish India’s image] by saying this is just politics. This is not politics, this is the question of our country. Today, when we are celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is also our responsibility that the world should know India properly,” Mr. Modi said.
Prime Minister was delivering keynote address as he virtually inaugurated the ‘Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore,’ an initiative by the Brahma Kumaris dedicated to the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.’
Prime Minister appealed that correct information is given out to the people asking organisations like the Brahma Kumaris to work in a direction to present India’s picture in the right manner and further dispel the rumours spread about India.
He said, “The rumours about India, there is need to make people aware with truth. This is also our responsibility”.
Adding further, Prime Minister made it clear that in the new system there is no place for discrimination. PM Modi said, “Today, a system has been created where there is no place for discrimination. We are building a society that stands firmly on the foundation of equality and social justice. We are witnessing the emergence of an India whose thinking and approach are innovative and decisions are progressive.”
He said, “The coming 25 years is the time to get back what our society had lost in hundreds of years of slavery.”
He also said that after 75 years of independence, people have fought for their rights but forgot their duties. He said, “All of us have to light a lamp in the heart of every citizen in the country, the lamp of duty.”
“People have talked about these rights over the past years and also fought for them, however, forgetting one’s duties has also played a major role in making India weak. Thereafter, everyone needs to come together for discharging their duties which will help in removing social ills and further take the nation to new heights,” he added.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that peace and brotherhood are the need of the day as there is an environment of violence in the country. “Aur usi hisab se jo hum chahte hain desh mein shanti, sadbhav, bhaichara utpann ho mazboot ho jiski aaj sabse badi avashyakta bhi hai kyunki thora dekhne mein aa raha hai tanaav ka mahaul hai desh ke andar, hinsa ka mahaul hai, ussey chhutkara miley ye aapki hum sab ki iccha rehti hai. (We want to create and strengthen peace, harmony and brotherhood, which are needed the most today because it is being seen that there is an environment of tension and violence in the country. You and all of us want to get rid of it),” Gehlot said.
“I believe we can progress a society and a nation only by taking the road to truth and non-violence. Where there’s peace, there’s development,” Gehlot added.
Meanwhile, PM Modi flagged off seven initiatives of the Brahma Kumaris at the launch ceremony of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav se Bharat Swarnim Bharat Ki Ore’.
As per the PMO, the Brahma Kumaris will hold yearlong initiatives dedicated to Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav including more than 30 campaigns and over 15,000 programs and events.
The seven initiatives include My India Healthy India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Self Reliant Farmers, Women: Flag Bearers of India, Power of Peace Bus Campaign, Andekha Bharat Cycle Rally, United India Motor Bike Campaign and green initiatives under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, chief ministers of Rajasthan and Gujarat Ashok Gehlot and Bhupendra Patel respectively and Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bhupender Yadav, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Parshottam Rupala and Kailash Choudhary also joined the ceremony virtually.