Modi stresses citizen’s duties at the national launch of 'Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav Se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore'

New Delhi, January 20, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stressed that citizens should be more concerned about fulfilling their duties towards the country than just keep talking about their rights.

Delivering the keynote address at the national launch ceremony of "Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav Se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore", the Prime Minister said it needs to be admitted that in the 75 years after independence, the evil tendency of ignoring duties and not keeping them paramount has entered the national life.

“During this period, we only spent time talking and fighting about rights. The talk about rights, to some extent, may be correct in some circumstances but forgetting one's duties has played a major role in keeping India weak.

“A lamp should be lit, the lamp of duty, in the heart of every citizen. Together, we will take the country forward on the path of duty. Then the evils prevailing in the society will be removed and the country will reach new heights,” he added.

The event also saw Modi flag off seven initiatives of the Brahma Kumari spiritual organisation.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bhupender Yadav, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Parshottam Rupala and Kailash Choudhary were among those present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the programme by Brahma Kumari Sanstha, in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration, exemplifies the feeling, spirit and inspiration for a golden India. There was no difference between personal aspirations and successes on the one hand and national aspirations and successes on the other.

“Our progress lies in the progress of the nation. The nation exists because of us and we exist through the nation. This realization is becoming our biggest strength in the making of a new India. Everything the country is doing today includes 'Sabka Prayas’. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ is becoming the guiding motto of the country,” he added.

Commenting on the innovative and progressive new thinking and new approach of New India, he said, “Today, we are creating a system in which there is no place for discrimination, we are building a society that stands firmly on the foundation of equality and social justice," he said.

Referring to the veneration and importance given to women in Indian tradition, he said, “When the world was in deep darkness and caught in the obscurantist views about women, India used to worship women as ‘Matru Shakti’ and Goddesses. We had great women scholars like Gargi, Maitreyi, Anusuya, Arundhati and Madalasa imparting knowledge to society."

He said women had made remarkable contributions in different epochs of Indian history. In the troubled medieval times, there were great women like Panna Dai and Mirabai in this country. During the freedom struggle, too, many women sacrificed their lives including Kittur's Rani Chennamma, Matangini Hazra, Rani Lakshmibai and Veerangana Jhalkari Bai.

In the social sphere, Ahilyabai Holkar and Savitribai Phule maintained India's identity. The Prime Minister listed developments like the entry of women in the armed forces, more maternity leave, better political participation in the form of more voting and representation in the Council of Ministers as a mark of new confidence among women. He expressed satisfaction that this movement is society-led and the gender ratio has improved in the country.

Modi urged everyone to “keep our culture, civilization and values alive besides preserving and promoting spirituality and our diversity. At the same time, he emphasized the need to continuously modernize the systems of technology, infrastructure, education and health.

“Amrit Kaal is not for dreaming while sleeping, but for fulfilling your resolutions. The coming 25 years are the period of utmost hard work, sacrifice, and ‘Tapasya’. This 25 years should be the time to get back what our society has lost in hundreds of years of slavery,” he added.

Regretting the tendency among certain sections to tarnish the image of India, even at the international level, he said, “We cannot get away from this by saying that 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,” he emphasized.

Such organizations which have an international presence, should convey the correct picture of India to the people of other countries and tell the truth about the rumours being spread about India. He also appealed to the organizations like Brahma Kumaris to encourage people to come to India and know more about the country.

NNN