Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s space sector during the 124th episode of Mann Ki Baat. He highlighted Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s return from the International Space Station, calling it a proud moment for the country. He noted growing interest in science among children, especially through the Inspire-Manak Abhiyan scheme. After the Chandrayaan-3 success, student participation doubled and space startups increased from 50 to 200 in five years. National Space Day will be observed on August 23, and the PM invited public suggestions through the NaMo app.
Honouring Freedom Fighters and Revolutionary History
Modi reflected on the revolutionary spirit of August, calling it the “month of revolution.” He remembered freedom fighter Khudiram Bose, hanged at age 18 in 1908, and mentioned key historical events including Lokmanya Tilak’s death anniversary (August 1), Quit India Movement (August 8), and Independence Day (August 15). He also noted August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, urging citizens to reflect on the sacrifices of India’s freedom fighters.
Growth in Handloom and Textile Sector
The Prime Minister spoke about the 10th anniversary of National Handloom Day on August 7, commemorating the Swadeshi movement of 1905. He said the textile sector now has over 3,000 startups, becoming a symbol of Atmanirbharta. He shared inspiring stories of women like Kavita Dhawale from Maharashtra, who now earns a stable income selling Paithani sarees, and tribal women in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj who revived Santhali sarees. He also highlighted the modernized work of Naveen Kumar’s family from Nalanda, Bihar.
Cultural Heritage and Fort Recognition
PM Modi announced that UNESCO had recognized 12 forts as World Heritage Sites — 11 in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu. He mentioned historic forts like Shivneri and Salher, calling them symbols of India’s pride and resilience. He urged people to visit such heritage sites and embrace their cultural roots.
Efforts in Education and Manuscript Preservation
He praised Tamil Nadu’s Mani Maran for promoting the study of palm leaf manuscripts (Suvadiyiyal), helping many students learn and research ancient Indian knowledge, especially in traditional medicine. Modi mentioned the Gyan Bharatam Mission aimed at digitising such manuscripts to keep ancient wisdom relevant today.
Environmental and Wildlife Initiatives
Modi spoke about Odisha’s Radha Krishna Sankirtan group, led by Pramila Pradhan, which uses devotional songs to raise awareness about environmental protection and forest fires. He also highlighted a recent bird census in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, where 40 grassland bird species were identified using sound recording and AI.
Rural Success and Sports Achievements
The PM highlighted Prakash Sahu from Jharkhand’s Gumla district, who left violence behind to become a successful fish farmer. With support from the Matsya Sampada Yojana, over 150 families in the Basia block have joined fish farming. Modi also praised Indian police, firefighters, and security personnel who won nearly 600 medals at the World Police and Fire Games. He announced that India will host the 2029 edition of the event. Under Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, India aims to become a global sports power.
Festivals, Cleanliness, and National Unity
Modi said over 4,500 cities and towns and more than 15 crore people participated in cleanliness campaigns this year. As the festive season of Sawan approaches, he extended greetings to the public and called for unity in celebrating India’s cultural richness.
