New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the upcoming ‘Maha Kumbh’ as the “Maha Kumbh of unity” as he asked people to return from the grand religious congregation with a resolve to banish hate and division from the society.
Speaking in his monthly Mann ki Baat broadcast, Modi said, “Maha Kumbh ka sandesh ek ho pura desh (Message from the Maha Kumbh should be that the entire country must be united).”
He added, “Ganga ki aviral dhara, na bante samaj hamara” (Like the uninterrupted flow of Ganga, let our society remain one).
Noting the diversity of people visiting the mammoth congregation, which will be held in Prayagraj from January 13, he said there is no other example of such a sight of unity in diversity.
“Maha Kumbh’s speciality lies not just in its vastness but also in its diversity,” he said.
The mega-religious event is held every 12 years.
Tens of millions of people congregate at the event, he said adding that saints, thousands of traditions, hundreds of sects and many akharas become its part.
“There is no discrimination anywhere. No one is big or small. Such a scene of unity in diversity will not be seen anywhere else in the world,” he said.
“It is also the Maha Kumbh of unity. This time’s Maha Kumbh will strengthen the mantra of Maha Kumbh of unity. When we participate in the Kumbh, let us bring along this resolve of unity with us. Let us also make a resolve to annihilate the feeling of division and hatred in the society,” he added.
The prime minister said an AI chatbot will be deployed at the event for the first time, and the facility of digital navigation will help people reach different ghats, temples, and akharas of sadhus. Information related to the Maha Kumbh will be available in 11 Indian languages through the AI chatbot, he said.
Modi cited a WHO report to highlight an 80 per cent reduction in the number of malaria cases and deaths in the country between 2015 and 2023. “This is no mean achievement.”
In the tea gardens of Jorhat in Assam, malaria used to be a major cause of concern until four years ago but people’s participation in a movement against the mosquito-borne disease has curbed it, he added.
Citing another success on the health front, the prime minister referred to a study in the medical journal Lancet that said the chances of starting cancer treatment on time in India have increased.
He said the ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana’ has played a big role in getting cancer patients timely treatment.
“Because of this scheme, 90 per cent of cancer patients have been able to start their treatment on time. Due to lack of money, poor patients would earlier shy away from getting tested for cancer and its treatment. Now, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana has become a big support for them,” he said.
“There is only one mantra to fight cancer – Awareness, Action and Assurance. Awareness means awareness of cancer and its symptoms, Action means timely diagnosis and treatment, Assurance means the belief that every help is available for patients,” he added.
Turning to India’s animation films, TV serials and movies, he said their popularity underscores the potential of the country’s creative industry.
Noting that the year 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of many great film personalities, including Raj Kapoor and Mohammad Rafi, he said a great opportunity is on the way to showcase India’s creative talent to the world.
Next year, for the first time, the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit i.e. WAVES summit is going to be organised in our country, he added.
This summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation, he said the “creators’ economy” is bringing in new energy in the country’s target of emerging as a USD 5 trillion economy.
During the broadcast, Modi highlighted the increasing appeal of Indian traditions and culture, noting that a Tamil teaching programme in Fiji is drawing a lot of interest.
He said a unique Olympics has started in Bastar, long associated with violent Maoist activities.
“A new revolution is coming to Bastar through the first Bastar Olympics. This is taking place in the region which was once a witness to Maoist violence. The mascot of the Bastar Olympics are – ‘Wild Water Buffalo’ and ‘Hill Myna’. It reflects the rich culture of Bastar,” he said.
In the very first instance, 1.65 lakh players from seven districts have participated in the Bastar Olympics in athletics, archery, badminton, football, hockey, kho-kho and volleyball among other sports.
Modi asked people to encourage such sporting events in their regions, saying sports not only lead to physical development but are also a powerful medium to connect society with the sportsman spirit.
He also spoke of the “vegetable revolution” in Odisha’s Kalahandi, one known for its grim tales of poverty and people’s migration, and lauded farmers.
