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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to live in harmony with nature and said many of the calamities that people witness are as a result of humans being loggerheads with nature.
Addressing the nation during the 44 edition of Mann ki Baat , the Prime Minister said India is the official host of this year’s International Environment Day on June 5 with the theme of 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
“While trying to understand the importance of this theme, we should all ensure that we do not use low-grade polythene and low-grade plastics and try to curb the negative impact of plastic pollution on our environment, on our wildlife and our health,” he said.
Jawaharlal Nehru's death anniversary
He also used the opportunity to pay homage to India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, whose death anniversary fell on Sunday, and also Veer Savarkar, who was born on May 28, 1883.
He said this was the very month in 1857 that Indians had displayed their strength against the British. “In many parts of the country, our youth and farmers demonstrated their bravery whilst standing up against the injustice. It is indeed sad that we kept on calling the events of 1857 only as a rebellion or a soldiers’ mutiny for a very long time,” Modi said.
“In fact, May 1857 was not only evaluated as a minor historical incident but was also an attempt to dent our self-respect. It was Savarkar who boldly expostulated by writing that whatever happened in 1857 was not a revolt but was indeed the First War of Independence,” he added.
During his radio speech, the Prime Minister congratulated six young Naval women commanders who circumnavigated the globe by sailing 22,000 nautical miles over 250 days and a team of school children from Maharashtra who climbed the Mount Everest.
“If you look at the journey of human evolution, you will notice that breakthroughs in progress have taken birth in the womb of some adventure or the other. There is an umbilical link between development and adventure; the resolve to achieve something, the burning desire to do something unparalleled, the sentiment proclaiming ‘I too can do it’,” Modi said.
'Fit India'
He said when he talked of 'Fit India' two months ago, he didn’t realise it would receive such an overwhelming response.
“When I say ‘Fit India’, I believe that the more we play, the more we will inspire the country to come out and play…Everybody is now getting connected with this Fit India Campaign. People from the film fraternity, from the world of sports, common citizens of the country, members of the armed forces, school teachers or even those toiling in fields and farms, their rising notes are building up a crescendo ‘Hum Fit toh India Fit’ (If we are fit, India is fit).
“”For me, it’s heartwarming that the captain of the Indian Cricket team Virat Kohli ji has included me in his challenge… and I too have accepted his challenge. I believe this is gainful and this kind of a challenge will inspire us to be fit along with others, as well,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also reminded the listeners about the International Yoga Day which falls on June 21, and said he was glad to know the preparations are afoot all over the world to celebrate it.
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