New Delhi, January 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined the importance of India’s family system and traditions in his monthly radio program, “Mann Ki Baat.” He said that it is viewed with curiosity in many countries around the world. He said that with the strength of family and society, we can overcome even the biggest challenges.
In the 130th episode of “Mann Ki Baat,” the Prime Minister spoke about efforts being made in the UAE to strengthen the family system. He said that during his recent visit to India, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan informed him that the next year is being celebrated as the Year of the Family. The aim is to strengthen harmony and collective spirit among the people there.
In this context, he mentioned the community kitchen tradition of Chandanki village in Gujarat, calling it an example of family and social unity.
He said, “The village of Chandanki in Bechraji, Gujarat, has a unique tradition. You’ll be surprised to learn that the people here, especially the elderly, don’t cook at home. This is due to the village’s excellent community kitchen. Food is cooked for everyone in the village at the same time, and people sit together and eat. This tradition has been continuing for the past 15 years. Furthermore, if someone is sick, they have a tiffin service, meaning home delivery is also available.”
Citing an example of a commendable community-based effort, he included the drug de-addiction and social awareness campaign in Anantnag. He explained that the challenges related to drugs, tobacco, cigarettes, and alcohol had increased significantly in Sheikhgund village, Anantnag. Seeing this, local Mir Jafar was so disturbed that he resolved to address the problem. He united everyone in the village, from the youth to the elderly. The impact of his initiative was such that the shops there stopped selling tobacco products. This effort has also increased awareness among people about the dangers of drugs.
Bhajan Clubbing is becoming popular among Generation Z
In Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister mentioned the growing popularity of ‘Bhajan Clubbing’, a confluence of devotion and modernity, among the youth. He said that this is a wonderful effort to combine spirituality with modernity while maintaining the sanctity of bhajans.
He said that in our country, bhajans and kirtans have been the soul of our culture for centuries. Today’s youth have incorporated devotion into their experience and their lifestyle. A new cultural trend has emerged from this thinking. Its videos are appearing on social media.
He said, “Large numbers of young people are gathering in different cities across the country. The stage is decorated, there are lights, there is music, there is all the pomp and show, and the atmosphere is no less than a concert. …But what is being sung there is with complete concentration, with complete dedication, with full rhythm, with the echo of bhajans. This trend is being called ‘bhajan clubbing’ today and is becoming increasingly popular, especially among the Gen Z.”
The Prime Minister also praised efforts to preserve the identity of Indian culture abroad. He commended the efforts of the Indian community in Malaysia, where Indian languages โโand culture, including Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi, are being preserved.
He also mentioned the work of the Malaysia India Heritage Society.
In his program, the Prime Minister expressed happiness at the growing popularity of Shrianna and advised people to consume it during the winter. Referring to innovations being implemented by women farmers and FPCs in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, he described them as beneficial for both health and income.
He said, “Shri Anna is becoming a guarantee of improving people’s health, not only increasing the income of farmers. Shri Anna is rich in nutrition. In our country, the winter season is considered very good for eating, so we should definitely consume Shri Anna during these times.” The Prime Minister highlights positive efforts in his Mann Ki Baat program, held on the last Sunday of every month. In this series, he raised the topic of the revival of the Tamsa River.
He said that through everyone’s efforts, the people have restored the Tamsa, which was the center of people’s lives, to its uninterrupted flow. The Tamsa River, which flows through Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh and flows through Ayodhya, merges into the Ganga. It is a life-giving stream of cultural and spiritual heritage.
Praising the role of people in its revival, the Prime Minister said that the river was cleaned and shady, fruit-bearing trees were planted along its banks. The local people got involved in this work with a sense of duty and with everyone’s efforts the river was revived.
Apart from this, while referring to the ‘Ananta Neeru Sanrakshanam Project’ in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, he said that the entire ecosystem of the area was revived by cleaning the water bodies, planting trees and water conservation. There should be a mass celebration on the youth becoming a voter for the first time.
The Prime Minister said that this is the first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme of the year 2026 and the country is going to celebrate Republic Day on 26th January. He said that the Constitution was implemented on this day, which gives an opportunity to pay homage to the makers of the Constitution. He also underlined that National Voters’ Day is celebrated on 25th January and voters are the soul of democracy.
He said that becoming a voter at the age of 18 is not just a formality, but a major milestone in life. He suggested that when a young person becomes a voter for the first time, it should be celebrated collectively. This will increase awareness about voting and deepen understanding of the importance of being a voter. In his address, the Prime Minister mentioned the India AI Impact Summit, to be held in February, and said that it will showcase India’s progress in the field of AI to the world.
He said, “This conference will bring experts from across the world, especially those in the field of technology, to India. This conference will also highlight India’s progress and achievements in the world of AI. I heartily congratulate everyone who participated. We will definitely talk about the India AI Impact Summit in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ next month.”
Furthermore, the Prime Minister recalled the ten-year journey of Startup India. He described the innovations made during this period as historic and called the youth the heroes of this journey. He also said that India has become the third largest startup ecosystem in the world today. Startups are working in areas such as AI, space, semiconductors, green hydrogen, and biotechnology. He commended the contributions of young startups.
He emphasized quality, urging it to be given top priority. He stated that the “it will do” mentality is no longer acceptable, and that “quality, quality, quality” should be the mantra. He reiterated the commitment to “zero defect, zero effect.”
Examples of selfless social service : The Prime Minister praised the work of Vivekananda Lok Shiksha Niketan in West Bengal, which has been engaged in education and social service for years.
He described the cleanliness campaigns being run by youth and volunteer groups in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bengaluru, and Chennai as inspiring. He cited the efforts of Benoy Das of West Bengal and Jagdish Prasad Ahirwar of Madhya Pradesh, who have made significant contributions to environmental and biodiversity conservation at an individual level.
He informed about the involvement of millions of people in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and stated that more than 2 billion trees have been planted so far.