English rendering of PM’s address in the 127th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 26.10.2025

My dear countrymen,

Namaskar. Welcome to 'Mann Ki Baat'. These days, the entire country is immersed in the festive spirit. All of us celebrated Diwali a few days ago, and now a large number of people are busy with Chhath Puja. Thekua is being prepared at homes, ghats are being decorated everywhere, and the markets are bustling. Everywhere, we are witnessing a confluence of devotion, affection, and tradition. The dedication and devotion with which women observe the Chhath Vrat is truly inspiring, in itself.

Friends,

The Mahaparva of Chhath is a reflection of the deep unity between culture, nature, and society. Every section of society comes together at the Chhath ghats. This sight is the most beautiful example of India's social unity. No matter where you are; within the country or at any corner of the world… if you get the opportunity, do participate in the Chhath festival. Experience this unique feel for yourself. I bow to Chhathi Maiya. I extend my best wishes to all countrymen; especially the people of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal, on the occasion of the Chhath Mahaparva.

Friends,

On this occasion of festivals, I had written a letter to all of you sharing my feelings. In the letter, I had mentioned the achievements of the country that have made this year's festivals even more vibrant. In response to my letter, I have received messages from many citizens of the country. Indeed, 'Operation Sindoor' has filled every Indian with pride. This time around, lamps of joy were lit even in those areas where the darkness of Maoist terror once prevailed. People want the complete eradication of the Maoist terror that had jeopardized the future of their children.

There is also a lot of enthusiasm among people regarding the GST Bachat Utsav. This time, something equally pleasant was observed during the festivals. The purchase of indigenous goods in the markets has increased tremendously. In the messages people have sent me, they have mentioned what indigenous products they have purchased this time. Friends, in my letter, I had also urged for a 10 percent reduction in the consumption of edible oil, and people have displayed a very positive response to this as well.

Friends,

I have also received numerous messages regarding cleanliness and efforts towards that. I want to share with you some inspiring stories from different cities of the country.

In Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, a unique initiative has been launched to clean up plastic waste from the city. Garbage Cafes are being run in Ambikapur. These are cafes where you get a full meal in exchange for plastic waste. If someone brings over one kilogram of plastic, they are provided with either lunch or dinner, and in lieu of half a kilogram of plastic, they get breakfast. These cafes are run by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation.

Friends,

Similarly, engineer Kapil Sharma ji has done something remarkable in Bengaluru. Bengaluru is called the city of lakes, and Kapil ji has started a campaign to give a new life to the lakes here. Kapil ji's team has rejuvenated 40 wells and 6 lakes in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. The special thing is that he has also involved corporates and local people in his mission.

His organization is also associated with tree plantation campaigns. Friends, Ambikapur and Bengaluru - these inspiring examples show that when you are determined, change is bound to take place.

Friends,

I want to share another example of an effort towards change. As you all know, just as there are forests in the mountains and plains, which bind the soil together, mangroves have a similar importance on the seashores. Mangroves grow in the salty water and marshy land of the sea and are an important part of the marine ecosystem. These mangroves prove very helpful when disasters like tsunamis or cyclones strike.

Friends,

Understanding the importance of mangroves, the Forest Department of Gujarat is running a special campaign. Five years ago, the Forest Department teams started planting mangroves near Dholera near Ahmedabad, and today, mangroves have spread over three and a half thousand hectares on the Dholera coast. The effect of these mangroves is visible throughout the area today. The number of dolphins in the ecosystem there has risen. Crabs and other aquatic creatures have also increased in number, compared to earlier. Not only that; migratory birds are also coming here in large numbers now. This has not only had a positive impact on the environment there, but it is also benefiting the fish farmers of Dholera.

Friends,

Apart from Dholera, mangrove plantation is also going on in full swing in Kutch, Gujarat. A 'Mangrove Learning Centre' has also been set up at Kori Creek.

Friends,

This is the very specialty of trees and plants. Irrespective of the place, they are useful for the betterment of every living being. That is why it is said in our scriptures -

धन्या महीरूहा येभ्यो,

निराशां यान्ति नार्थिनः ||

That is, Blessed are the trees & plants from whom, those who seek do not return disappointed. We too should plant trees wherever we live. We need to further promote the 'एक पेड़ माँ के नाम' campaign.

My dear countrymen,

Do you know what would be the most satisfying thing for me in the topics we discuss in 'Mann Ki Baat'? I would say that the topics we discuss in 'Mann Ki Baat' inspire people to do something good, something innovative for society. This brings forth many aspects of our culture and our country.

Friends,

Many of you would remember that about five years ago, I discussed Indian breeds of dogs in this program. I had urged my fellow citizens and our security forces to adopt Indian breeds of dogs, as they adapt more easily to our environment and conditions. I am happy to say that our security agencies have made commendable efforts in this direction. BSF and CRPF have increased the number of Indian breed dogs in their contingents. BSF's National Training Centre for dogs is located in Tekanpur, Gwalior. Here, special focus is being accorded to the Rampur Hound from Uttar Pradesh and the Mudhol Hound from Karnataka and Maharashtra. At this Centre, trainers are training the dogs more effectively with the help of technology and innovation. Training manuals for Indian breed dogs have been rewritten to bring to the fore their unique strengths. At the CRPF's Dog Breeding and Training School in Bengaluru, Indian breeds such as Mongrels, Mudhol Hounds, Kombai, and Pandikona are being trained.

Friends,

Last year, the All India Police Duty Meet was held in Lucknow. At that time, a dog named Ria caught everyone's attention. It is a Mudhol Hound trained by BSF. Ria won the first prize there, leaving behind several foreign breeds.

Friends,

Now the BSF has started the tradition of assigning Indian names to its dogs instead of foreign names. Our indigenous dogs have also displayed amazing courage. Last year, during a patrol in a Maoist-affected area of ​​Chhattisgarh, an indigenous dog of CRPF detected 8 kilograms of explosives. I congratulate BSF and CRPF for the efforts they have made in this direction. I am also looking forward to the 31^st of October. It is the birth anniversary of the Iron Man, Sardar Patel. Every year, special ceremonies are held near the 'Statue of Unity' in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on this occasion. The Ekta Diwas Parade is also held there, and the capabilities of Indian dogs will be showcased again in this parade. You too, should definitely watch it if you get the chance.

My dear countrymen,

The 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel is a very special occasion for the entire country. Sardar Patel has been one of the greatest luminaries of the nation in modern times. His towering personality encompassed many qualities. He was an exceptionally brilliant student. He excelled in his studies both in India and Britain. He was also one of the most successful lawyers of his time. He could have earned even more fame in the field of law, but, inspired by Gandhiji, he completely dedicated himself to the freedom movement.

His contributions to numerous movements, from the 'Kheda Satyagraha' to the 'Borsad Satyagraha', are still remembered today. His tenure as the head of the Ahmedabad Municipality was also historic. He accorded top priority to cleanliness and good governance. We will all forever be indebted to him for his contributions as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

Friends,

Sardar Patel also laid a strong foundation for India's bureaucratic framework. He made unparalleled efforts for the unity and integrity of the country. I urge all of you to participate in the Run For Unity being organized across the country on the 31st of October, Sardar Saheb's birth anniversary, and not just participate alone, but along with others. This should become an opportunity for youth awakening; this run for unity will strengthen unity. This will be our true tribute to that great luminary who united India.

My dear countrymen,

You all know about my association with tea; but today I thought, why not discuss coffee in 'Mann Ki Baat'! You may recall, last year we talked about Araku coffee in 'Mann Ki Baat'. Some time ago, many people from Odisha also shared their feelings with me regarding Koraput coffee. They wrote to me saying that Koraput coffee should also be discussed in 'Mann Ki Baat'.

Friends,

I have been told that Koraput coffee tastes amazing, and not only that; besides the taste, coffee cultivation is also benefiting people. There are people in Koraput who are cultivating coffee through their sheer passion. They were doing handsome jobs in the corporate world… but they liked coffee so much that they entered this field and are now successfully working in it. There also are many women whose lives have been pleasantly transformed by coffee.

They have gained both respect and prosperity through coffee. It has been rightly said:

कोरापुट कॉफी अत्यंत सुस्वादु |

एहा ओडिशार गौरव |

[i.e. Koraput Coffee is truly delectable!

This indeed is a pride of Odisha.]

Friends,

Indian coffee is becoming very popular all over the world. Be it Chikmagalur, Coorg and Hassan in Karnataka; the areas of Pulney, Shevaroy, Nilgiri and Annamalai in Tamil Nadu; the Biligiri region on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border; or the areas of Wayanad, Travancore and Malabar in Kerala - the diversity of Indian coffee is truly remarkable.

I have been told that our North-East is also progressing in coffee cultivation. This is further strengthening the identity of Indian coffee worldwide - that's why coffee lovers say:

India's coffee is coffee at its finest.

It is brewed in India and loved by the World.

My dear countrymen,

In 'Mann Ki Baat' now, let's talk about a subject that is very close to everyone's hearts. This subject is our national song - India's national song, 'Vande Mataram'. A song whose very first word evokes a surge of emotions in our hearts. 'Vande Mataram' - this one word contains so many emotions, so many energies. In simple terms, it makes us experience the maternal affection of Ma Bharati. It makes us aware of our responsibilities as children of Ma Bharati. If there is a moment of difficulty, the chant of 'Vande Mataram' fills 140 crore Indians with the energy of unity.

Friends,

Patriotism… love for Ma Bharati… if this is an emotion beyond words, then 'Vande Mataram' is the song that lends tangible voice form to that abstract feeling. It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay to infuse new life into an India weakened by centuries of servitude. 'Vande Mataram' might have been written in the 19th century, but its spirit is connected to the immortal consciousness of India that is thousands of years old.

The Vedas laid the foundation of the Indian civilization with the sentiment expressed as " माता भूमि: पुत्रो अहं पृथिव्या:" Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, by penning 'Vande Mataram', enshrined that same relationship between the motherland and its children as a mantra in the universe of emotions.

Friends,

You might be wondering why I am suddenly referring to so much about Vande Mataram! Actually, just a few days from now, on the 7th of November, we will be entering the 150th year of the celebration of 'Vande Mataram'. 'Vande Mataram' was composed 150 years ago, and in 1896, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore sang it for the first time.

Friends,

Crores of countrymen have always felt an immense surge of national pride in the rendition of 'Vande Mataram'. Our generations have seen a vibrant and magnificent image of India in the words of 'Vande Mataram'.

सुजलाम्, सुफलाम्, मलयज शीतलाम्,

शस्यश्यामलाम्, मातरम्!

वंदे मातरम्!

This is the very India we have to build. 'Vande Mataram' will always be our inspiration in these efforts. Therefore, we must also make the 150th year of 'Vande Mataram' memorable. We have to carry forward this stream of values ​​for the coming generations. In the times to come, there will be many programs related to 'Vande Mataram', many events will be organized in the country. I would like all of us countrymen to make efforts with a spontaneous spirit to glorify 'Vande Mataram'. Please send me your suggestions with #VandeMatram150. #VandeMatram150. I will be waiting for your suggestions and we will all work together to make this occasion historic.

My dear countrymen,

As soon as we hear the name of Sanskrit, what comes to our mind is - our 'religious texts', 'Vedas', 'Upanishads', 'Puranas', scriptures, ancient knowledge and science, spirituality and philosophy. However, alongside all of these, at one time Sanskrit was also a language of communication. In that era, studies and research were conducted in Sanskrit. Dramatic performances were also staged in Sanskrit. But unfortunately, during the period of servitude and also after independence, Sanskrit has consistently suffered from neglect. On account of this, the younger generations' interest in Sanskrit also kept on diminishing. But friends, times are changing, and so are the times for Sanskrit. The world of culture and social media has lent Sanskrit a new lease of life. These days, many young people are doing very interesting work related to Sanskrit.

If you go to social media, you will see many reels where young people are seen speaking in and about Sanskrit. Many even teach Sanskrit through their social media channels. One such young content creator is Bhai Yash Salunke. What's special about Yash is that he is both a content creator and a cricketer. His reel on playing cricket while speaking in Sanskrit has been very popular.

Let's listen -

Friends,

The work of two sisters, Kamala and Janhavi, is also fantastic. These two sisters create content on spirituality, philosophy, and music.

There is another young person's channel on Instagram called 'Sanskrit Chhatroham'. The young person who runs this channel not only provides information related to Sanskrit, but also makes humorous videos in Sanskrit. Young people really like these videos in Sanskrit. Many of you may have also seen Samashti's videos. Samashti presents her songs in Sanskrit in myriad ways. Another young person is Bhavesh Bhimnathani. Bhavesh talks about Sanskrit shlokas, spiritual philosophy, and principles.

Friends,

Language is the carrier of the values ​​and traditions of any civilization. Sanskrit has fulfilled this duty for thousands of years. It is pleasing to observe that some young people are now fulfilling their duty towards Sanskrit as well.

My dear countrymen,

I will now take you into Flashback. Imagine, the early 20th century! At that time, there was no hope of freedom anywhere in sight. The British had crossed all limits of exploitation throughout India, and in that era, the period of repression was even more horrific for the patriotic people of Hyderabad. They were also forced to endure the atrocities of the cruel and merciless Nizam. There was no limit to the atrocities committed against the poor, the deprived, and the tribal communities. Their lands were snatched away, and heavy taxes were also imposed. If they protested against this injustice, even their hands were cut off.

Friends,

In such difficult times, a young man of about twenty years of age stood up against this injustice. Today, I am discussing that young man for a special reason. Before disclosing his name, I will tell you about his bravery. Friends, during that era, when even uttering a word against the Nizam was a crime, that young man openly challenged an officer of the Nizam named Siddiqui. The Nizam had sent Siddiqui to confiscate the farmers' crops. But in this struggle against oppression, that young man killed Siddiqui. He also successfully managed to evade arrest. Escaping from the tyrannical police of the Nizam, that young man reached Assam, hundreds of kilometers away.

Friends,

The great personality I am talking about is Komaram Bheem. His birth anniversary was celebrated on the 22nd of October. Komaram Bheem did not live a long life; he only lived for 40 years, but during his lifetime, he left an indelible mark on the hearts of countless people, especially the tribal community. He instilled new strength in those fighting against the Nizam. He was also known for his strategic skills. He became a major challenge to the Nizam's rule. He was killed by the Nizam's men in 1940. I urge the youth to try to learn as much as possible about him.

Komaram Bheem's...

ना विनम्र निवाली |

आयन प्रजल हृदयाल्लों...

एप्पटिकी निलिचि-वूँटारू |

Friends,

Next month, on the 15th, we will celebrate the Janajateeya Gaurav Diwas. This is the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. I respectfully pay my homage to Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

The work he did for the country's independence and for the rights of the tribal community is unparalleled. It was my great fortune to have had the opportunity to visit Ulihatu, the village of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, in Jharkhand. I touched the soil of that land to my forehead in reverence.

Just like Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Komaram Bheem, there have been many other great luminaries in our tribal communities. I urge you to definitely read about them.

My dear countrymen,

I receive numerous messages from you for 'Mann Ki Baat'. Many people discuss the talented persons in their vicinity in these messages. I am very happy to read that innovative ideas are being implemented even in our small cities, towns, and villages. If you know of such individuals or groups who are dedicated to transforming society with a spirit of service, do tell me about them. I will be waiting for your messages as always. We will meet again next month in another episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', with some new topics. Until then, I bid you adieu. Thank you all very much. Namaste.

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MJPS/ST/VK

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