It may not be erroneous to suggest that the 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast has over the months now emerged as a great Unifier and a Game-changer in highlighting mega achievements by minor players and as a depository of India's culture, tradition and history.
Mizos are certainly very proud of their distinct identity. So is their affinity to Christianity, and thus anything seen as ‘Hindu’ imposition or even pro-BJP was not only taken with negativity, it also looked irrational.
Even former Congress chief minister Lal Thanhawla's attending a Durga puja celebration in Kolkata a few years back was made an election issue. But it goes without saying that the reference to Khawalailung village and its sugarcane festival in Prime Minister’s hyped monthly radio broadcast programme on Oct 25, 2015 had rightly evoked some positive reactions/elements towards the Modi government.
The political class generally believed that the BJP's symbol, the lotus, certainly could not bloom amid hard rock. They could still be right. Notwithstanding the fact that the saffron party has captured power in New Delhi, Mizoram, from voters’ perspective, could be still indifferent to a set-up wedded to Hindutva ideologies. In fact, not many would admire Prime Minister’s party.
Nevertheless, PM's gestured had won appreciation from native Mizos without doubt.
A study conducted under the title 'Framing Civilizational Continuity: Modi’s Mann ki Baat and North East India', had found that Modi had mentioned the region several times in his monthly radio broadcast in relation to sports, agriculture, tourism and awards.
This was a welcome step from the end of the Union government to incorporate the development goals of the hitherto neglected areas.
It's true PM's Mann Ki Baat started amid much criticism from his critics. But the platform has earned people's trust. It invites citizens to contribute ideas and suggestions via calls, SMS, social media and the government’s crowdsourcing MyGov.in.
Millions of people across the country can interact with the PMO with their ideas, practices, experiences and complaints too through letters, messages and phone calls.
Essentially, Modi during the last 10 years through this monthly radio programme tried to focus on positive and typical minor aspects of life and culture. He even spoke about the significance of feeding water to birds during scorching Delhi heat every summer.
Much to the chagrin of his detractors, such statements were accepted by younger people with much enthusiasm.
Regional inclusion was a major dimension of ‘Mann Ki Baat.’
The inclusion of individual success stories by the Prime Minister, as a motivator, is another attribute of the radio program which made it a success in the motivational dimension.
PM acknowledges efforts made in the remotest corner of the nation by referring to individual efforts and excellence in diverse fields. This has often shown the power of small time achievers and can 'lead' the nation to a level of collective excellence.
It actually works as a 'mirror' telling the country of so many achievements and exemplary works of little known individuals, which are not known to people as the traditional media hardly cover them.
In other words, India is not Delhi as the country is far more diverse and at times the diversity and richness is beyond comprehension by ivory tower experts - figangi media and the rest.
According to former CEO of Prasar Bharati, Shashi Shekhar Vempati, "You are talking about people and their life changing stories. He talks about India's culture, language and traditions. He links them to big change initiatives.....What he (PM Modi) has clearly figured out is that mass scale ....at a scale of a billion, behavioral change cannot happen the China way".
The issues as highlighted in the radio programme have been setting the stage for revolutionary changes in lifestyle diseases, climate change, food management, depression and mental health, digital economy, Swachh Bharat Mission, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, girl child education and empowerment.
A few quotes from 'Mann Ki Baat'
** "I had also mentioned about Manipur's sister Vijayashanti Devi. Vijayashanti ji makes clothes from lotus fibers. This unique eco-friendly idea of hers was discussed in 'Mann Ki Baat' and her work became more popular," thus spoke Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat
broadcast through All India Radio and Doordarshan every month.
*** "Celebrate Ganesh Utsav with great enthusiasm and fervour whole heartedly but insist on keeping these celebrations eco-friendly".
** "Corruption hollows the country like a termite. Why wait for 2047 to get rid of it?," he said in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast through All India Radio.
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