Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded India's role in maintaining global peace and highlighted the country's contribution to UN peacekeeping missions.
Describing India as a "messenger of peace", Modi said India is the third highest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, with around 7,000 of its security personnel deployed on various missions across the world. Also, the Indian forces have imparted peacekeeping training to their counterparts from 85 countries and have been providing medical services to people of a number of countries, Modi said in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'
"India, as a messenger of peace, has always vouched for peace, unity and harmony in the world. It is our belief that everyone should live in peace and harmony and move towards a better and peaceful tomorrow," the Prime Minister said. He said India has participated in about 50 out of 71 UN peacekeeping operations undertaken so far.
"The brave soldiers from the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautam Buddha have spread the message of peace and harmony across the world," Modi said.
Referring to the UN Day celebrated on October 24, he said it is an occasion to remember the efforts of the UN to establish peace in the world. "We are believers of 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam', which means the whole world is one. And because of this belief, India has been an active participant in the UN's key initiatives," Modi said.
In his 30-minute broadcast, he also talked about India's tradition of respecting the nature through festivals like 'Chhat' and referred to the ongoing cleanliness campaign. He mentioned the role played by Sardar Vallabhai Patel in laying the foundation of the country's unity and urged people to participate in the 'Run for Unity' to be organised on the late leader's birth anniversary on October 31, which also happens to be the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi.
Talking about the upcoming Children's Day which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru on November 14, Modi expressed concern that children are nowadays getting afflicted by diabetes. He said ailments like diabetes occur mainly due to lifestyle and exhorted the children to play outdoors more to be healthy and escape such ailments.
He also referred to the just-concluded FIFA Under-17 World Cup held in India for the first time and expressed happiness over the host team's performance, saying it had won hearts, if not medals.
Modi also spoke about the upcoming Guru Nanak Jayanti which falls on November 4 and hailed the first Sikh Guru, describing him as a "world guru" who thought about the welfare of the entire humanity. Hailing the Indian armed forces, the Prime Minister mentioned his recent visit to Gurez near the line of Control (loC) in Jammu Kashmir to spend Diwali with the brave security perosnnel.
Describing it as an "unforgettable" experience, the Prime Minister lauded the "struggle, dedication and sacrifices" of the armed forces personnel who work in extremely difficult conditions at the borders to protect the country. Modi said the Indian forces are deployed not only on the Indian borders but play a role to establish peace across the world in the form of UN peacekeeper and make the country proud.
During the programme, Modi also talked about Sister Nivedita, an Irish lady whose original name was Margaret Elizabeth Nobel, and recounted her service to the Indian people during the British rule.
"Sister Nivedita was deeply hurt by the atrocities committed during the British rule. The British had not only made us a colony but also tried to enslave us mentally. They continuously tried to deride our culture to create an inferiority complex among us," he said.
"The 'Mann Ki Baat' (programme) is praised and sometimes it is criticised. But when I see the impact of 'Mann Ki Baat', my belief becomes a conviction that the programme has forged an unbreakable bonding with the people," Modi said.
The Prime Minister also referred to some recent sports events like the Asia Cup Hockey and Denmark Open Tennis tournament.
He hailed India's victory in the Asia Cup after 10 years and lauded K Srikanth for winning the Denmark Open after Indonesia Open and Australia Open.