Museums, maths, digital economy: PM Modi addresses nation in 88th episode of Mann Ki Baat

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Sharing this month's <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/MannKiBaat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#MannKiBaat</a&gt;. Hear LIVE. <a href=”https://t.co/IJ1Ll9gAmu”>https://t.co/IJ1Ll9gAmu</a></p>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href=”https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1518099972730023936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>

“Several people are donating some of their own collections and ancient artefacts to museums. By doing this, you are sharing a cultural heritage with society,” PM Modi said. “I laud these individual efforts. Amid the covid pandemic, museums are increasingly focussing on “digitisation”, PM Modi pointed out. 

The prime minister, in the latest episode, hosted a museum quiz for his listeners.

PM Modi went on to speak about the cultural change brought about by the emergence of the digital economy. “Have you ever thought that how big a digital economy has been created in the country with these small online payments of yours?” He asked. 

The prime minister highlighted the many ways in which technology has made it possible for people with disabilities to thrive in various fields. “Like in sports, in the arts, academics, and many other fields, people with disabilities are doing wonders, but when they are armed with the power of technology, they achieve even greater heights,” he said. 

With blistering heatwaves spreading across many parts of the country, the prime minister urged people to save water. “Maybe where you are now, there is plenty of water available,” PM Modi said, adding that water conservation is one of the main resolutions adopted as part of 75th year of India’s independence. “But, you also have to always remember the crores of people who live in water-stressed areas, for whom every drop of water is like nectar.”

Speaking about the importance of Mathematics in the country, PM Modi said it must be the subject Indians are most comfortable with.  The people of India have given the most research and contribution to the whole world regarding mathematics.” The most significant mathematical discovery in India is that of the number zero. 

“Often you will also hear that if zero was not discovered, then perhaps we would not have been able to see so much scientific progress of the world,” he said.

Tracing the origins of computer language, PM Modi said that several sages, such as Acharya Pingala, first conceived the concept of binary. 

The PM added that maths is often easy for Indians because our understanding is rooted in Vedic Mathematics. “The credit of Vedic Mathematics in modern times goes to Shri Bharati Krishna Tirtha Ji Maharaj. He revived the ancient methods of calculation and named it Vedic Mathematics,” he said, urging more parents to teach their children Vedic Maths. 

In the 87th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed to India achieving its export target of $400 billion and said this was possible only due to the “hard work” put in by farmers, artisans, weavers, engineers, small entrepreneurs and the MSME sector.

“India has achieved the export target of $400 billion, that is Rs 30 lakh crore… At one time, the figure of exports from India used to be $100 billion, at times $150 billion, sometimes $200 billion… Today, India has reached $400 billion. In a way, this means that the demand for items made in India is increasing all over the world; the other meaning is that the supply chain of India is getting stronger by the day,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi also said that lifestyles which included yoga and ayurveda were picking up globally and that the Ayush manufacturing industry has grown exponentially from Rs 22,000 crore six years ago to Rs 1,40,000 crore. Ayush was also becoming a desirable destination for the start-up sector, he pointed out.

‘Mann Ki Baat’ is aired on the last Sunday of every month.