Page 10 - Mann Ki Baat - English
P. 10

blessings to their son, their     buy as many local products as
        brother. They have written that     possible during their visit. It has
        'They had never imagined that     had a great impact there. Today,
        our erstwhile cultural heritage   the products of Bhojpatra are
        Bhojpatra could become a          very much liked by the pilgrims
        means of their livelihood.  You   coming here and are also
        must be wondering what the        buying it at good prices.  This
        entire matter is!                 ancient heritage of Bhojpatra
            Friends, this letter has been   is filling new hues of happiness
        written to me by the women        in the lives of the women of
        of Niti-Mana valley in Chamoli    Uttarakhand. I am also happy to
        district. These are the women     know that the State Government
        who had presented me a            is also imparting training to
        unique artwork on Bhojpatra       women to make novel products
        in October last year. I was also   from Bhojpatra.
        overwhelmed     on   receiving        The   State   Government
        this gift. After all, since ancient   has also started a campaign
        times, our scriptures and books   to preserve the  rare species
        have been preserved on these      of Bhojpatra. The areas which
        Bhojpatras.      Mahabharata      were once considered as the
        was   also   written  on   the    last point of the land are now
        Bhojpatra. Today, these women     being  developed considering
        of  Devbhoomi    are   making     them  as  the  first  villages  of  the
        very beautiful artefacts and      country. Along with preserving
        souvenirs from the Bhojpatra.     our tradition and culture, this
        During my visit to Mana village,   effort is also becoming a means
        I had appreciated their unique    of economic progress.
        effort. I had appealed to the
        tourists coming to Devbhoomi to       My dear countrymen,      I



























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