Page 20 - Mann Ki Baat English(MAY-2023)

Yuva Sangam language, new dialect and a
Nurturing the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’
Friends, India's strength lies The rich diversity of India,
in its diversity. There is a lot to deeply ingrained in the fabric
see in our country. Keeping this of our society, is revealed by
in view, the Ministry of Education its distinguishable cultures,
has taken an excellent initiative traditions, cuisines, and
named 'Yuva Sangam'. The regions. This diversity, woven
objective of this initiative is together by the spirit of mutual
to increase People to People understanding amidst a shared
Connect as well as to give an history, has held together India’s
opportunity to the youth of the composite national identity
country to mingle with each which stands out as a tall flame
other.
of nationhood that needs to be
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi nourished and cherished.
(in 'Mann ki Baat' address) Taking pride in India’s unique
identity and adopting diversity
as a way of life not only enriches
our nation, but also empowers
it. And with the idea of making
this united India a prosperous
united India, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced ‘Ek
"Our nation is incredibly large Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ on
and diverse, and if we want the birth anniversary of Sardar
to strengthen the sense of Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31,
unity in diversity, it’s extremely
essential to bring our youth 2015. The goal was to celebrate
together and make them the unity in diversity of our
aware of the variety of cultures nation and to ignite a sense of
and traditions of the entire togetherness among the diverse
country. IIT Guwahati is very
set of communities, religions,
grateful for being selected as and ethnicities.
the host institute under the
Yuva Sangam programme, Recollecting Dr. APJ Abdul
initiated by the Hon’ble Prime Kalam’s experience on the
Minister and organised by the occasion, the Prime Minister said,
Ministry of Education." “When Dr. Kalam embarked on
Prof. Parameswar K. Iyer his journey from Rameswaram
Officiating Director, to Delhi for the first time by
IIT-Guwahati train, he came across a new
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new cuisine after every hour. He
was amazed to get a glimpse
of a mini-India on the train,
abounding with diversity, which
he could not properly appreciate
and understand through books.
He comprehended it in one go
during his train journey.”
Building on Dr. Kalam's
experience and to pave the
way to strengthen the ‘Spirit
of India’, ‘Yuva Sangam’ was
conceptualised under the
leadership of the Prime Minister
as a collaborative effort of
various ministries led by the
Ministry of Education to increase
people-to-people connections
and build empathy among
youth across the nation.
India is home to one of the
youngest populations in the
world, and Indian youth are
the future of the country and
are going to shape the country
for the next generation. ‘Yuva
Sangam’ aims to ensure that the
youth are united in their vision
for a better India. The initiative
focuses on conducting 7-day
exposure tours for the youths,
enabling them to understand
and identify with the diversity of
India by immersing themselves
in each other’s heritage, culture,
customs, traditions, cuisines,
languages, costumes, arts,
crafts, music, and occupations,
and to recognise the inherent
feeling of oneness and greatness
in being a ‘Bhartiya’.
In his ‘Mann ki Baat’, the
Prime Minister interacted with
two participants of the ‘Yuva
Sangam’ programme — Gyamar
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