Art is pro-nature, pro-environment and pro-climate: PM Modi

Published By : Admin | December 8, 2023 | 18:00 IST
QuoteInaugurates Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD) and Samunnati - The Student Biennale
QuoteUnveils 7 Publications based on the 7 themes of the event
QuoteLaunches Commemorative Stamp
Quote“India Art, Architecture & Design Biennale, a celebration of nation’s diverse heritage and vibrant culture”
Quote“Books act as windows of the world. Art is the great journey of the human mind”
Quote“Art and culture are essential to connecting the human mind with the inner self and recognizing its potential”
Quote“Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design will provide a platform to promote unique and rare crafts of India”
Quote“Cultural spaces to be built in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi will enrich these cities culturally”
Quote“Art, taste and colors are considered synonymous with life in India”
Quote“India most diverse nation in the world, its diversity binds us together”
Quote“Art is pro-nature, pro-environment and pro-climate”

Present in the event, my colleague Shri G. Kishan Reddy ji, Arjun Ram Meghwal ji, Meenakshi Lekhi ji, Diana Kellogg ji, guests from different countries of the world, all distinguished friends from the world of art, ladies and gentlemen!

This courtyard of the Red Fort is historical in itself. This fort is not just a building; it has historic significance. Several generations have passed before and after independence, but the Red Fort remains steadfast and ineffaceable. We heartily welcome you all to this World Heritage Site - Red Fort.

Friends,

Every nation has its unique symbols which acquaint the world with its history and values. And, the work of crafting these symbols is done by the art, culture and architecture of the nation. The capital Delhi is the hub of many such symbols which reflect the grandeur of Indian architecture. Therefore, this event of ‘India Art Architecture and Design Biennale’ being organized in Delhi is special in many ways. I was just looking at the pavilions built here, and I beg your forgiveness for coming late. There are so many things worth seeing and understanding that I got late in arriving here. And I had to skip 2-3 places. There are colours and creativity in these pavilions. There is culture in it as well as community connection. I congratulate the Ministry of Culture, all its officials, all the participating countries, and all of you for this successful launch. It is said here that a book is like a small window to see the world. And I believe that art is the highway to travel within the human mind.

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Friends,

Bharat is a thousand of years old nation. There was a time when stories of Bharat's economic prosperity were known to the world. Even today, Bharat's culture and our ancient heritage attract tourists from all over the world. Today the country is taking that pride forward again with the spirit of ‘pride in heritage’. Today, work is being done with a sense of self-respect in every field related to art and architecture. Be it the development of our cultural centres like Kedarnath and Kashi, or reconstruction of Mahakal Mahalok, in the 'Azaadi Ka Amritkaal', Bharat is adding new dimensions to cultural prosperity and is making concrete efforts towards it. This Biennale happening in Bharat is another great step in this direction. Before this event, we have seen that the International Museum Expo was held here in Delhi itself. The Festival of Libraries was also organized in August. Through these programmes, our effort is to institutionalize the global cultural initiative in Bharat. A modern system should be developed. We want Bharat's events to be recognized in the world like the Biennales of Venice, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, Sharjah and Art Fairs of Dubai and London. And this is much needed because today the impact of technology on human life has increased so much that no one wants his society to become robotic. We are not supposed to create robots, but humans. And for that, feelings are needed, hope is needed, goodwill is needed, enthusiasm is needed, vigour is needed. We need ways to live between hope and despair. All these things are created through art and culture. Technology can work very quickly for calculations. And hence such things provide a great support for knowing and connecting to the inner potential of human beings.

And friends,

To achieve these goals, 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design' has also been inaugurated today. This centre will provide a platform to promote the unique and rare crafts of Bharat. This will bring together artisans and designers and help them innovate according to the market. With this, the artisans will also get knowledge about design development, and they will also become proficient in digital marketing. And we know that Indian craftsmen have so much talent that with modern knowledge and resources they can leave their mark in the whole world.

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Friends,

The process of setting up cultural spaces in 5 cities of Bharat is also a historic step. These cultural spaces to be built in Delhi as well as Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi will further enrich these cities culturally. These centres will also put forward innovative ideas to enrich local art. All of you have also decided 7 important themes for the next 7 days. In this, we will have to carry forward these themes of – ‘Deshaj Bharat Design’ (indigenous designs) and ‘Samatva’ as a mission. To enrich indigenous design, it is important to make sure that it becomes a part of study and research for our youth. The Samatva theme celebrates the participation of women in the field of architecture. I believe that the imagination and creativity of women will take this field to new heights.

Friends,

In Bharat, art, taste and colours are considered synonymous with life. Our ancestors have even said that - साहित्य संगीत कला विहीनः, साक्षात् पशुः पुच्छ विषाण हीनः। That is, the main difference between humans and other living beings is literature, music and art. That is, the habits of sleeping, waking up and filling the stomach are natural. But, it is art, literature and music that add flavour to human life and make it special. That is why, here, different needs of life, different responsibilities have been linked to Chatushashti Kala, or 64 arts. For example, musical instruments, dance and singing are forms of art. Among these, there are specific art forms like 'Udak-Vadyam' i.e. water instruments based on water waves etc. We have the art of 'Gandh-Yukti' for making different types of scents or perfumes. The art of 'Takshakarma' is taught for enamel and carving. ‘Suchivan-Karmani’ is an art to teach the intricacies of embroidery and weaving. By looking at the ancient clothes manufactured in Bharat, you can guess the level of perfection with which all these works were done here. It was said that the entire piece of cloth, muslin, was made in such a way that it could be passed through a ring. That means this was the power. In Bharat, carving and enamel work were also not limited to only decorative items. In fact, amazing artwork could also be seen on war-related items like swords, shields and spears. Moreover, I would like some people to brainstorm over this theme. In our country, ornaments were placed on our animals like horses, dogs, bulls and cows. The variety in these jewelleries and the art on it was a wonder. And there was a lot of perfection in it. They ensured that there was no physical pain caused to these animals. That is, if we look at these things in a comprehensive way, it tells us clearly how much potential it has!

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Friends,

There have been many such art forms in our country. And this has been the ancient history of Bharat and even today we find its traces in every corner of Bharat. Kashi, my constituency, is the best example of this. Kashi is said to be indestructible because Kashi is the land of eternal flow of literature, music and arts along with Ganga. Lord Shiva who is considered as the creator of art forms in Hindu mythology, resides in the heart of Kashi. These art forms, these crafts and culture are like energy flow for human civilization. And energy is eternal; consciousness is indestructible. Therefore, Kashi is also imperishable.

Friends,

A few months ago, we started something new for the people who come from all over the world to see and experience the culture of Bharat. We ran Ganga Vilas Cruises, which took passengers on a cruise down the Ganga from Kashi to Assam. Many tourists from all over the world had come. It was a journey of about 45-50 days. In a single journey, they got to experience many cities, villages and areas situated on the banks of Ganga. And our human culture has also developed on the banks of rivers. If one travels to the banks of the river once, there is a huge opportunity to know the depth of life. And it was with this very idea that we started this, Ganga Cruise.

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Friends,

Whatever may be the form of art, it is born close to nature. Here too, from what I saw, the element of nature relates to art. There is not a single thing outside it. Therefore, Art its character is pro-nature and pro-environment and pro-climate. For example, people talk about river fronts in the countries of the world, that in such and such country, there is this river front etc. Bharat has a tradition of ghats on the banks of rivers for thousands of years. Many of our festivals and celebrations are associated with these ghats. Similarly, there was a rich tradition of wells, Sarovar, and step wells in our country. Be it Gujarat's Rani Ki Vav, or Rajasthan, and Delhi, even today you will get to see many step wells. And the specialty of Rani Ki Vav is that it is an inverted temple. That is, how the people of those times might have thought about the art creation! I mean, look at the architecture and design of all these water collection points! It looks no less than a mega-marvel. Similarly, the architecture of the old forts and forts of Bharat also surprises people all over the world. Every fort has its own architecture and its own science. I was in Sindhudurg just a few days ago, where a huge fort is built inside the sea. It is possible that some of you may have also visited Patwon Ki Haveli in Jaisalmer! This group of five mansions was built in such a way that it works like natural air conditioning. All this architecture was not only long-lasting but also environmentally sustainable. That means the whole world has the opportunity to know and learn a lot from the art and culture of Bharat.

Friends,

Art, architecture and culture have been sources of both diversity and unity for human civilization. We are the most diverse nation in the world, but at the same time that diversity binds us together. I was just talking about forts. When I went to Bundelkhand for an event 1-2 years ago, there was a programme at Jhansi Fort. At that time, I talked to the government there and suggested that we should develop Bundelkhand for Fort Tourism. And later they conducted all the research. The research document that was prepared will surprise you because in Bundelkhand alone, there is such a rich heritage of forts, not just in Jhansi but several nearby places too. That is, it is so powerful! It would be great if a major competition could be organized for our fine arts students to go there and do art work. Only then will the world know what our ancestors have created. Have you ever wondered what is the source of this diversity in Bharat? Its source is Bharat's democratic tradition as the ‘Mother of Democracy’! Art, architecture and culture flourish only when there is freedom of thoughts in the society and freedom to work in one's own way. With this tradition of debate and dialogue, diversity automatically flourishes. That is why even today, when our government talks about culture, we welcome and support every kind of diversity. We showcased this diversity to the world by organizing G-20 in different states and cities of the country.

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Friends,

Bharat is a country that lives by the idea of ‘अयं निजः परोवेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्’. That is, we do not live with the mindset of separation or without any sense of belongingness. We are the people who believe in kinship and harmony. We are the people who talk about the universe instead of self. Today, when Bharat is emerging as the biggest economy of the world, the whole world is seeing a better future for itself in it. Just as Bharat's economic growth is linked to the progress of the entire world, just as our vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' brings new opportunities for the entire world, similarly, Bharat's revival in fields of art and architecture will also contribute to Bharat's cultural boost. The interests of the entire world are linked to it. We carried forward our heritage like Yoga. So today the whole world is benefiting from it.

When we started with our efforts to strengthen Ayurveda on modern scientific standards, the whole world understood its importance. We made new choices and resolutions for a sustainable lifestyle by keeping our cultural values in mind. Today, through campaigns like Mission LiFE, the whole world is getting a ray of hope for a better future. The stronger Bharat emerges in the field of art, architecture and design, the more it will benefit the entire humanity.

Friends,

Civilizations prosper only through interaction and cooperation. Therefore, the participation of all other countries of the world in this direction, our partnership with them is very important. I would like the event to expand further, with more and more countries coming together. I am confident that this event will prove to be an important beginning in this direction. In that spirit, thank you all very much! And this is available for you till the month of March. I request the countrymen to take out one whole day to see each and every thing - the kind of talents we have here, the tradition we have, the love we have for nature, and everything in one place. Thank you very much.

  • Jitendra Kumar May 14, 2025

    ❤️❤️🙏🇮🇳
  • कृष्ण सिंह राजपुरोहित भाजपा विधान सभा गुड़ामा लानी November 21, 2024

    जय श्री राम 🚩 वन्दे मातरम् जय भाजपा विजय भाजपा
  • Devendra Kunwar October 08, 2024

    BJP
  • Manish sharma October 02, 2024

    जय श्री राम 🚩नमो नमो ✌️🇮🇳
  • दिग्विजय सिंह राना September 20, 2024

    हर हर महादेव
  • kumarsanu Hajong August 04, 2024

    ek kadam swachta aur 2024
  • JBL SRIVASTAVA May 27, 2024

    मोदी जी 400 पार
  • rajiv Ghosh February 13, 2024

    great speech
  • rajiv Ghosh February 13, 2024

    great speech
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India is going to open doors of new possibilities of space for the world: PM Modi
June 28, 2025
QuoteI extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to you for hoisting the flag of India in space: PM
QuoteScience and Spirituality, both are our Nation’s strength: PM
QuoteThe success of Chandrayaan mission and your historic journey renew interest in science among the children and youth of the country: PM
QuoteWe have to take Mission Gaganyaan forward, we have to build our own space station and also land Indian astronauts on the Moon: PM
QuoteYour historic journey is the first chapter of success of India's Gaganyaan mission and will give speed and new vigour to our journey of Viksit Bharat: PM
QuoteIndia is going to open doors of new possibilities of space for the world: PM

Prime Minister: Shubhanshu Namaskar!

Shubhanshu Shukla: Namaskar!

Prime Minister: Today you are far away from your motherland, from Bharat Bhumi, but you are closest to the hearts of Indians. There is auspiciousness in your name and your journey is also the beginning of a new era. At this time, we two are talking, but the sentiments of 140 crore Indians are also with me. My voice reflects the enthusiasm and excitement of all Indians. I extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to you for hoisting the flag of India in space. I am not taking much time, so first of all tell me, is everything fine there? Are you feeling well?

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Shubhanshu Shukla: Yes, Prime Minister Ji! Thank you very much for your wishes and the wishes of my 140 crore countrymen. I am absolutely fine and safe here. Because of your blessings and love… I am feeling very good. This is a very new experience and somewhere or the other, many such things are happening which show in which direction I and many people like me in our country and our India are moving. This journey of mine, this small journey of 400 kilometers from the earth to the orbit, is not just mine. I feel that somewhere this is also the journey of our country because when I was young, I could never imagine that I could become an astronaut. But I believe that today's India under your leadership provides this opportunity and also gives a chance to realize those dreams. So, this is a great achievement for me and I feel very proud that I am able to represent my country here. Thank you, Prime Minister Ji!

Prime Minister: Shubh, you are out in space, where gravity is next to nothing, but every Indian is seeing how down to earth you are. Did you feed the Gajar ka halwa you carried with you to your friends?

Shubhanshu Shukla: Yes, Prime Ministerji! I had brought some food items from my country, like Gajar ka Halwa, Moong Dal Halwa and Aam Ras and I wanted my other friends, who have come from other countries, to also taste it and experience the rich culinary heritage of India. So, we all sat together and tasted it and everyone liked it very much. Some people asked when they would come down and visit our country and taste it with us…

Prime Minister: Shubh, Parikrama is a centuries old tradition of India. You have got the good fortune of doing Parikrama of Mother Earth. Which part of the Earth will you be passing over right now?

Shubhanshu Shukla: Yes, Prime Minister Ji! I don't have that information right now, but a little while ago I was looking out the window, we were passing over Hawaii, and we orbit 16 times a day. We see 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets from orbit and this entire process is very amazing. In this orbit, at this fast speed, we are moving at the speed of about 28000 kilometers per hour

while talking to you and this speed is not known because we are inside, but somewhere this speed definitely shows at what speed our country is progressing.

Prime Minister: Great!

Shubhanshu Shukla: At this moment we have reached here and now we have to go further from here.

Prime Minister: Well, what was the first thought that came to your mind after seeing the vastness of space?

Shubhanshu Shukla: Prime Minister ji, to be honest, when we reached the orbit for the first time, reached space, the first view was of the Earth and the first thought after seeing the Earth from outside, the first thought that came to mind was that the Earth looks completely uniform, I mean no boundary line, no border is visible from outside. And the second thing that was very noticeable was when we saw India for the first time, when we study India on the map, we see how big the size of other countries is, what is our size, we see that on the map, but it is not correct because we draw a 3D object in 2D, that is, on paper. India really looks very grand, looks very big. It is much bigger than what we see on the map and the feeling of oneness, the feeling of oneness of the earth, which is also our motto that unity in diversity, its importance is understood in such a way when seen from outside that it seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist, finally we all are a part of humanity and the earth is our home and all of us are its citizens.

Prime Minister: Shubhanshu, you are the first Indian to go to the space station. You have worked very hard. You have gone through a long training. Now you are in a real situation, you are actually in space, how different are the conditions there? How are you adapting?

Shubhanshu Shukla: Everything is different here Prime Minister Ji, we did training for the last one year, I knew about all the systems, I knew about all the processes, I knew about the experiments. But as soon as I came here, suddenly everything changed, because our body gets so used to living in gravity that everything is decided by it, but after coming here, since gravity is microgravity and is absent, even small things become very difficult. Right now, while talking to you, I have tied my legs, otherwise I would go up and the mike too, these are small things, that is, even if I leave it like this, it keeps floating like this. Drinking water, walking, sleeping is a big challenge, you can sleep on the roof, you can sleep on the walls, you can sleep on the ground.

So, Prime Minister Ji, everything happens, the training is good, but the environment changes, so it takes a day or two to get used to it, but then it becomes fine, then it becomes normal.

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Prime Minister: Shubh, India's strength lies in both science and spirituality. You are on a space journey, but the journey of India must also be going on. India must be running inside you. Do you get the benefit of meditation and mindfulness in that environment?

Shubhanshu Shukla: Yes, Prime Minister Ji, I completely agree. I believe that India is already running and this mission is just the first step of that big race and we are definitely moving ahead and we will have our own stations in space and many people will reach there and mindfulness also makes a lot of difference. There are many situations during normal training or even during launch, which are very stressful and with mindfulness you are able to keep yourself calm in those situations and if you keep yourself calm, you are able to take good decisions. It is said that no one can eat while running, so the calmer you remain, the better you will be able to take decisions. So, I think mindfulness plays a very important role in these things, so if both things are practiced together, then in such a challenging environment or challenging atmosphere, I think it will be very useful and will help people adapt very quickly.

Prime Minister: You are doing many experiments in space. Is there any experiment that will benefit the agriculture or health sector in the future?

Shubhanshu Shukla: Yes, Prime Minister Ji, I can say with great pride that for the first time Indian scientists have designed 7 unique experiments, which I have brought with me to the station and the first experiment that I am going to do, which is scheduled today, is on Stem

Cells. So, what happens on going to space is that because gravity is absent, the load goes away and hence muscle loss occurs. So, my experiment is looking at whether we can stop or delay this muscle loss by giving some supplement. It has a direct implication on Earth too that these supplements can be used on people who suffer muscle loss due to old age. So, I think it can definitely be used there. Along with this, the other experiment is on the growth of microalgae. These microalgae are very small but very nutritious, so if we can see their growth here and invent a process so that we can grow them in large numbers and provide nutrition, then somewhere it will be very useful for food security on earth. The biggest advantage of space is that the process here happens very quickly. So, we do not need to wait for months or years, so the results that we get here can be used by us and…

Prime Minister: Shubhanshu, after the success of Chandrayaan, a new interest in science was born among the children and youth of the country, the passion to explore space increased. Now this historic journey of yours is further strengthening that resolve. Today children do not just look at the sky, they think, I too can reach there. This thinking, this feeling is the real foundation of our future space missions. What message would you give to the young generation of India?

Shubhanshu Shukla: Prime Minister Ji, if I want to give a message to our young generation today, then first of all I will tell you that in the direction in which India is moving, we have seen very bold and very high dreams and to fulfil those dreams, we need all of you, so to fulfil that need, I would say that there is no one path to success that sometimes you take one path, sometimes someone takes the other path, but one thing that is common in every path is that you should never give up trying, Never Stop Trying. If you adopt this basic mantra that no matter what path you are on, where you are, but you will never give up, then success may come today or tomorrow, but it will definitely come.

Prime Minister: I am sure that the youth of the country will like these words of yours and you know me very well. Whenever I talk to anyone, I always give them homework. We have to take Mission Gaganyaan forward, we have to build our own space station, and also have to land Indian astronauts on the moon. Your experiences will be very useful in all these missions. I am sure you must be recording your experiences there.

Shubhanshu Shukla: Yes, Prime Minister Ji, absolutely, while undergoing the training and experiencing this entire mission, the lessons that I have received, the learnings that I have gained, I am absorbing them all like a sponge and I am sure that all these things will prove to be very valuable, very important for us when I come back and we will be able to apply these lessons effectively in our missions and complete them as quickly as possible. Because my friends who had come with me, somewhere they also asked me when we can go on Gaganyaan, which I felt very happy to hear and I said that soon. So, I think that this dream will be fulfilled very soon and the lessons that I am learning here; after coming back, I will try to apply them 100% in my mission and complete it as soon as possible.

Prime Minister: Shubhanshu, I am sure that this message of yours will inspire and when we met before you left, I also got the opportunity to meet your family members and I saw that all your family members are equally emotional and full of enthusiasm. Shubhanshu, today I really enjoyed talking to you. I know you have a lot of work and you have to work at a speed of 28000 kilometers, so I will not take much of your time. Today I can say with confidence that this is the first chapter of the success of India's Gaganyaan mission. This historic journey of yours is not just limited to space, it will give speed and new strength to our journey towards developed India. India is going to open the doors of new possibilities of space for the world. Now India will not just fly, it will prepare the platform for new flights in future. I want to hear something more in your mind because I do not want to ask a question. If you express the feelings that are in your mind, the countrymen will listen, the young generation of the country will listen, then I myself am very eager to hear some more things from you.

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Shubhanshu Shukla: Thank you, Prime Minister Ji! This entire journey of coming to space and training here and reaching here, I have learnt a lot in this, Prime Minister Ji, but after reaching

here, it is a personal accomplishment for me, but somewhere I feel that this is a very big collective achievement for our country. And I want to give a message to every child who is watching this, to every youth who is watching this and that is that if you try and you make your future well, then your future will be good and the future of our country will be good and keep only one thing in your mind, that sky has never the limits, neither for you, nor for me, nor for India and if you always keep this thing in your mind, then you will move ahead, you will illuminate your future and you will illuminate the future of our country and this is my message, Prime Minister and I am very, very emotional and very happy that I got the opportunity to talk to you today and through you to talk to 140 crore countrymen, who are able to see, this tricolor that you are seeing behind me, it was not here, before yesterday when I came here, then we have hoisted it here for the first time. So, this makes me very emotional and I feel very good to see that India has reached the International Space Station today.

Prime Minister: Shubhanshu, I wish you and all your colleagues the very best for the success of your mission. Shubhanshu, we are all waiting for your return. Take care of yourself, keep raising the respect of Maa Bharati. Many many best wishes, best wishes of 140 crore countrymen and I thank you very much for working so hard and reaching this height. Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Shubhanshu Shukla: Thank you, Prime Minister, thank you and thank you to all 140 crore countrymen and Bharat Mata Ki Jai for everyone from space!