#Mann ki Baat : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Admits Start-Up Culture Now Vibrant, Says Tokyo Showing A Boost For Sports

Picture : Twitter / ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said hat the start-up culture has become very vibrant in India with youngsters in even smaller cities embracing it, and asserted that it is a sign of India’s bright future.

In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Modi also noted that space sector reforms in the country have caught the people’s imagination and expressed confidence that a large number of satellites in the coming days will be developed by youngsters from universities, labs and other sectors.

The prime minister touched upon a host of topics, including India’s rich spiritual tradition and the boost the sporting culture has received after the performance in the Tokyo Olympics, in the address and also paid glowing tributes to hockey legend Dhyan Chand, saying he conquered the world of hockey for the country.

The National Sports Day is celebrated every year on August 29 to mark Dhyan Chand’s birthday.

Noting that India won an Olympic medal in men’s hockey after over four decades, he said youths are now drawn towards sports and their parents are happy to back them.

This itself is a great tribute to Dhyan Chand, Modi said.

Asserting that the young population’s mindset has undergone a sweeping change, he said it is now keen on “new destinations and new goals by taking new paths and having new aspirations”.

The momentum the sporting culture has received must be further advanced, he said, calling for sports competitions at the village level.

“Let us all countrymen strive to further this momentum as much as we can, contributing whatever we can. Let us transform the mantra of ‘Sabka Prayas’ (everyone’s effort) into reality,” he said.

Modi said the Tokyo Olympics have created a major impact, and India’s achievements may not be a lot compared to some countries but are enough to bolster the people’s belief.

“Today, it is not that the youth is just watching sports. The youth is also looking at possibilities associated with sports…They now want to surpass conventional ways and adopt new disciplines,” he said.

Similarly, young persons are moving away from family traditions, expressing the wish to launch or join a start-up and are willing to take risks.

He said, “Today, the startup culture is expanding even to smaller cities and I am seeing it as an indication of a bright future. Just a few days ago, toys in our country were being discussed. Within no time this caught the attention of our youth and they too resolutely decided to work towards positioning Indian toys in the world with a distinct identity.”