Twitter
Advertisement

Toilet campaign gets PM Narendra Modi a rocking Central Park audience

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

When prime minister Narendra Modi spoke about the need for providing toilets for girls in schools in his first Independence day speech from the ramparts of Delhi's Red Fort, he probably never realised that he would get international acclaim for talking about a subject usually considered taboo.

But it is public commitment to provide toilets to all within the next five years which got him a special invite to the third annual Global Citizen Festival organised at New York's sprawling Central Park on Saturday. In fact, actor Hugh Jackman, who introduced Modi, spoke admiringly about how Modi had spoken about the lack of toilets in his national address.

"Not only does he have plans to fix the problem but he is not shy to talk about it," the actor said. 

The rock concert is part of the Global Citizen Movement, merging advocacy with music to end extreme poverty. World leaders, musicians and philanthropists gather every year to make commitments on issues such as education of young girls, provision of vaccines and sanitation.

A rock concert is not the sort of event anybody would associate with Modi. 

But the prime minister surprised everybody when he took a break from his hectic schedule in New York to put in an appearance at the Central Park event. He was not disappointed with the thousands-strong crowd which clapped and cheered for Modi just as they had done for the popular rock bands and celebrities like Jay Z, Beyonce, No Doubt and Fun, who had enthralled the audience with their electrifying performances.

On his part, Modi made a special effort to connect with a largely-American audience. Although he usually prefers to speak in Hindi, the prime minister decided to deliver his message in English.

Keeping with the mood at the event and the composition of the audience, Modi began with a cheerful, "How are you doing New York? Are you having a good time?" and then went on to greet the crowds with a namaste. "This is a great city; it has assimilated the world within itself. Today, you have shown that you also care about the world outside," he said.

If his opening lines were meant to endear him to the audience, he ended on an American note with a Star Wars reference, "May the Force be with you".

Modi struck the right notes when he spoke about idealism, energy and can-do attitude of the youth and urged them to make sacrifices in the present to ensure a better future. The prime minister was particularly appreciative of the audience at Central Park who, he said, are thinking of people who are less fortunate than them, who are far away and whose nationality does not matter. "I salute you."

While striving to project himself as a global citizen, Modi did not forget his Indian roots when he recited a few Sanskrit lines which loosely translated as "May all be prosperous and happy, free from illness, may no one suffer. Om Shanti Om."
 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement