PM Narendra Modi concerned over traditional games 'fading away'

In his 44th edition of the monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the countrymen to stay fit but at the same time reminded them about the traditional Indian games such as Kho-Kho, Gulli-Danda, Lattu and Pitthu that are fading away.

"Stay fit, play games but do not forget the traditional sports," PM Modi said.

"For me, it's heartwarming that the captain of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli has included me in his challenge... I too have accepted his challenge," he said but at the same time he expressed concern over the "fading away" of traditional sports "to the point of extinction".

"...it will be a loss of the spirit of childhood," he said recalling a poem, which talked about the end of childhood and the games and the fun associated with those.

"It is crucial that today, schools, neighbourhoods and youth congregations come forward and promote these games. Through crowdsourcing we can create a very large archive of our traditional games," said Modi, suggesting that these games can be shot on video to record how to play them as per the mandatory rules and regulations.

"And then, there is no prescribed age limit for participating in them. From tiny tots to grandfather-grandmother, when we all play these games together then the term 'generation gap' disappears," he said.

The PM also spoke about the need to have a sense of adventure as it gives birth to development and referred to the all-women team of Indian Navy which circumnavigated the globe for over 250 days on board the small INSV Tarini.

In a passing reference, PM Modi remembered India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his death anniversary but showered accolades on the right wing freedom fighter Savarkar for disapproving suggestions that events in 1857 were merely a "sepoy mutiny".

"Today is May 27, the death anniversary of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji. I render my pranam to Pandit ji. Memories of this month are also linked with Veer Savarkar," he said.

Recalling that in May 1857, Indians had displayed their strength against the British, Modi said, "It is indeed sad that we kept on calling the events of 1857 only as a rebellion or a soldiers' mutiny for a very long time. In fact, May 1857 was not only evaluated as a minor historical incident but was also an attempt to dent our self-respect, " said Modi.

"It was Veer Savarkar who boldly expostulated by writing that whatever happened in 1857 was not a revolt but was indeed the first war of independence," he said and recalled how Savarkar, along with his band of bravehearts, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first war of independence with great fanfare at the India House in London.

He said, while Savarkar is renowned for his bravery and his struggle against the British Raj, he was also a striking poet and a social reformer who always emphasised on goodwill and unity.

Savarkar is credited with coining the term Hindutva to create a collective "Hindu" identity as an essence of India but at the same time is criticised for writing an apology letter to the British to save himself.

REMEMBERS VEER SAVARKAR

PM Narendra Modi said that while Veer Savarkar is renowned for his bravery and struggle against the British Raj, he was also a striking poet and a social reformer who always emphasised on goodwill and unity