From the sea to the sky, India is becoming self-reliant: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is becoming increasingly secure and self-reliant in the defense sector, from the sea to the sky, and the country is achieving new successes on the strength of local technology and manufacturing. Mr. Modi said in the 135th episode of his monthly program 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast on All India Radio on Sunday that half of 2026 has passed, and in these six months, the country has achieved several successes in the field of security and self-reliance, which every citizen can be proud of.

He said that recently, in a program held in Kolkata, INS Dhanagiri, INS Sanshakti, and INS Agay were included in the Indian Navy's fleet. The design and manufacturing of these warships are completely indigenous. Mr. Modi said that in June, a major achievement was also achieved in the aviation sector. The C-295 aircraft, developed under 'Make in India', has completed its first flight, and 40 such aircraft are being manufactured in India. This will give new strength to the MSME and aerospace sector, increase employment opportunities, and further strengthen the resolve of a self-reliant India.

He said that the same month, the Defense Research and Development Organization also successfully tested an indigenous long-range land-attack cruise missile. This missile has been developed in partnership between the DRDO's laboratories and Indian industries. The Prime Minister said that these successes make it clear that today India is becoming more secure and self-reliant from the sea to the sky. Mr. Modi said, "I often say, those who play, they flourish. Today, the number of such young people in the country is increasing rapidly, who are playing and flourishing. More and more young people are now taking up sports as a career."

He said that he has come to know about two such efforts in Nagaland, which are very interesting. The first effort is the 'Nagaland Baby League'. Hearing the name, you must think it's a common league for very small children, but that's not the case. This is an extraordinary league of small children, aged 5 to 10-12 years, like flowers, and it's a league of football players that also encourages and identifies their speed and talent. Its inception was to connect as many children as possible in Nagaland with football. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 can participate in it. This league has now completed its three years. It has had a very good impact on the minds of children.

He said that there is another good effort in Nagaland. It's called the 'Nagaland Women Futsal League'. You may find 'futsal' a new name; I tell you, futsal is also called indoor football. It has only five players in a team. The playing field is also much smaller than a football field. Therefore, players have to make quick decisions and better use of their technique and skills. The Nagaland Women Futsal League is giving our daughters a great opportunity to showcase their talent. I appreciate the people of Nagaland for such aspects. Such efforts also inspire other parts of the country.

Mr. Modi said that superstition has been deeply ingrained in human society for thousands of years. People who are steeped in superstition make such decisions without reason, without knowing the truth, which causes great harm. There are also people in society who challenge these notions based on science, experience, and reason. He said that in Assam, there is a bird called 'Hargila'. 'Hargila' is a rare bird. It plays an important role in keeping nature clean, but in some areas of Assam, it was considered inauspicious for a long time. People did not like to see it around them. Many times, the trees on which the Hargila's nests were built were also cut down.

He said that during this time, biologist Purnima Devi Barman saw all this. She decided to change the wrong notion in people's minds. She spoke to women, explained to people on the basis of science, and gradually, women started joining the campaign. Then, a big change began. The bird, which was once shooed away considering it inauspicious, started becoming the identity of the village. Thousands of rural women came forward to save the 'Hargila' - today they are known as the 'Hargila Army'. These women also struggled with society, worked day and night to make them understand, and left superstition behind. They have shown that when correct information is provided, even decades-old thinking can change.

Mr. Modi said in the 135th episode of his monthly program 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday that Meghalaya is known for its clouds, beautiful scenery. Whoever visits Meghalaya remembers the sense of belonging among its people for a long time, but Meghalaya has another feature. These are the 'root bridges' of Meghalaya. The story of these bridges is very interesting. They are not built in a few days or years. They take decades to develop. The roots of rubber trees are slowly given direction. These roots are taken across water streams. Over time, these roots take the shape of a strong bridge. One feature of these bridges is that they are living bridges. They become stronger with time. They reflect the creative ability of the people of Meghalaya.

He said that behind them lies years of patience and deep respect for nature. These bridges tell us how wonderful things humans can create in collaboration with nature. This is the heritage of our country, this land. Now, India has applied to include Meghalaya's root bridges in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Network. Mr. Modi said that due to environmental change, these root bridges also face many challenges. At such times, the people of Meghalaya have also taken the responsibility of protecting this natural heritage very well. Earlier, it was not easy to find out how many such bridges existed. Local people themselves started counting them. After that, communities took responsibility for their maintenance. Today, local people are taking care of more than 120 root bridges.

He said that some teams inspect the condition of these bridges every year. Some people have even set up nurseries to strengthen the surrounding area. In this way, a complete ecosystem has been developed for their protection. You must have seen that this year, Heli War Ji was awarded the Padma Award. He has spent more than 50 years of his life taking care of these root bridges. His dedication is an inspiration to all of us. He said that if you have also traveled to these root bridges, please share your photos on social media. Your photos will also inspire other people to know about this unique heritage of Meghalaya.

Today, Indian culture is reaching different parts of the world. Our songs, music, and spirituality are being known and adopted by people all over the world. There is a country called the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea, thousands of kilometers away from India. There are about 100 Indians there, maybe even less. Despite this, a very good effort is being made there to connect with Indian culture and spirituality. Some Spanish-speaking people have formed a team there. The team is called 'Brahm Kamal Dominica'. The team members study Vedic literature together. They are also learning the pronunciation of Vedic mantras. They have not received any formal training for this.

He said that their effort to learn our traditions while living so far from India is very inspiring. I congratulate all the members of 'Brahm Kamal Dominica' for their efforts. I wholeheartedly appreciate all those people who are continuously working to popularize Indian culture around the world.