New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lamented that many people mocked Bhimrao Ambedkar and made efforts to ensure that the son of a backward family does not progress. But, he noted that today’s ‘new India’ is altogether different as it belonged to the poor and the backward.
In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, the prime minister also hailed the role of leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Ram Manohar Lohia, Charan Singh and Devi Lal for recognising agriculture and the farmer as vital aspects of the nation’s economy.
The prime minister said Ambedkar had showed that to succeed it was not necessary for a person to be born into an illustrious or rich family, but even those who are born in poor families in India can dare to dream their dreams and realise them by achieving success.
The prime minister said he himself was an example of Ambedkar’s philosophy.
“Many people mocked Ambedkar, tried to pull him back and made every possible effort to ensure that the son of an impoverished and backward family does not progress in life, be something and succeed in life. But the picture of new India is altogether different. It is an India which is Ambedkar’s India, of the poor and the backward,” Modi said.
He said on the occasion Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, ‘Gram-Swaraj Abhiyan’ would be organised from April 14 to May 5.
As part of the campaign, separate programmes on village development, poverty amelioration and social justice will be held throughout India. “I urge you all to be a part of this campaign,” he said.
Years ago, Modi said, Ambedkar spoke of India’s industrialisation as a means to generate new jobs and push development.
“Today, the campaign of Make in India is progressing successfully in consonance with Ambedkar’s dream of India as an industrial super power — that vision of his has become our inspiration today,” the PM said.
That the development of industries could only be possible in the cities, was the kernel of the idea of Ambedkar and that was the reason he banked upon urbanisation of India, he said.
“Babasaheb had strong faith in self-reliance. He did not want anybody to languish in poverty forever. He also believed that poverty cannot be ameliorated by mere distribution of capital. Today, our monetary policy ‘Start Up India, Stand Up India’ initiative, had become the seedbed for our young innovators and young entrepreneurs,” Modi pointed out.
