Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised the expanding influence of Indian culture across the world, citing examples from Italy, Canada, and Russia, where awareness and appreciation of Indian traditions are steadily rising.
Addressing the 125th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said, “Wherever you go in the world, you will definitely find the influence of Indian culture, and this influence is not limited to the big cities alone, but is visible even in small towns.”
Giving an example from Italy, he said, “Something similar was witnessed in a small town of Italy — Camp-Rotondo. There, a statue of Maharishi Valmiki was unveiled. Many important personalities of the area, including the local mayor, also attended the programme.”
“People of Indian origin living in Camp-Rotondo are very happy with the installation of the statue of Maharishi Valmiki. The messages of Maharishi Valmiki inspire all of us,” PM Modi added.
The PM also referred to a recent development in Canada, where earlier this month, a 51-foot-tall statue of Lord Shri Ram was inaugurated in Mississauga.
“People were very excited about this event. Videos of the grand statue of Lord Shri Ram were widely shared on social media,” he said.
Turning to Russia, the Prime Minister spoke about the growing fascination with the Ramayana.
“This love for the *Ramayana* and Indian culture is now reaching every corner of the world. There is a famous place in Russia — Vladivostok. Many people know it as a city where the temperature falls to -20 to -30 degrees Celsius in winter,” he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted that earlier this month, Vladivostok hosted a Ramayana exhibition showcasing paintings created by Russian children on different themes from the epic.
“This month, a unique exhibition was held in Vladivostok, where paintings made by Russian children on different themes from the ‘Ramayana’ were displayed. A competition was also organised. It is indeed heartening to see the growing awareness of Indian culture in different parts of the world,” PM Modi said.
IANS
