Friday, January, 31,2025

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NaMo Pillar of the NATION

The narrators share that PM Modi's concept of creating a small library in villages, where people can read, and engage in discussions, has fostered better communication within society. They said that PM Modi’s patience and the determination during Emergency times were truly remarkable.

PM Modi’s unique idea of village libraries - Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister

Once during a meeting with MPs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sharing an idea for villagers and commoners living in small remote locations or provincial towns. He said, everyone subscribes to some newspaper or magazine, even in villages. No matter what profession a person belongs to, he or she reads at least something, like some news or incident or an essay. Once they are read, the newspapers or the magazines in the house usually go waste as they are almost useless after their main purpose is over. But these read papers and books can be preserved for others to read. A small library can be set up in some small corner of the house where people can come, sit, read and discuss. This way, there will be greater communication between people and also spread of positive ideas in society. There is always some spare space in houses, which can be brough to good use. He said, usually in villages, there are evening tete-a-tetes in houses where neighbours and friends sit together and discuss politics or religion or history. If this arrangement is complimented by books and magazines, a more intellectually stimulating and diverse people connect can be imagined. If 5-10 people sit daily in the mornings and evenings to read and discuss, this can also engender healthy dialogue, debate and possibility of new ideas. Villagers should try to develop these community centres in such lines where books on religion, history or politics could be beautifully stacked and arranged on tables and in shelves and some chairs are put around, so that people can get an opportunity to come and take advantage of this free reading facility in an atmosphere of camaraderie. This simple effort at building such informal village libraries can foster great community connect and build an ecosystem of continued learning and intellectual evolution in places with lesser exposure to the best of libraries and academic facilities.

MODI’S SECRET STAY IN DELHI DURING EMERGENCY - Vijay Rajpal, Ashok Vihar, Delhi

Addressing an event in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once spoke about his secret stay at Ashok Vihar in the city during the Emergency days. “When the Emergency was imposed, the country was struggling against the dictatorial rule of Indira Gandhi and the struggle against the Emergency was on. During this time, my comrades were part of the underground movement, and Ashok Vihar was the place where I stayed,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had long done social work as an RSS pracharak before becoming one of the most prominent faces of Indian politics. I first met Narendra Modi in 1973 at the Sangh office, Ahmedabad. After that we started having good conversations, and we often spoke on the phone and exchanged letters. When the Emergency was declared in the country, the relationship between myself and Narendra Modi became even deeper. I remember one day I got a call from Modi ji and he asked, ‘Can I stay at your house? Will it cause any inconvenience if I do?’ I immediately said that he could come anytime, my doors were always open for him as we treated him like family. He then came and stayed in our house without any demands, even in food. Despite being a Gujarati, he used to eat our Punjabi food happily, as if he was a part of our family. At that time, Gujarat Police were searching for Modi ji. During the Emergency, Narendra Modi ji’s photo was also included in the photos of ‘wanted’ people shown in the cinemas of Gujarat. As the police started searching for him, Modi ji also came to know about it and he had a tough choice before him. He had to continue his activities secretly, like Sangh workers were doing across the country, and without being caught. I found a unique solution for his safety in Delhi. By that time Modi ji had grown a light beard and he used to wear pants and half-sleeved white shirts. He thought of disguising himself as a Sikh, which was less risky than other options. Modi ji asked me, ‘How to do this?’ For this we went to Chandni Chowk. There we bought the cloth for the turban from a shop near Moti Cinema and then took him to Sabzi Mandi, a place in Delhi, where my uncle’s friend was a Sardarji. He tied a turban on Modi ji like Sardarji. From then on he started wearing a turban. The operation had begun. Modi ji travelled with me from Delhi to Surat in a deluxe train disguised as a Sikh. I advised him not to talk much as he did not know how to speak Punjabi. He travelled quietly and we safely evaded detection. Modi ji’s patience and determination in those difficult times was unmatched. He was ready for any sacrifice for the country, and I sensed his leadership qualities even then. His ability to understand the situation and work strategically under pressure was what set him apart from others. These were early indications of his glorious journey ahead.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA

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Harmony in relationships is your priority. Compromise and understanding will strengthen your bonds.

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Focus on organization and details. A well-planned day will lead to productive results and personal satisfaction.

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Leadership will come naturally. Take charge of situations but remain humble for the best outcomes.

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Patience will be your strength today. Financial matters might need attention, so think twice before making big decisions.

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Pisces

Your intuition will guide you. Trust your feelings and explore creative outlets for peace of mind.

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Aquarius

Innovation is your theme today. Explore unconventional ideas to solve lingering problems.

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Capricorn

Hard work pays off today. Your dedication and discipline will lead to well-deserved recognition.

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Sagittarius

Adventure is calling! Embrace new opportunities, but keep a balanced approach to risks.

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Scorpio

Your determination will be unmatched. Dive deep into tasks, but don't forget to take breaks to recharge.

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Libra

Harmony in relationships is your priority. Compromise and understanding will strengthen your bonds.

image

Virgo

Focus on organization and details. A well-planned day will lead to productive results and personal satisfaction.

image

Leo

Leadership will come naturally. Take charge of situations but remain humble for the best outcomes.

image

Cancer

Emotional balance is key today. Spend quality time with loved ones to find comfort and clarity.

image

Gemini

Today is perfect for networking and sharing ideas. Your adaptability will help you tackle unexpected changes with ease.

image

Taurus

Patience will be your strength today. Financial matters might need attention, so think twice before making big decisions.

image

Aries

Today brings opportunities for growth, but you'll need to stay focused. Trust your instincts to navigate challenges.

image

Pisces

Your intuition will guide you. Trust your feelings and explore creative outlets for peace of mind.

image

Aquarius

Innovation is your theme today. Explore unconventional ideas to solve lingering problems.

image

Capricorn

Hard work pays off today. Your dedication and discipline will lead to well-deserved recognition.

image

Sagittarius

Adventure is calling! Embrace new opportunities, but keep a balanced approach to risks.

image

Scorpio

Your determination will be unmatched. Dive deep into tasks, but don't forget to take breaks to recharge.