Mann Ki Baat: Chandigarh airport to be renamed after Bhagat Singh, says PM Modi

New Delhi, Sep 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that Chandigarh airport will be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh on the occasion of his birth anniversary on September 28.

In his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' address, PM Modi also paid tribute to leader of erstwhile Bharatiya Jan Sangh Deendayal Upadhyaya, whose birth anniversary falls today. He said his vision of integral humanism and justice to the last man in the queue was worth emulating.

"Today the 25th of September is celebrated as the birthday of Deendayal Upadhyay ji, the brilliant humanist, thinker and great son of the country. The more the youth of any country take pride in their identity and honour, the more their original ideas and philosophies attract them," PM Modi said.

"The biggest feature of Deendayal ji's thoughts is that in his lifetime, he had seen the great upheavals of the world. He had become a witness to the struggles of ideologies. That is why, he put forward an idea of ​​'Ekatma Manavdarshan' and 'Antyodaya' before the country which was completely Indian," PM Modi said.

"Deendayal ji's 'Ekatma Manavdarshan' is such an idea, which in the realm of ideology gives freedom from conflict and prejudice. He again put forth to the world, the Indian philosophy which considers human beings equal. It has been said in our scriptures - 'Atmavat Sarvabhuteshu', that is, we should treat living beings akin to us and similarlytreatthem such. Deendayal ji taught us how Indian philosophy can guide the world even in the modern, social and political perspective. In a way, he awakened our intellectual consciousness by freeing us from the inferiority complex that prevailed in the country after independence. He also used to say - 'Our freedom can be meaningful only when it expresses our culture and identity', the prime minister said.

"On the basis of this idea, he had created a vision for the development of the country. Deendayal Upadhyay ji used to say that the measure of the progress of the country is the person at the loweststep. In the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the more we know Deendayal ji, the more we learn from him, the more we will get inspiration to take the country forward," he added.

"Three days later, that is, on the 28th of September, is a special day of Amrit Mahotsav. On this day we will celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh, the brave son of Mother India. Just before the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh, an important decision has been taken as a tribute to him. It has been decided that the Chandigarh airport will now be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. It had been in the waiting for a long time. I congratulate the people of Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana and of the entire country for this decision," PM Modi said.

"Let us take inspiration from our freedom fighters, following their ideals and build the India of their dreams... this is our tribute to them. The memorials of martyrs, the names of places and institutions named after them inspire us with a sense of duty. Just a few days ago, the country has made a similar effort by setting up the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Kartavya Path and now the name of Chandigarh Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh is another step in that direction. I wish, the way in which we are celebrating special occasions related to freedom fighters during the Amrit Mahotsav, in the same way every youth must try something new on the 28th of September," PM Modi said.

"All of you have another reason to celebrate the 28th of September. Do you know what it is? I will say only two words and I know your enthusiasm will increase fourfold. These two words are - Surgical Strike!," PM Modi said.

"Hasn't the Josh risen!! Let us celebrate the campaign of the ongoing Amrit Mahotsav in our country with full enthusiasm, sharing our happiness with everyone," PM Modi added.

The latest episode of Mann ki Baat will air on Doordarshan, AIR News, the AIR News website, and the newsonair mobile app. Additionally, it may be watched live on YouTube via the AIR News, DD News, PMO, and Information and Broadcasting Ministry feeds.

Mann Ki Baat is an Indian radio programme hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he addresses the people of the nation. The first episode debuted on October 3, 2014.