FROM GANDHI T0 MODI: THE CONTINUING CALL FOR SWADESHI

On September 17, the “Swasthy Mahila ~ Shashakt Parivar” campaign was launched in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. On this occasion, during a massive public gathering, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called upon the citizens of the country to adopt Swadeshi.

- SHIVPRAKASH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted with 'Garv Se Swadeshi' banner by a retailer, upon his visit to a stall in an exhibition, in Itanagar. (File photo)

He urged the people, saying, “Whatever you buy should be made in the country, whatever you buy should carry the sweat of an Bhartiya, whatever you buy should have the fragrance of Bhartiya soil.”

He has not made this call for Swadeshi only in Dhar but has emphasised it in numerous public programs over the past several months. He has described the mantra of Swadeshiand self-reliance as the guarantee of a developed Bharat .

To connect all citizens of the country with the call made by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party has outlined the “Viksit Bharat” campaign. This campaign will begin on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (25th September) and continue until the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25th December), a symbol of Bhartiya pride. Tewill also include the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary (2nd October), celebrated with the purchase of Khadi — Gandhibeing a great inspiration for Swadeshi.

Mahatma Gandhi defined Swadeshi as “the spirit that prompts us to use things and services available around us. The essence of Swadeshiis serving what is near with a sense of family.”

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya also emphasized that “policies should prioritize village-based entrepreneurship and local production.”

Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee enhanced Bharat’s selfrespect manifold not only by his pride in the Hindi language but also through the nuclear tests that established Bharat’'s strength on the global stage-This campaign, running during this period, is a meaningful initiative to connect society with the spirit of Swadeshi.