In his first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused on women empowerment saying “it is a matter of joy that women in India are taking rapid strides of advancement in all fields, bringing glory to the nation.”

Referring to Indian astronaut Kalpana Chawla who died on board space shuttle Apollo, he said that it was “a matter of sorrow that we lost Kalpana Chawla at an early age, but her life and her work is a message to young women across the world, especially to those in India. It teaches us that that there is no limit to Nari Shakti (the power of women). If one possesses the will, the determination and a firm resolve to achieve something, nothing is impossible.”

He said that in India “respect for women, their status in society and their contribution towards it has proved to be awe inspiring to the entire world, since ancient times. There has been a long tradition of Vidushis (women exponents or women champions).”

The Prime Minister said many Vidushis of India have contributed in composing the verses of the Vedas ~ Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee ~ the list continues. Today, we talk about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. But centuries ago, it has been mentioned in our ancient texts like the Skand Puran that a daughter is equivalent to ten sons. The ‘Punya’ that you earn through ten sons amounts to the same earned through just one daughter. This underscores the importance that has been given to women in our society since long. And that is why, in our society, women have been accorded the status of ‘Shakti’(power), he said.

Modi said today women are not just advancing in myriad fields but are setting milestones.

“Our women power has achieved extraordinary feats, breaking the age old shackles of social mores, creating new records. They proved that through perseverance, grit and a firm resolve, obstacles and barriers can be broken,   and a new path could be charted out which could act as a beacon of inspiration not just to their contemporaries, but for generations to come. It will infuse afresh energy, newer enthusiasm into them.”

The Prime Minister said that there have been “unending endeavours against social ills and evil practices in India, both individually and collectively. Just a while ago, Bihar launched an interesting initiative, where the world’s longest human chain spanning over thirteen thousand kilometers was formed, in order to uproot social evils from the state.