Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India’s media industry needed to go global at a time when the country had a significant presence at almost all international forums and its voice and products were becoming more global. The world was listening to India now with more attention, Mr. Modi said.
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Inaugurating the ‘Patrika Gate’ constructed here by the Rajasthan Patrika Group of Publications through video conference, Mr. Modi said Indian newspapers and magazines should acquire a global reputation and make their digital presence felt across the world. He also released two books authored by Gulab Kothari of the Patrika group.
The iconic gate, built as a monument under Mission Anupam of the Jaipur Development Authority at Jawaharlal Nehru Marg here, depicts the cultural and artistic heritage of different regions of Rajasthan. It has emerged as a centre of attraction for tourists, who also visit the Jawahar Circle garden situated nearby.
While calling upon Indian institutions to give away literary awards on the pattern of global bodies, Mr. Modi said that writers as an enlightened section acted as the teachers of society. “Books and authors play a major role in the learning process that lasts the entire life after formal education is over... Every freedom fighter was involved in guiding the people through their writings,” he said.
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The Prime Minister praised the media for serving the people in an “unprecedented way” by generating awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic, and said the media had given the shape of a mission to the concept of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. “This vision should be further expanded and our heritage, culture and science strengthened,” he said.
Mr. Modi also called upon the people to ensure that the younger generation was not deprived of serious knowledge in the present age of texts and tweets. Family members should inculcate the habit of reading books by spending time to read a few pages every day, he said.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were also present at the virtual event. Mr. Gehlot said the construction of Patrika Gate was in keeping with Jaipur having recently been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
