PM Modi urges swadeshi push during the festive season

September 29, 2025 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani

In his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, September 28, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon citizens to embrace Swadeshi (locally-made) products, especially khadi, during the festive season.

He emphasised that supporting homegrown industries is key to building a self-reliant India.

Extending Diwali greetings, the Prime Minister reminded listeners of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Swadeshi, stating that khadi, once overlooked post-independence, has seen a revival in recent years.

He encouraged everyone to purchase at least one khadi item on October 2, urging citizens to take pride in choosing Indian-made goods.

Modi also referred to the recent GST rate cuts, highlighting the ongoing GST Bachat Utsav, which offers shoppers more savings this season.

He encouraged people to make festivals more meaningful by resolving to buy only Indian products, stating that such choices support families, artisans, and entrepreneurs across the country.

The Prime Minister also celebrated a remarkable achievement in India’s maritime history.

He interacted with Lt. Commander K. Dilna and Lt. Commander Roopa Alagirisamy, the first Indian women to circumnavigate the globe in a double-handed sailing vessel.

The duo embarked on their journey from Goa on October 2, 2024, and returned on May 29, 2025, after sailing 47,500 km in 238 days.

Lt. Commander Dilna highlighted their moment of pride, hoisting the Indian flag at Point Nemo, the most remote point on Earth, where the nearest human is aboard the International Space Station.

They are also the first in the world to reach this point using a sailboat.

The address also marked the 100th anniversary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded on Vijayadashami in 1925 by Dr. K.B. Hedgewar.

The Prime Minister described the century-long journey of the RSS as inspiring and unprecedented, born out of a need to restore the self-respect and cultural identity of Indians during colonial rule.

He reflected on the role of M.S. Golwalkar in continuing the organisation’s mission after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s passing and praised the RSS’s continued service during national crises, especially in natural disasters.

The broadcast offered a blend of patriotic appeal, celebration of national achievements, and cultural reflection, resonating with the ongoing spirit of self-reliance and service.

Image Credit: Batthini Vinay Kumar Goud, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons