PM Modi to attend 1,000th anniversary of Gangetic conquest on July 27
Official sources said that according to the tentative schedule, the PM is likely to visit the temple in the evening of July 27, and after darshan, he will be viewing a photo exhibition organised by the ASI. The topics to be covered in the photo exhibition include Rajendra Chola I's Gangetic expedition, and Kadaram expedition, miniature sculptures related to Shaivism and Chola-era sculptures.
Later, Modi will be enjoying a 'Thiruvachagam' symphony by music maestro Ilayaraaja for about 20 minutes. In all, the PM is scheduled to be there for around three hours.
HR and CE sources said the Tamil Nadu government is celebrating Adi Thiruvathirai, the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I, from July 23. Chief Minister MK Stalin and five of his Cabinet colleagues are likely to take part in the celebrations on July 23. The PM is taking part in the valedictory celebrations on July 27. However, the CM's participation in the PM's programme is yet to be confirmed.
R Komagan, chairman, Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust, told TNIE that heads of 36 Adheenams in Tamil Nadu, including the one which donated the Sengol to Parliament, have been invited for the PM's event. The event starts with a 'Thiruvachagam' recital by 50 Oodhuvars.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
What China And Global Media Are Saying About PM Modi's Visit To Maldives
New Delhi: On July 26, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives as the chief guest. His presence at the event grabbed headlines not only in India and Maldives, but across the world. The visit stood out for several reasons. Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu had built his 2023 election campaign around the slogan 'India Out'. After coming to power, he had sent strong signals distancing the country from India. He also moved swiftly to forge closer ties with China. His early months in office were marked by a decision to send back Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. This was viewed in New Delhi as a potential pivot toward Beijing. That same leader has now invited the Indian prime minister as guest of honour at the nation's biggest official event. The symbolism was unmistakable. It marked a moment that was closely tracked in foreign capitals, especially as China continues its attempts to deepen influence across the Indian Ocean region. Chinese State Media Responds Beijing's Global Times, a state-run publication, published a commentary criticising the tone of Indian media coverage surrounding the visit. According to the publication, some Indian platforms had portrayed the trip as a strategic setback for China and a diplomatic win for India. In its analysis, the Global Times accused Indian media of engaging in zero-sum thinking, suggesting that any gain for India must mean a loss for China. It cited comments from Qian Feng, director at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, who argued that the Maldives naturally prioritises relations with its neighbours but also pursues a diversified foreign policy, including engagement with China's Belt and Road Initiative. 'These approaches are not in conflict,' he said. Singapore and U.S. Media Weigh In Singapore-based Channel News Asia headlined its coverage: 'India's Modi reshapes ties with Maldives.' Their report highlighted how Modi's visit included new infrastructure partnerships, financial commitments and signs of renewed warmth between the two countries. PM Modi inaugurated a new defense ministry building and Indian-funded projects and announced economic support. According to Channel News Asia, the visit was viewed in New Delhi as reassurance that Maldives would not drift too far into China's orbit. The channel highlighted how Muizzu's early months had raised concerns after he ordered the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. The Washington Post echoed this view. In a detailed report, the paper called the two-day trip 'strategically vital' and said it pointed to India's broader goals of asserting presence across key sea routes in the Indian Ocean. It highlighted the announcement of a $565 million line of credit from India to fund development projects. The publication said the visit may mark the beginning of a shift toward restoring normalcy in bilateral ties. A Look From the UK British daily The Independent took a broader view, framing the visit in the context of recent diplomatic turbulence. The publication emphasised that tensions had risen after the Indian government promoted Lakshadweep as a tourism hub, which some in the Maldives perceived as an attempt to redirect Indian tourists away from their beaches. Celebrities in India had even called for a boycott of Maldives as a travel destination. The report added that President Muizzu chose to visit China before making a trip to India, something that had not gone unnoticed in New Delhi. Muizzu's post-China announcement about reducing dependency on India for essentials like medicines and food also drew concern. But things began to improve when Muizzu attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony earlier this year. That visit set the stage for a gradual warming of ties, culminating in the current trip. A New Phase for India-Maldives Relations Pakistan's Express Tribune said Modi's visit ended on a note of clarity and mutual affirmation. It quoted President Muizzu calling the trip 'a defining moment' in relations between the two nations. In social media posts shared at the conclusion of the visit, Muizzu acknowledged the importance of people-to-people ties and long-term cooperation across sectors. In a reciprocal message, PM Modi said India would stand by the people of Maldives in their aspirations. Germany's Deutsche Welle (DW) provided a strategic lens on the visit. It emphasised Maldives' critical location along shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. Despite its image as a tourist haven, the report described Maldives as a 'geopolitical hotspot' nestled across 1,192 islands. DW pointed out how this geography has made it a focal point in the growing rivalry between India and China. Their report argued that the region is becoming less about leisure and more about maritime strategy and political influence. What Experts Are Saying According to a commentary by Aditya Shivamurti, associate fellow at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Maldives' policy initially leaned strongly toward China. He explained how 'India Out' had dominated discourse in 2023, and India's presence was sharply reduced. But by 2024, Shivamurti observed a shift. The domestic economic situation in Maldives worsened. Parliamentary dynamics changed. Chinese promises failed to meet expectations. These developments pushed Muizzu to reassess foreign policy. The analysis added that India responded with pragmatism. It avoided escalation and focused instead on diplomatic engagement and support. In return, the Maldives leadership began acknowledging India's critical role in areas like health, development and infrastructure. ORF's report concluded that both countries are now trying to separate foreign policy from domestic politics. While the Maldivian Democratic Party has historically been seen as pro-India and the ruling PNC as leaning toward China, Muizzu seems to be moderating that binary. He has taken steps to respect India's sensitivities, and India, in turn, has extended support. As per Shivamurti's view, the visit was more than symbolic. It was a recalibration. It offered not just headlines, but signs that pragmatism, diplomacy and shared interests are still possible in a region crowded by rival influences.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
PM Modi praises Kaziranga's AI-powered grassland bird census in monthly radio prog
1 2 Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commended the first-ever grassland bird census held in the Kaziranga National Park, which identified 43 bird species, including endangered ones, and the use of technology for conducting the census. The census, the PM said, illustrates how human effort and technology can do wonders in furthering nature conservation. "It is very interesting to know what species of birds live around us. Recently, one such grand effort was made in the Kaziranga National Park of Assam," PM Modi said in the 124th edition of his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. "If you are asked how many kinds of birds there are around you — what will you say? Perhaps that I see five to six birds every day — some are familiar, some are unfamiliar," he added. The hidden world of rare and endangered birds quietly thrives in the area, famed for its one-horned rhinos, Royal Bengal Tigers and elephants. "For the first time, a grassland bird census was conducted here. You will be happy to know that on account of this census, more than 40 species of birds were identified. These include many rare birds. You must be wondering how so many birds were identified! Technology did wonders in this," the PM added in his address. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo He said the team conducting the census installed sound recording devices, which were analysed on the computer. "Artificial Intelligence was used. The birds were identified just by their sounds — that too without disturbing them. Imagine! When technology and sensitivity come together, understanding nature becomes so easy and deep. We promote such efforts so that we can recognise our biodiversity and connect the next generation to it," Modi said. After the conclusion of Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' address, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on his X handle, said the Kaziranga grassland bird survey found 43 bird species living in the grasslands of Assam's national park. "As PM Narendra Modi described in his Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Kaziranga's beauty is unparalleled and safely houses species which are endangered worldwide," the CM said. Wildlife researchers conducted surveys at 185 grassland sites across Kaziranga from March 18 to May 25.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
PM Modi hails Chola legacy, unveils statue plan in TN
PM Modi hails Chola legacy, unveils statue plan in TN ARIYALUR: PM Narendra Modi praised the Chola dynasty as a shining example of India's historical and cultural legacy, announcing plans to erect statues of emperors Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola in Tamil Nadu. "These statues will serve as modern pillars of India's historical consciousness," Modi said Sunday at Aadi Thiruvathirai festival, commemorating Rajendra Chola I's birth anniversary at the Brihadisvara temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram of Ariyalur district. Wearing a traditional dhoti and angavastram, Modi invoked the Cholas' contributions to Shaivism and temple architecture, describing their era (300 BCE-1300 CE) as one of India's golden ages, defined by cultural achievement, strategic vision, and naval prowess. Modi released a commemorative coin in Rajendra Chola's honour and symbolically poured Ganga water at the temple, echoing the emperor's famed expedition to bring the river's waters southward a millennium ago. "The economic and strategic advancements achieved during the Chola era remain a source of inspiration," Modi said. "Tamil Nadu remains one of the most significant centres where this living tradition continues to thrive." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like El Salvador: Unsold Sofas Prices May Surprise You (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo He also underlined efforts to repatriate India's looted heritage. "Since 2014, over 600 ancient artefacts have been brought back from abroad, including 36 from Tamil Nadu," he said. The PM marked the day as also being the death anniversary of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. "India needs millions of youth like Kalam and the Chola kings to lead a developed nation," he said. While Modi addressed the gathering, dozens of Congress workers in Trichy were detained for waving black flags and protesting his visit.
