New Delhi, Jan 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday extended best wishes to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel on their Raising Day and hailed their role in becoming a pillar of trust that India can rely on during times of natural calamities, praising their contribution in realising the Centre’s resolve to build a disaster-resilient India.

HM Shah took to X to extend his greetings to the force, and said, “Warm greetings to the personnel of NDRF on Raising Day. Through its significant role in realising the Modi govt’s resolve to build a disaster-resilient India, the NDRF has today become the pillar of trust the nation relies on during calamities. Salute to the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the safety of others.”

Every year on January 19, India observes NDRF Raising Day, commemorating the anniversary of the formation of the National Disaster Response Force.

Established in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, the NDRF has remained at the forefront of disaster management in the country, carrying out thousands of rescue, relief and evacuation operations across India.

The NDRF currently comprises 16 battalions of specialised disaster response personnel, strategically deployed at 68 locations nationwide. These locations are selected based on vulnerability assessments and overall threat levels identified by the agency. The presence of these base camps enables the force to reach disaster-hit areas and affected communities swiftly and efficiently.

The origins of the NDRF can be traced back to a series of devastating natural disasters that India faced between 1990 and 2004. Recognising the need for a dedicated and professional disaster response mechanism, the government enacted the Disaster Management Act on December 26, 2005. Subsequently, the National Disaster Response Force was formally constituted on January 19, 2006.

The NDRF’s motto, ‘Aapada Seva Sadaiv Sarvatra’, reflects its commitment to providing sustained disaster response services under all circumstances. Over the years, the force has lived up to this motto through its courage, discipline and dedication.

Raising Day serves to honour the bravery and selfless service of NDRF personnel who risk their lives to save others during emergencies. The occasion also helps raise public awareness about the critical role played by the force and its achievements in disaster management.

Over time, the NDRF has grown significantly in terms of training, expertise and resources to handle a wide range of natural and man-made disasters. With 1,149 personnel across its 16 battalions, the force is equipped to respond to chemical, biological and radiological emergencies as well.

So far, the NDRF has conducted more than 12,000 rescue and relief operations and has saved over 1.58 lakh lives during disasters, reaffirming its status as a dependable guardian in times of crisis.

New Delhi, Jan 18: Noted music composer A R Rahman shared a video post on his social media on Sunday, addressing the backlash following his comments in one of the recent interviews and said the intentions can “sometimes be misunderstood,” but he didn’t wish to cause any pain with his words.

Rahman, known for his music in films such as Roja, Bombay and Dil Se.. among others, shared a post on his Instagram handle, in which he explained the same.

The 59-year-old composer said music has always been “the way to connect, celebrate and honour India’s culture.”

“India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home. I understand that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood. But my purpose has always been to uplift, honour and serve through music. I have never wished to cause pain, and I hope my sincerity is felt,” he said in the video.

“I feel blessed to be Indian, which enables me to create a space which always allows freedom of expression and celebrates multicultural voices. From nurturing Jhalaa, presented at the WAVES summit in front of the honourable Prime Minister and Rooh-e-Noor, to collaborating with the young Naga musicians, to creating a string orchestra, to mentoring the Sunshine orchestra, also building Secret Mountain, India’s first multicultural virtual band and the honour of scoring Ramayana, alongside Hans Zimmer. Each journey has strengthened my purpose,” he said.

His comments come days after his interview with BBC Asian Network, during which he noted how less work has been coming to him due to a power shift within the Hindi film industry in recent years and said it could also be due to the “communal thing”.

“I’m not in search of work. I want work to come to me; the sincerity of my work to earn things. I feel it’s a jinx when I go on in search of things… People who are not creative have the power now to decide things and this might have been a communal thing also but not in my face. It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers. I said, ‘Oh that’s great, rest for me, I can chill out with my family,” he said in the interview.