Modi-Obama ‘Mann Ki Baat’ at 8 pm on Tuesday

New Delhi, January 26

The much awaited "special" episode of the 'Mann ki Baat' radio address which will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama sharing their thoughts would be aired at 8 pm on Tuesday.

Advertisements put out by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in newspapers Monday said: "This month's 'Mann Ki Baat' will be a special one where our Republic Day chief guest US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share thoughts together."

"Be a part of this memorable Mann Ki Baat programme, illustrating a special bond between India and the US," it said.

Modi, who has addressed three episodes of 'Mann ki Baat' (from the heart) so far, had invited questions from listeners.

The address would be broadcast on the state-owned All India Radio and Doordarshan channels.

The address can also be heard on Vividh Bharti, FM Gold, and FM Rainbow radio. The programme would also be live-streamed on the Prime Minister's official website.

Official sources said Obama and Modi recorded the 'Mann Ki Baat' episode on Sunday after their summit level talks at Hyderabad House.

Modi has addressed episodes of 'Mann Ki Baat' October 3, November 2 and December 14 last year. The half-hour episodes have the prime minister speaking in a chatty manner to listeners about how to better society.

In the US, radio address was started by then president Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, who had his inauguration broadcast on radio and later also delivered a presidential address on radio.

President Barack Obama did his first weekly radio address January 24, 2009, and has continued with it. He has added a new element to it: a YouTube video.

Almost every Friday, President Obama retreats into a quiet chamber of the White House - most often the Map Room or Roosevelt Room - and sits before the microphones and a video camera for several minutes and reflects on the past week. He may wish you a happy holiday. Sometimes, the address is jovial, other times sombre, says the Boston Globe in a report.

IANS