PM reveals how Bear Grylls understood his Hindi in 'Man vs Wild'

How did Bear Grylls converse with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the special episode of Man Vs Wild when the famed adventurer and survivalist does not understand Hindi?

This was the question several people have been pondering about after watching the show.

Modi gave out the "secret" on Sunday in his monthly radio broadcast Mann ki Baat.

He said technology was used extensively in the conversation between the two in the Jim Corbett National Park.

"Whenever I spoke, it was instantly translated into English. Bear Grylls had a small cordless instrument in his ear. So I used to speak in Hindi and he heard it in English... the communication became very easy. This is an amazing aspect about technology," the prime minister explained.

He said, with some hesitation, people do ask him as to how could Grylls understand Hindi.

"Was the episode edited later? How many times did the shooting happen for this episode and how it happened? They ask with great curiosity...There is no secret in this. Many people have this question in their minds, so I will unravel this secret. In a way it is no secret at all. The reality is that technology was used extensively in my conversation with Bear Grylls," Modi said.

After the show's broadcast, a large number of people have been discussing about the Jim Corbett National Park, he said.

"You must also visit sites associated with nature and wildlife and animals. As I have said before, and I emphasise, that you must visit the northeast in your lifetime," he said.

Walking through the wild and taking a ride on a cold river in a makeshift boat were some of the things that Modi put up with as he teamed up with Grylls to promote causes close to his heart -- conservation of nature and cleanliness. PTI NAB

Referring to tiger conservation, the prime minister said "whenever we talk about nature and wildlife, we only talk about conservation. But now we have to move beyond conservation and think about compassion. Our scriptures have provided guidance on the issue."

Quoting scriptures, he said if there are no forests, tigers are forced to venture into the human habitat and are killed, and if there are no tigers in the forest, then man cuts the forest and destroys it.

"So, in fact the tiger protects the forest and not that the forest protects the tiger - our forefathers have explained this truth. Therefore, we need to not only conserve our forests, flora and fauna, but also create an environment wherein they can flourish properly," he said.

Referring to the recent release of tiger census, he said India now have 2,967 tigers.

A few years ago, the figure was half of what we have today, he pointed out.

At the Tiger Summit of 2010 it was resolved to double the number of tigers worldwide by 2022.

"But this is New India, where we accomplish goals in the quickest time possible. We doubled our tiger numbers in 2019 itself. Not only the tiger population in India was doubled, but also the number of protected areas and community reserves has also increased," he said.

In his address, Modi also referred to the Poshan Abhiyan (nutrition campaign) to be held next month and urged people to contribute.

Under the campaign, nutrition for women and children is being converted into a mass movement.

"Due to lack of awareness, both poor and affluent families are affected by malnutrition. The month of September will be celebrated as 'Poshan Abhiyaan' across the country. You must get connected with it, get information about this initiative, add some new facet by contributing to it. If you manage to save a few people from malnutrition, it would mean that we can bring the country out of the circle of malnutrition," he said.

Modi said National Sports Day on August 29 will mark the launch of 'Fit India Movement'.

"We have to keep ourselves fit and the nation has to be made fit," he said.