From taking a stroll along the Sardar Sarovar Dam site, visiting a cactus garden in Narmada district, to releasing a basket full of fluttering butterflies into a Butterfly Garden in Kevadiya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in numerous activities in Gujarat on Tuesday to mark his 69th birthday.
Modi, who arrived in Gujarat post midnight, sought his mother’s blessings early Tuesday morning.
While all couples tend to fight on issues like children, money, and in-laws, researchers say that what distinguishes happy couples from others is their approach to conflict.
“Happy couples tend to take a solution-oriented approach to conflict and this is clear even in the topics that they choose to discuss,” said study lead author Amy Rauer, Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee in the US.
For the study, published in the journal Family Process, the research team observed two samples of heterosexual, mostly white, educated couples who described themselves as happily married.
Fifty-seven of the couples were in their mid- to late 30s and had been married for an average of nine years; 64 of the couples were in their early 70s and had been married for an average of 42 years.
The couples were asked to rank their most and least serious issues.
While intimacy, leisure, household, health, communication and money were the most serious for the older couples, couples in both samples ranked jealousy, religion and family as the least serious.
When researchers observed couples discussing marital problems, all couples focused on issues with clearer solutions, such as the distribution of household labour and how to spend leisure time.
The couples rarely chose to argue about issues that are more difficult to resolve, researchers said, adding that this strategic decision may be one of the keys to their marital success.
“Focusing on the perpetual, more-difficult-to-solve problems may undermine partners’ confidence in the relationship,” Rauer said.
The study also found that focusing first on more solvable problems may be an effective way to build up both partners’ sense of security in the relationship.
“If couples feel that they can work together to resolve their issues, it may give them the confidence to move on to tackling the more difficult issues,” Rauer said.
The researchers also found that couples who were married longer reported fewer serious issues and argued less overall.
“Being able to successfully differentiate between issues that need to be resolved versus those that can be laid aside for now may be one of the keys to a long-lasting, happy relationship,” Rauer added.
He then landed in Kevadiya in Narmada District in a chopper to perform pooja at the Sardar Sarovar Dam site. The dam venue has been decorated ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.
He also visited the Khalvani Eco-Tourism site in Kevadiya and strolled across the rope bridge that was constructed across the river there for sports enthusiasts.
He took a safari ride on a special jeep with zebra-patterns at the Jungle Safari Tourist Park in Kevadiya. Watched the animals there, and took a stroll around to soak in the beauty of the safari park.
Later, the Prime Minister visited the Khalvani Eco-Tourism site in Kevadiya and a Cactus Garden. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Governor Acharya Devvrat were also present. He took a stroll along the banks of the Sardar Sarovar Dam site.
At the Butterfly Garden in Kevadiya, the Prime Minister smiled as he released a large basket full of butterflies into the park.
He also visited the Ekta Nursery, situated in the vicinity of the Statue of Unity. The nursery manufactures various traditional eco-friendly products and offer a live demonstration of the manufacturing process to visitors.
Later Modi offered prayers at the Sardar Sarovar Dam site.
Earlier, before landing at Kevadiya, the Prime Minister did an aerial survey of the Statue of Liberty. He tweeted: “Have a look at the majestic ‘Statue of Unity’, India’s tribute to the great Sardar Patel.”
The pooja he performed at the dam was part of the Namami Devi Narmada Mahotsav which is being organised by the Vijay Rupani government to mark the rise of water levels 138.68 metres in the Sardar Sarovar reservoir. The pooja is also being performed at 5,000 different places on the banks of the Narmada.
The water has risen to this level for the first time after its height was raised in 2017. The dam was inaugurated on this day in 2017.
The BJP has announced ‘Seva Saptah (service week) and the workers are organising blood donation camps and other public service initiatives.
Prime Minister Modi has been greeted by large number of people across the country. Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi wished him a healthy, happy and long life.
Andhra Pradesh Chief MInister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also wished Modi: “Warmest birthday greetings to our honourable Prime Minister. Wishing him long, healthy and successful life ahead in the service of the Nation,” he said.
Union Ministers and BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman also greeted him.
