PM talks about Chingari app co-founded by Odia youth in Mann Ki Baat
Chingari is now a popular mobile app in the country with more than 27 million downloads.
BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ aired on Sunday mentioned about Chingari, a short video sharing and uploading platform, co-founded by Odia youth Biswatma Nayak. Chingari is now a popular mobile app in the country with more than 27 million downloads.
While addressing the nation, the PM appreciated the efforts of Indian app innovators for their contribution in the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat App innovation challenge and its results.
He mentioned names of different apps including Chingari. “Chingari App too is getting popular among the youth,” said Modi in the programme.
He encouraged small startups to continue good work. “Your efforts as today’s small start-ups will transform into big companies tomorrow and become mark of India in the world. And you should not forget that the big companies which exist in the world today, were also, once, start-ups,” said Modi in his radio programme.
Chingari, which is also known as desi alternative of Chinese TikTok, got first position in Aatma Nirbhar Bharat App innovation challenge’s social category. This original Indian short video app shot to fame due to anti-Chinese sentiment among people and PM’s Aatma Nirbhar call. After ban on TikTok and other Chinese short video sharing app, lakhs of users came to this app.
“We are so happy that PM has mentioned about our app in his radio programme. We also got number one position in the app innovation challenge of the government. Now we are in the process to make our venture big and popular. Investors are coming to help us in building a big brand,” said Nayak, 28, a native of Adaspur in Cuttack district and presently staying in Bengaluru.
On June 19, more than five lakh people had downloaded the app. But after two months, it has witnessed 2.7 crore downloads. Besides English, the app has included 10 Indian languages including Odia. People familiar with these languages can upload, like and share videos in the app, said Nayak, a mechanical engineer turned app developer.
Sumit Ghosh, another co-founder of Chingari, said, “We are very delighted and ecstatic after PM spoke about us. Not everyday the PM of the country talks about someone’s app. It’s a very proud moment for the whole team.”
On their future plan, Ghosh said they want to reach to one billion Indians. “We are building this app to connect Bharat, so everyone gets a platform to express their talent and creativity and make money. Yes, once we win India we have global ambitions,” he added.