THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the controversy over making the Hindi language a compulsory medium of instruction is going on, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday recalled how well Kerala-born Devika sang a folk song of Chamba. Modi mentioned about Devika's song while addressing a public meeting in Chamba, Himachal.

According to the Prime Minister, it was an achievement of the Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat project that a girl, whose mother tongue is not Hindi, sang a folk song of Chamba. He also said that the glory of Chamba had reached Kerala too.

Devika learned the song as part of the Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat study while she was studying in class 9 at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom. It was her teacher SR Devi who suggested this song to Devika. Devi had heard this song when she was working at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Himachal. Devi then posted Devika's song on the school's Facebook page.

It was shared by Thakur Das Rathi, a music director and singer from Himachal. Kerala came to know that the song sung by Devika became a super hit in Himachal Pradesh when Devika's interview appeared on Kerala Kaumudi on October 4, 2020. Her song appeared on Kerala Kaumudi's YouTube channel on October 3, 2020. It was through Kerala Kaumudi that singer Thakur Das Rathi came to know that Devika is a Malayali.

Several people, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister V Muraleedharan, and Minister AK Balan, praised her after seeing the news.

After coming across the translation of the news and her video, Himachal Chief Minister Jairam Thakur congratulated Devika on Facebook and invited her to Himachal.

The Prime Minister came to know about Devika from Himachal Chief Minister's office. Later, the Prime Minister congratulated Devika on Twitter. To which Devika sent a reply by post along with a pencil drawing of Modi. Modi, who was delighted to receive the drawing, later replied to Devika's address.

Devika, now a Plus Two student, received a grand welcome when she visited Chamba, Himachal Pradesh two months ago.