In what may appear
as a major achievement for Bharat, the country bagged the Guinness Book of
World Records for the maximum number of online selfies under the Central Government’s
‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign by uploading selfies on social media.
Earlier, the
Guinness Book of World Records for the maximum number of selfies was with China
in 2016 with around 1 lakh selfies, and now Maharashtra’s Savitaribai Phule
Pune University (SPPU) has created the record of 10,42,538 selfies with soil.
Maharashtra Chief
Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis took part in the
Guinness Book of World Records Certificate awarding ceremony at Mumbai
University on Wednesday as a part of the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ initiative.
While addressing
the event, Deputy CM Fadnavis said that it is a proud moment for everyone,
adding that the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ initiative is all about showing respect
to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
“It’s a proud
moment for us, and SPPU has created this world record. We call this nation
Mother, and this Maa is Mitti (soil), and the ‘Meri Matti Mera Desh’ campaign
is all about respecting the people who have sacrificed their lives for the
nation, we worship our soil,” he said.
“We had 25 lakhs
selfies but 10,42 538 selfies got approved and we created the world record by
defeating China, so it is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Maharashtra who broke
this record, we need to break more records,” the Deputy CM added.
CM Shinde also
congratulated everyone who was associated with this campaign and said that the
campaign showcased patriotism.
“I congratulate
everyone associated with this campaign. This campaign shows your patriotism
too. Maharashtra has always shown direction to the nation, and we have
witnessed this several times too, it’s because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
that our country’s name has been taken with respect in the world,” CM Shinde
said.
“The campaign
started as a symbol to show patriotism, and Maharashtra participated in it with
full support. We have made special arrangements for trains to send these ‘Kalash
of Soil’ to Delhi,” he added.
The ‘Meri Maati
Mera Desh’ campaign is to pay tribute to the Army bravehearts who sacrificed
their lives for the nation. As part of this initiative, sacred soil and rice
were collected from households across the nation and carefully placed in Amrit
Kalash containers.
‘Meri Maati Mera
Desh’ campaign included the Amrit Kalash Yatra, which comprises a collection of
mitti and rice grains from over 6 lakh villages in rural areas and from wards
in urban areas, which is sent to block level (where the mitti of all villages
in the block is mixed) and then to the state capital.
The mitti from the
state level was sent to the national capital, accompanied by thousands of Amrit
Kalash Yatris. The finale programme was held on October 31, at Kartavya Path,
Delhi.
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi participated in the event to mark the culmination of the ‘Meri
Maati Mera Desh’ campaign’s Amrit Kalash Yatra on October 31 and said the youth
can collectively achieve targets for the country’s progress through synergy in
their efforts.
“While we are
culminating an event, on the other hand, this is the beginning of the new
resolution…In the 21st century, the ‘Mera Bharat Yuva’ organization will play
a big role in the development of the country. ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ is an
example of how the youth together can achieve every target,” PM Modi said.
The programme also
marked the closing ceremony of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Meri Maati Mera
Desh campaign comprises many activities and ceremonies conducted across the
country at panchayat, village, block, urban, local body, state and national
levels.
The activities
included the building of Shilaphalakam (Memorial) to express heartfelt
gratitude to all the bravehearts who have made the supreme sacrifice, ‘Panch
Pran’ pledge taking by the people at Shilaphalakam, planting of saplings of
indigenous species and developing ‘Amrit Vatika’ (Vasudha Vandhan) and
felicitation ceremonies for honouring the freedom fighters and the families of
deceased freedom fighters (Veeron ka Vandan), among others.
The campaign
became a massive success, with over 2.3 lakh Shilaphalakams built in 36 states
and UTs, nearly 4 crore Panch Pran pledge selfies uploaded, 2 lakh plus ‘Veeron
ka Vandan’ programs nationwide, more than 2.36 crore indigenous saplings have
been planted and 2.63 lakh Amrit Vatikas created under the Vasudha Vandan theme
across the country.
ANI
