Nilanjan
India is celebrating its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023. This year, the occasion is marked by a special campaign called ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’, which means ‘My Soil, My Country’. The campaign is a part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, a series of events and activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s freedom and progress.
The ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign is a tribute to the bravehearts who laid down their lives for the country. The campaign aims to honour the freedom fighters, defence personnel, personnel of Central Armed Police Forces and State Police who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The campaign also aims to instill a sense of national pride and patriotism among the citizens and inspire future generations to protect India’s cherished heritage.
The campaign was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 30, 2023, in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. He said that the campaign will start on August 9, 2023, and will continue till August 30, 2023, with dedicated events on August 15, 2023. He said that the campaign will involve various programmes across the country at village, block, state and national levels.
In this blog post, we will tell you everything you need to know about the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign, such as its features, objectives, activities, and how you can participate in it.
What are the features of the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign?
The ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign has three main features:
- Dedication of Shilaphalakam (Memorial): A fundamental aspect of the programme is to express heartfelt gratitude to all the bravehearts who have made the supreme sacrifice. On the Shilaphalakam, names of the bravehearts shall be inscribed. These shall include freedom fighters, defence personnel, personnel of Central Armed Police Forces and State Police who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Shilaphalakam shall be erected locally within Panchayats/Villages as well as urban sites—likely near Amrit Sarovars or local schools or other prominent locations.
- Taking the Panch Pran Pledge: At the memorial site, people will take a solemn pledge covering Panch Pran (Five Vows) of the Prime Minister, affirming their commitment to the country. The pledge is given below:
I pledge to:
- Make India a developed nation.
- Root out all traces of a slave mindset.
- Be proud of India’s rich culture and tradition.
- Work for the unity and integrity of India.
- Fulfill the duties of citizens.
- Honor those who defend the nation.
- Work to fulfil the dream of a developed India in 2047.
- Amrit Kalash Yatra: This is a unique journey that will bring soil and plants from different parts of the country to Delhi. The soil and plants will symbolize India’s diversity and unity. The journey will involve 7,500 earthen pots (kalash) containing soil from various places associated with freedom fighters and martyrs. The pots will also carry plants from different states and union territories. The soil and plants will be used to create an ‘Amrit Vatika’ (Garden of Nectar) near the National War Memorial in Delhi. The ‘Amrit Vatika’ will be a grand symbol of ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’ (One India-Best India).
What are the objectives of the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign?
The ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign has several objectives:
- To pay homage to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom and security.
- To create awareness about India’s glorious history and culture among the people.
- To foster a sense of belongingness and attachment to India’s soil among the people.
- To promote national integration and harmony among people from different regions, religions, languages, and cultures.
- To inspire people to contribute to India’s development and progress in various fields.
- To celebrate India’s achievements and aspirations as a nation.
What are the activities of the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign?
The ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign will involve various activities at different levels:
- At village level: The villagers will collect soil from places associated with freedom fighters and martyrs in their vicinity. They will also collect plants from their region. They will fill earthen pots with soil and plant saplings in them. They will also write the names of the freedom fighters and martyrs on the pots. They will then take the pots to the nearest Amrit Sarovar (water body) or local school or other prominent location. There, they will erect a Shilaphalakam (memorial) with the names of the bravehearts. They will also take the Panch Pran Pledge at the memorial site. They will also organize cultural programmes, quiz competitions, essay writing, painting, etc. on the theme of ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’.
- At block level: The block officials will collect the earthen pots from the villages and transport them to the district headquarters. They will also organize similar activities as the village level at the block level.
- At district level: The district officials will collect the earthen pots from the blocks and transport them to the state capital. They will also organize similar activities as the block level at the district level.
- At state level: The state officials will collect the earthen pots from the districts and transport them to Delhi. They will also organize similar activities as the district level at the state level.
- At national level: The national officials will receive the earthen pots from the states and transport them to the National War Memorial in Delhi. There, they will create an ‘Amrit Vatika’ (Garden of Nectar) with the soil and plants from different parts of the country. They will also organize a grand ceremony on August 30, 2023, to mark the culmination of the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign. The ceremony will be attended by dignitaries, celebrities, and common people. The ceremony will also feature cultural performances, speeches, awards, etc.
How can you participate in the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign?
The ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign is open to all citizens of India. You can participate in the campaign by:
- Collecting soil and plants from places associated with freedom fighters and martyrs in your area and filling earthen pots with them.
- Writing the names of the freedom fighters and martyrs on the pots and taking them to the nearest Amrit Sarovar or local school or other prominent location.
- Erecting a Shilaphalakam (memorial) with the names of the bravehearts and taking the Panch Pran Pledge at the memorial site.
- Organizing or participating in cultural programmes, quiz competitions, essay writing, painting, etc. on the theme of ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’.
- Sharing your photos, videos, stories, etc. related to the campaign on social media platforms with hashtags #MeriMatiMeraDesh and #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav.
- Visiting the official website of ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ for more information and updates about the campaign.
We hope this blog post has helped you to understand everything about the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign. We urge you to join this campaign and pay tribute to India’s soil and valour. We wish you a happy Independence Day.
