- The ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign is to pay tribute to the Army’s brave hearts 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.
- India bagged the Guinness Book of World Records for the maximum number of online selfies under this 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.
- Now Maharashtra’s Savitaribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has created a record of 10,42,538 selfies with soil.
In what may appear as a major achievement for India, 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 a 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.
“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.
The ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ (MMMD) campaign is to pay tribute to the Army brave hearts 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.
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 brave hearts 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.
(With inputs from agencies)
