Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (September 1) said that India will reach near the Sun, just like it has reached the Moon. He made the statement at the launch of the "Mitti Anthem" at the Meri Maati Mera Desh event in Delhi. Shah, along with Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Anurag Thakur, and Meenakshi Lekhi, marked the start of the 'Amrit Kalash Yatra' as part of the 'Meri Mati-Mera Desh' campaign today. On August 9, a nationwide campaign was launched to honour the brave men and women who gave their lives for the country.
The 'Amrit Kalash Yatra' aims to symbolise the country's commitment to 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Great India) by collecting soil from all corners of the country in 750 urns. This soil will be used to create an 'Amrit Vatika' (Garden of Nectar) near Delhi's National War Memorial.
During his speech at the 'Meri Maati Mera Desh' event, Amit Shah emphasised the importance of the campaign, saying, "Whenever someone says 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai,' we refer to this 'mitti', this bhumi (ground)." Thousands of freedom fighters and citizens have given their lives for this day to come. For 90 long years, from 1857 to 1947, the country witnessed a freedom struggle, with many well-known and unknown people giving their lives to protect this'maati'."
"We extend our prayers to those bravehearts and begin our journey from 'Sankalp' (resolution) to 'Siddhi' (fulfilment)," he continued. This thought could only occur in the mind of someone like Narendra Modi, who is deeply ingrained in patriotism."
The 'Mitti Anthem' was officially launched during the event, underlining the importance of the soil that symbolises the sacrifices made by countless individuals for the nation's freedom. "Through this event," Amit Shah stated, "each and every person can contribute their part to the construction of a 'Mahaan Bharat' (Great India). From September 1 to September 30, 'mitti' or 'dhaan' (soil) will be collected and poured into a 'Kalash' (urn). This process will begin at the district or block level and gradually progress to the state capitals, ultimately culminating in the national capital, where it will be used to build a 'smarak' (memorial)."
Union Minister Anurag Thakur spoke to the audience at the 'Mera Maati Mera Desh' event about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for this programme to honour forgotten freedom fighters. He emphasised that these freedom fighters had made a 'balidaan' (sacrifice) for the country, and it was now the responsibility of every citizen to make a 'yogdaan' (contribution) to shape a developed India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this campaign in his recent 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme on Akashwani, stating that soil would be collected from every household in every village across the country in September. This sacred soil will be deposited in thousands of Amrit Kalash urns, with the campaign culminating in October, when thousands will converge on Delhi as part of the Amrit Kalash Yatra.
The 'Meri Mati-Mera Desh' campaign is a moving tribute to the nation's heroes and a collective effort to build a more prosperous and united India.