India has secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest number of online selfies uploaded under the Central government’s ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign. Previously held by China in 2016 with approximately 100,000 selfies, the record has now been overtaken by Maharashtra’s Savitaribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), amassing a staggering 1,042,538 selfies with soil.
In a ceremony held at Mumbai University, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were present to receive the Guinness Book of World Records certificate as part of the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ initiative.
Deputy CM Fadnavis said that it is a proud moment for the country, adding that the initiative was all about showing respect to all 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 Mati Mera Desh’ campaign is all about respecting the people who have sacrificed their lives for the nation, we worship our soil”, he said.
“With 2.5 million selfies submitted, 1,042,538 were officially approved, enabling us to break the record previously held by China,” he added. He said that ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Maharashtra has made history’.
Chief Minister Shinde also praised the campaign and its embodiment of patriotism. He congratulated everyone associated with this campaign. 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.
As a part of the initiative sacred soil and rice were collected from households across the nation and carefully placed in Amrit Kalash containers.
The campaign’s ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ gathered soil and rice grains from over 600,000 villages in rural areas and from urban wards, which were then sent to block-level centres. The soil from these centres was then transported to the national capital, accompanied by numerous Amrit Kalash Yatris. The grand finale took place on October 31 at Kartavya Path, Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated, marking the culmination of the campaign’s Amrit Kalash Yatra.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the youth’s potential in contributing to the nation’s progress through collective efforts, emphasising that the ‘Mera Bharat Yuva’ organisation would play a pivotal role in the country’s development.
The campaign also served as the closing ceremony for Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It encompassed various activities and ceremonies conducted at different levels across the country, including the construction of Shilaphalakams (Memorials) to honour bravehearts, ‘Panch Pran’ pledge-taking ceremonies, sapling planting, and felicitation of freedom fighters and their families, among other events.
The campaign achieved massive success, with the construction of over 230,000 Shilaphalakams in 36 states and union territories, nearly 4 million Panch Pran pledge selfies uploaded, over 200,000 ‘Veeron ka Vandan’ programs nationwide, more than 23.6 million indigenous saplings planted, and 263,000 Amrit Vatikas created under the Vasudha Vandan theme nationwide.
(Inputs from agencies)
