NIT Rourkela organised Amrit Kalash Yatra as part of the Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign

Rourkela:14/10/23:National Service Scheme (NSS)-NIT Rourkela organised an Amrit Kalash Yatra as part of the Meri Maati Mera Desh (MMMD) nationwide campaign. Students of NIT Rourkela who are enrolled in the NSS-NITR unit participated in the program for collecting the soil. Under this Government of India’s campaign soil and rice are being collected from across India in Amrit Kalash to be used for the creation of Amrit Vatika and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Memorial at Kartavyapath, India Gate, New Delhi. The second phase of the MMMD campaign was launched on 1st September 2023 encouraging people to take part in Amrit Kalash Yatra from 1st – 30th September.

Students of NSS NIT Rourkela started the Kalash Yatra at 4:00 PM on 13^th October 2023. Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao (Director, NIT Rourkela) inaugurated the event by putting the soil from his residence. Prof. Rohan Dhiman (Registrar, NIT Rourkela) Prof. Santosh Kumar Sahoo (Professor in charge of NSS-NIT Rourkela), Prof. Anil Singh (Head of Safety and Security Unit) also joined the campaign. Flanked by our National Flag ‘Tiranga’ the Amrit Kalash Yatra was carried to different hostels of the campus. NIT Rourkela’s Amrit Kalash collected the soil from students and wardens of 10 hostels namely Kiran Majumdar Shaw Hall, C V Raman Hal,  S. S. Bhatnagar Hall, M. Visweswaraya Hall, G. D. Birla Hall, Dhirubhai Ambani Hall, M. S. Swaminathan Hall, Homi Bhabha Hall, Vikram Sarabhai Hall, Satish Dhavan Hall.

Prof. K. Umamaheshwar administered the ‘Panch Pran’ pledge to all the students. Emphasizing the sentiment of “Meri Mati Meri Desh.” the participants took ‘Panch Pran’ oath to fulfil their duties and responsibilities towards the nation, taking pride in the promotion and preservation of the country’s rich cultural heritage and striving for the unity and solidarity of the country.

Followed by which Prof. Rao said, “I request all of you to hold the soil for a moment and feel it. Soil is the beginning of the life cycle. Soil, in its silent duty, provides sustenance and shelter to us. Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign identifies the profound connection we have with the land and the recognition that our soil is an essential part of our nation’s legacy, present, and future. The soil tells the story of our ancestors, their struggles, and their triumphs. Through this Amrit Kalash Yatra, we are contributing to the making of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Memorial to pay tribute to the nation’s brave soldiers and honour the sacrifice of our country’s brave hearts.”

In the first phase of the Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign, NIT Rourkela planted 75 trees saplings naming the area ‘Amrit Vatika’, organised a ‘Veeron Ka Vandan’ rally honouring the freedom fighters and the families of deceased freedom fighters and commemorated the nation’s journey of freedom and progress by conducing ‘Meeti Ko Naman’ programme.

With the assistance of NSS-NIT Rourkela’s Co-PICs Prof. Ratnakar Swain, Prof. Dibyakanta Seth and NSS student leaders along with security personnel of NITR, the Amrit Kalash Yatra successfully commenced leaving behind the sense of unity and togetherness among the community.