- Governor releases Vishwamelo’s Independence Day special issue, unveils ‘Green Home, Healthy Society’ campaign poster
- “Vishva Gujarati Samaj’s contribution in connecting Gujaratis worldwide with their motherland’s culture, traditions and values is commendable”
- Governor urges parents to shield Gen Z from consumerism, addictions and unhealthy food, and reconnect them with language, culture and great national icons
- Calls for natural farming, kitchen gardens, tree plantation and water conservation; 76,000 vegetable saplings to be distributed free under new campaign
NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, AUG 16
Can a community remain globally connected without losing touch with its roots? Can a healthier India begin at home—with a kitchen garden, a tree and a conscious choice of food? Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat used the occasion of Independence Day to deliver a powerful message on preserving cultural identity, nurturing the younger generation and building a healthier, greener society.
At Lok Bhavan, Gandhinagar, the Governor released the Independence Day special issue of Vishwamelo, the prestigious magazine of Vishva Gujarati Samaj, and unveiled the poster of its ‘Green Home, Healthy Society’ campaign.
Greeting those present on Independence Day, Governor Acharya Devvrat lauded the contribution of Gujaratis who, through hard work and dedication, have brought glory to India and Gujarat across the world. He particularly praised Vishva Gujarati Samaj for its efforts to keep Gujaratis living across the globe connected with the culture, traditions and values of their motherland.
‘India’s civilisational values belong to the world’
The Governor said India’s Vedic culture and traditions are among the finest in the world. Referring to German scholar Max Müller, he said the Vedas have been recognised as the world’s earliest scriptures.
“This sacred land has given the world the noble ideals of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’,” he said.
He added that the land of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had always shown a new direction to India and the world.
‘Give children time, values and roots’
Against the backdrop of an increasingly materialistic lifestyle, Acharya Devvrat said Gujarat had succeeded in preserving its family system and social values.
He called upon parents to spend quality time with their children and help the younger generation remain free from addictions, draw inspiration from the lives of great national leaders and stay connected with their mother tongue and culture.
“The biggest need of the present time is to protect the younger generation from the ill-effects of consumerist culture, addictions and unhealthy food and to make them value-based and well-cultured,” the Governor said.
From the plate to the planet
Expressing concern over the growing incidence of serious diseases such as cancer, heart attacks and diabetes at younger ages, the Governor attributed the situation, among other factors, to the consumption of junk food and chemically processed food and the excessive use of chemical fertilisers such as urea and DAP in agriculture.
He advocated natural farming as the best way forward to address these concerns.
“Natural farming is the best alternative to come out of this situation,” he said, noting that more than nine lakh farmers in Gujarat have so far adopted natural farming.
He appealed to citizens to grow vegetables naturally in pots on rooftops, balconies and around their homes, besides actively participating in tree plantation and water conservation.
76,000 saplings to power ‘Green Home, Healthy Society’
Vishva Gujarati Samaj will launch its ‘Green Home, Healthy Society’ campaign on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
As part of the initiative, 76,000 vegetable saplings will be distributed free of cost, while citizens will also be trained to grow vegetables through natural farming methods in kitchen gardens.
The initiative seeks to take the message of healthy living and environmental responsibility from public platforms into individual homes, making sustainability a community movement.
Vishva Gujarati Samaj president Bhaveshbhai Lakhani, Vishwamelo editor Sudhirbhai Raval, office-bearers of the organisation and several prominent members of the community were present at the event.
