In the memory of the 10 million people who were forced to flee from their homes in the 1947 Partition, 10 million trees will be planted in a large memorial, spanning 100 acres, in the small village of Masana, near Kurukshetra, Haryana.
Most traditional memorials honour the loved one with stones but this is going to be a unique Green Memorial, better known in Hindi as Smriti Van, a unique opportunity to give tribute.
The event was planned for on the 14th of August, the day before India’s 69th Independence Day. Since Pujya Swamiji had inspired this movement last year on the banks of Mother Ganga, at Parmarth Niketan, He was invited as the Guest of Honour on the launch of the initiative.
Amongst the dignitaries gracing the tree plantation ceremony were the Hon’ble CM of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal Khattarji, Pujya Jagadguru Ramanandcharya, Swami Hansdevacharyaji, Pujya Mahamandaleshwar, Swami Dharmdevji, Pujya Swami Gyananandji, Pujya Swami Divyanandji, and many others. Over 50,000 people joined from all across the state of Haryana, transported in hundreds of buses to take part in this historic special event.
On the occasion, Pujya Swamiji said, “Let us turn every occasion, whether it is one of celebration or one of remembrance, into a green one. Let us inspire a new green culture in our nation and in our world and what better way to honour our loved ones then to plant a tree in their memory. In so doing, as the tree grows and thrives, so does their presence in our lives.” He also lauded the Hon’ble Chief Minister for his selfless leadership and discussed with him briefly many pressing concerns pertaining to the River Yamuna.
Pujya Swamiji shared with the Hon’ble CM, on the eve of India’s Independence Day, it was time to pledge and work to free our sacred rivers, the nation’s lifelines, from the clutches of over-pollution and over-exploitation. Pujya Swamiji urged that Haryana must lead by example, as it is largely responsible for the present condition of the dying River Yamuna, sucking 90% of the river dry for its irrigation purposes. As one of the major rivers of the country, as well as one of the most sacred, it is vitally important that the conditions change for the Yamuna very soon. He shared briefly with the Hon’ble CM many practical steps that can be taken to reduce the increasing need of water in Haryana’s largely agricultural population, as well as shared briefly about creating Green Corridors and Organic Zones along the banks of the river. The Hon’ble Chief Minister invited Pujya Swamiji to come back again soon to discuss separately this important issue in more detail, so that they could give it the undivided attention that it required.