In a touching moment, Shri Rajnath Singh, the Raksha Mantri, bestowed recognition upon the ‘Super-100’ winners of Project Veer Gatha 3.0. The event, graced by Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, unfolded in New Delhi on January 25, 2024. Each of the 100 winners received a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a medal, and a certificate, symbolizing their exceptional achievements. What made the occasion truly unforgettable was the unprecedented act of Shri Rajnath Singh, who handed over the podium to one of the winners, Sushri Barnali Sahu, a Class 11 student from DAV Public School, Cuttack, Odisha, to deliver a speech on his behalf.
Empowering Youth for a Transformed India
Through the eloquence of Ms. Sahu, Raksha Mantri highlighted the pivotal role of the country’s youth in realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. Emphasizing that youth is the most crucial asset for shaping the nation’s future, Ms. Sahu conveyed Shri Rajnath Singh’s message, stating that the responsibility of developing the nation lies on the shoulders of these young minds.
Project Veer Gatha: Fostering Values of ‘Nation First’
Expressing his views through Ms. Sahu, Shri Rajnath Singh shed light on the significance of Project Veer Gatha. Launched through collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, the project aims to introduce the nation’s brave hearts to the youth and share tales of valor by these young minds. Shri Rajnath Singh referred to the recent addition of a chapter on the National War Memorial and the brave heroes in the NCERT curriculum of Class VII. The mission, as he outlined, is to raise awareness among children about the bravery of soldiers, instilling values of valor and courage.
Encouraging Nation Builders: Shri Rajnath Singh’s Call to Duty
Addressing the gathering, Shri Rajnath Singh stressed the duty to encourage the nation builders of the future. He reflected on the transformation from a time when the nation had limited resources and struggled to pay attention to its youth to the present, where the youth, with boundless aspirations, are encouraged to reach new heights. Shri Rajnath Singh shared insights on ‘spiritual strength’ during his interaction with students, underscoring the three crucial facets—physical, mental/intellectual, and spiritual strength—required to achieve victory or desired results in life.
Education Minister’s Perspective: ‘Veer Gatha’ as a Unique Inspirational Program
Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan hailed ‘Veer Gatha’ as a unique program inspiring the young generation about the sacrifices made by the bravehearts. The event also featured Param Vir Chakra awardee Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retd), narrating his real-life story of the Kargil war, urging children to draw inspiration from valiant soldiers who defend the nation with supreme sacrifices.
Dignitaries and Recognition: Presence of Top Defence Officials
The event witnessed the presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education.
Strategic Expansion of Veer Gatha 3.0: Recognizing Valor Across Levels
Building on the recommendations of the Raksha Mantri, Veer Gatha 3.0 underwent a notable expansion by recognizing 100 winners at the National Level, a significant increase from 25 winners in the first two editions. The enhanced feature of recognizing winners at multiple levels—National, State, and District—was introduced, ensuring a more comprehensive celebration of bravery and fostering a deeper appreciation for diverse acts of valor across the nation.
Record-breaking Participation: Veer Gatha 3.0 Overview
The third edition, held between July 13 to September 30, 2023, witnessed a record 1.36 crore students from 2.42 lakh schools pan-India sharing inspirational stories through essays, poems, drawings, and multimedia presentations. After rigorous evaluations at the State and District levels, nearly 3,900 entries were submitted for national-level evaluation. The national-level evaluation committee appointed by the Ministry of Education meticulously selected the top 100 entries across various categories, spanning Class 3rd to 5th, Class 6th to 8th, Class 9th to 10th, and Class 11th to 12th.
Impressive Diversity: Strength of 65 Girl Students Among the ‘Super-100’
The remarkable achievement of Veer Gatha 3.0 is exemplified by the impressive strength of 65 girl students among the ‘Super-100’. Odisha led the pack with eight girl students, closely followed by Bihar with seven. Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern region of Manipur had two and five noteworthy girl student winners, respectively. Notably, the winning entries reflect linguistic diversity, featuring Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Assamese, Tamil, and Marathi, in addition to Hindi and English, underscoring the richness of India’s cultural and linguistic tapestry.