Former Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi to Attend ‘Namami Bharatam’ in Guwahati

• Gen Upendra Dwivedi to attend Guwahati event as Chief Guest.
• Over one crore participants expected nationwide.
• Mass recital planned at more than 25,000 locations.
• Programme listed for Asia and India Book of Records validation.

GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 23rd Sept: Former Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM (Retd.), is scheduled to attend the ‘Namami Bharatam’ celebrations in Guwahati on September 25 as Chief Guest, marking the 150th year of Vande Mataram.

The Guwahati programme, being organised by Vidya Bharati and Shiksha Samiti Assam at the Shrimanta Sankardev International Auditorium, Kalakshetra, will feature a large-scale recital of Vande Mataram. The event will also mark General Dwivedi’s first public appearance in the Northeast, according to organisers and reports.

The wider ‘Namami Bharatam’ initiative is being organised by Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan, New Delhi, on Friday, September 25. At 11 am, more than one crore students, teachers, parents and citizens at over 25,000 locations across India are expected to sing the complete Vande Mataram together.

The organisers have described the initiative as an expression of “One Voice – One Resolve – One India”, aimed at connecting younger generations with the historical journey of the national song and its role during India’s freedom movement.

Guwahati event
The Assam programme is expected to bring together participants from across the Northeast. Organising Secretary Pawan Tiwari said the mass gathering would highlight the cultural significance of Vande Mataram and promote a sense of national unity among young people.

Media coordinator Sailendra Pandey said the Guwahati programme has been listed for validation by the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.

The participation of General Dwivedi has added prominence to the Guwahati event, with reports describing it as his maiden public engagement in the Northeast.

Nationwide participation
Across the country, schools associated with Vidya Bharati are organising interactive sessions, exhibitions, cultural programmes and other activities highlighting the history and significance of Vande Mataram.

The organisation said the nationwide initiative is intended not only as a collective singing programme but also as an educational exercise to acquaint students with the song’s historical journey and contribution to the freedom movement.

In Delhi alone, more than one lakh students, teachers, parents and citizens at around 300 locations are expected to participate.

The main Delhi programme will be held at PGDAV College Campus, Ring Road, Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, at 11 am on September 25, with Vidya Bharati All India General Secretary Deshraj Sharma as Chief Guest.

Other programmes are scheduled at Mata Leelawanti Saraswati Bal Mandir in Hari Nagar, Shadley Public School in Rajouri Garden and Shri Sanatan Dharam Saraswati Bal Mandir in Punjabi Bagh.

Record certification
The organisers said the nationwide initiative has been listed for record certification by the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records for collective singing of Vande Mataram by a large number of students and members of the public at multiple locations.

The programme comes as the country marks 150 years of Vande Mataram, which was accorded the status of India’s National Song after Independence, while Jana Gana Mana was adopted as the National Anthem.