By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 2 Oct: Hundreds of students and teachers of Graphic Era joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fit India movement by taking out a grand cycle rally on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti today. The rally aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of cleanliness and discarding the use of plastics. After the arrival of the rally in Gandhi Park, Chief Minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat said that this initiative is an important step that will take PM’s fit India movement ahead. While addressing students and faculty members of Graphic Era in Gandhi park, the Chief Minister emphasized on the role youth in making this campaign a success. He said that active participation of all citizens is necessary in this movement which aims to make the country plastic free. The Prime Minister’s dream to make India a prosperous and a strong nation and his initiative to accomplish this dream, is an ambitious step to bring about overall development in the country. Member of Parliament, Mala Rajya Lakshmi joined the rally and congratulated the students and faculty members of Graphic Era for playing an important role in spreading awareness about Prime Minister’s fit India initiative. While welcoming the Chief Minister, Tehri MP, state higher education minister and Dehradun mayor, Sunil Uniyal Gama, Chairman of Graphic Era Group, Dr. Kamal Ghansala said when teachers join a movement like this, it raises hopes of bringing about a complete change in the society. Dr. Ghanshala was addressing the gathering in Gandhi Park after himself leading the cycle rally throughout from the front. Dr Ghanshala said that a teacher should lead by the example, because examples are better than precepts. He added that that what teachers do, is followed by their students. Every year a large number of students from Graphic Era get selected in multi-national companies. Such events are necessary to make them understand their social responsibilities and give them practical training of working in teams. Dr. Ghanshala further added that Graphic Era has started the mission of making villages adopted by it, plastic free from today itself. Earlier, state minister for higher education, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat flagged off this grand rally from Graphic Era at 7 am in the morning. Thanking the Prime Minster, Chief Minister and the education department, Dr. Rawat said that crores of students in the country have joined the fit India movement. It is all set to become a mass movement in less than a year’s time. The state minister for higher education further congratulated students and teachers of Graphic Era for spreading awareness amongst people through this grand cycle rally. The students also gave messages about the importance of cleanliness, stopping the use of plastics and preventing pollution by performing nukkad nataks. Students later presented Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan , “vaishnav-jan to tene kahiye” at Gandh Park. The convenor of Yoga Sansthan, Radhey Shyam Joshi spoke about the importance and relevance of yoga. While passing through Bell road, post office road, Mazra, Niranjanpur Mandi, Patel Nagar, Saharanpur Chowk, Adhat Bazaar, Paltan Bazar, Dispensary road, Lans down chowk and Parade Ground the cycle rally reached Gandhi Park. Faculty members were present at various check points to manage the traffic and distribute refreshment to the rally participants. The Chairman of Graphic Era Group Prof. (Dr.) Kamal Ghanshala, Vice Chancellor of Graphic Era Hill University, Dr Sanjay Jasola, Dr MP Singh, Dr. Praveen Singh, Parwati Bhandari, Captain D C Pandey, Abhishek Jain, Charu Negi, Lakshmi Chauhan, Vijay Dhyani, Akhilesh Kumar, Jitendra Chauhan, and various other teachers and staff members of Graphic Era Group completed a tedious ride of around 22 kilometers, covering the entire circle from Graphic Era to Gandhi park and again back to Graphic Era on bicycles only. The Chancellor of Grahic Era Deemed University Dr. R C Joshi, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Col. B S Bisht, Dr. Subhash Gupta, Dr. Ajay Kumar, Dr. Jyoti Chabbra, D S Rawat, Dr. M P Singh, B K Kaul, Aditya Agnihotri were also present in the programme. Devansh Rawat, Harsh Saom, Asad Sadan, Aryan Panjiyar, Arpit Chauhan, Abhishek Singh, Lalitesh, Udisha and Shreya were the students who actively participated in the rally and extended a helping hand in various activities.
