AIR Spotlight - Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

AIR Spotlight is an insightful program featured daily on the All India Radio Newsonair. In this program, many eminent panelists discuss issues of importance which can be quite helpful in the IAS exam preparation. In this article, the discussion is on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

Context:

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the “Iron Man of India”, played a crucial role in persuading over 500 princely states to join India after independence. As India celebrates the 75th anniversary of independence, the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to foster unity among the diverse peoples of the country.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

• India is a culturally rich country that has created an identity through a rich history of cultural evolution. In an age of technology that has reduced geographic boundaries, it is important to establish cultural exchanges between people from different regions to foster human ties and a common approach to nation-building. 
• Therefore, under the administration of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat program was introduced to encourage the people of India to learn about the cultures of different states and union territories and promote an India stronger and more united.

Read more on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat in the link.

Objectives

• The main objective is to promote the Indian ideology of “Unity in Diversity” in India. It aims to stimulate the interest of the people in their neighbouring states and UTs and also to encourage them to promote their culture. 
• To foster a sense of common identity among the people of the country, the idea of India as a nation in which different cultural entities in different regions grow together and interact with each other should be encouraged.
• To display the rich heritage and culture, customs, and traditions of various states and enable people to understand and appreciate the diversity of India, thereby fostering a sense of common identity. 
• To create an environment that encourages cross-state learning through the exchange of best practices and experiences.

The discussion featured the following topics.

Kartarpur Corridor

• Kartarpur is considered to be one of the holiest places for Sikhs, as Sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev preached there for the last 18 years of his life. After the partition, the Indian people could only visit the Gurdwara if a visa was obtained. This Corridor ensures visa-free travel to citizens. 
• The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor opened a path of peace and confirmed the religious and cultural acceptance between the two countries. 
• Pilgrims who previously had to travel long distances and obtain all the documents and visas to visit the Gurdwara can now simply apply online and visit the holy place. 
• This corridor acts as a peace treaty between the two nations and promotes religious tolerance amidst all the on-going tension.

‘Bharat Jodo Andolan’

• “Bharat Jodo” movement is based on Mahatma Gandhi’s “Bharat Chhodo Andolan” (Quit India Movement). The Prime Minister has asked the people to lead a ‘Bharat Jodo Andolan’ (Movement for the Unity of India) as part of the Amrit Mahotsav. 

 About Amrit Mahotsav: 

• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is a series of events organized by the Indian government to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. 
• The ‘Mahotsav’ is celebrated as a ‘Jan Utsav’ in the spirit of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.

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