Gumla, Durjay Paswan: Under the Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign, soil was collected from the ancestral house of Param Vir Chakra winner Martyr Albert Ekka on Wednesday. Martyr’s son Vincent Ekka handed over the soil of the martyr’s house to military flag bearer Umesh Gopinath Jadhav. This soil will be kept in the memorial site Amrit Vatika in Delhi.
The sacred soil of the martyrs of Gumla is being collected
Veteran Anirudh Singh said that the completion of Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign is now in the final stages. On this occasion, sacred soil of martyrs has been collected from different parts of the country. The sacred soil of the martyrs of Gumla district will be collected in the proposed ‘Amrit Vatika’ in honor of the martyrs near the National War Memorial in Delhi. Will be the bearer of the sacred soil of many martyrs from Jharkhand and especially Gumla district, the heroic land of Paramveer Albert Ekka.
Salute at the statue of Paramveer Albert Ekka
On this occasion Mr. Jadhav, ex-serviceman Anirudh Singh, Major DN Das along with Manish Kumar, chief Urmila Kerketta saluted while offering flowers on the statue of Paramveer Albert Ekka. Also, Vincent Ekka, son of Martyr Albert, was honoured. The ex-servicemen also visited the ancestral house and the burial place of the martyr. Zila Parishad member Dilip Badaik, Major Sanjay Malhotra, District Sainik Welfare Officer Gumla Commander Rama Rao, Subedar Major Sahdev Mahato, President of Gumla Sainik Sangathan Vinod Minj, Martyr’s grandson Anuj Ekka were present in the programme. Expressing gratitude by Zip member Dilip Badaik on the occasion that the Block is on the verge of development today due to the contribution of Ex-Servicemen Council.
I have collected soil from the houses of 150 martyrs: Jadhav
While talking to BollywoodWallah, Umesh Gopinath Jadhav said that having a feeling of service to the country and love for the army within someone is a passion. My feelings towards the army and brave soldiers are similar. Till now, I have traveled 1 lakh 40 thousand kilometers in my car and taken the ashes of 150 martyred soldiers. Reached the homes of the martyred soldiers and met their families. Met the family members of martyr Albert Ekka in Gumla’s Jari and collected soil from his house. It is said that after the Pulwama attack, mourning was being expressed across the country for the martyrdom of soldiers. Whereas for the spirit of the country, I took a vow to join the soil of these brave martyrs. Having made up my mind, I left my house. The goal was to be a soldier by nature and heart. The soil of the courtyard of the martyred brave sons of the country should be collected at one place and a map of India should be prepared from it and a memorial should be made. He said that this journey started from Group Center CRPF UP on April 9, 2019. Time passed and the caravan continued to be formed. Under Mera Maati Mera Desh, soil will be taken from the homes of 180 martyrs, taken to the memorial site in Delhi and kept in Amrit Vatika. Where many types of trees and plants will be planted.
It was a proud and historic moment: Anirudh
Veteran Anirudh Singh said that today is a historic moment for Gumla district. It is a proud day. Shri Jadhav, who reached Gumla from Bengaluru, proceeded to the village of Paramveer Albert Ekka and picked up the soil from the courtyard of the martyr. Along with him is Major Sanjay Mehrotra from Bengaluru who is building a Major Camp and Veer Bhoomi. Major DN Das, who had fought in the 1971 war with Albert Ekka, had also reached Jari village to collect soil.
Companions of Martyr Albert reached Gumla
Martyr Albert Ekka’s companion Major DN Das said that I have collected the soil of four martyrs from Odisha in the urn. While the holy soil of ten martyrs has been collected from Gumla district. On September 7, 15 clay urns from different areas of Jharkhand will gather at the Albert Ekka Auditorium of State Sainik Welfare Directorate in Ranchi. The chief guest of the program will be State Sainik Welfare Director Brigadier Niranjan Kumar. After this, information about the program will be given after meeting the Governor.