New Delhi, April 9: President Droupadi Murmu was presented with Vriksha Vedam 2.0, a book authored by Green India Challenge founder and former Rajya Sabha MP Joginipally Santosh Kumar, at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
During the event, she described the current era as both a time of opportunity and crisis, warning that humanity has strayed from the sacred reality of the Pancha Bhutas. These five elements constitute all life.
Quoting the Taittiriya Upanishad, she highlighted the creation of the elements: from the Supreme Self arose Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
The President emphasized that humans are born from these elements and must cultivate a spiritual awareness of their interconnectedness with nature.
She praised the Green India Challenge, which has led to the planting of nearly 19.6 crore saplings across India.
She commended Santosh Kumar's efforts in turning environmental protection into a collective mission. The movement, launched in 2018 under the slogan "Hara Hai Toh Bhara Hai," has expanded nationwide and internationally.
The President also acknowledged the initiative's efforts to restore forests in Telangana and the Sundarbans and praised the 'Koti Vriksharchana' programme, lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event reinforced India's ancient ecological wisdom as a solution to modern environmental challenges, urging all individuals to recognize their bond with nature and act to preserve the planet for future generations.
