As part of the birth anniversary celebration of ‘Manikarnika,’ Maharani Lakshmi Bai thousands of teenage girls and other women under the banner of Rashtra Sevika Samiti reverberated the Central Park of Connaught Place in New Delhi with the sound of ‘Khoob Ladi Mardani Woh toh Jhansi Wali Rani thi…’
New Delhi: Rashtra Sevika Samiti, the country’s largest women organisation, paid tribute to Rani Lakshmibai on her birth anniversary with a difference. The Taruni Vibhag of the Samiti, in association with another voluntary organisation ‘Sharanya’ organised a five km run at Central Park of Connaught Place on November 25. Titled as ‘Manikarnika: A Continuous Run for the Nation’, the Run was joined by over a thousand teenage girls including the women of other age groups also. When these girls ran, it reverberated the entire area with the sound ‘ Khoob Ladi Mardani Woh toh Jhansi Wali Rani thi’. Akhil Bharatiya ‘Taruni Pramukh’ of the Samiti Sushri Bhagyashri Sathe was also present to motivate the young girls. She said the run for the nation symbolises the same spirit with which Rani Lakshmi Bai fought against the Britishers. She cited the importance of physical fitness for teenagers citing Swami Vivekananda who said ‘to understand Bhagwad Gita, one should play football for an hour’. She stated that such events were important to inspire young girls with nationalistic and patriotic thoughts. Additional Solicitor General of the Government of India, Pinky Anand while presiding over the function said the youth of today should draw inspiration from the life of the freedom fighters like Rani Lakshmi Bai.
Sushri Bhagyashree Sathey addressing the girls before starting the Run
The Run was organised for the teenagers and the women of over fourteen years of age. Winners were presented with Rs 3100/- as first prize, Rs 2100/- as second prize and Rs 1100/- as third Prize along with trophies. Consolation prizes of Rs 500/- were also given along with certificates. Sixty-three-year-old Sushri Saroj Sharma and fifty-three-year-old Sushri Anu Dagar were also felicitated for encouraging the participants. “My participation in the ‘Manikarnika’ Run was very exciting. During the Run, spectators were encouraging the participants amidst the chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Majority of the participants were thrilled and felt honoured to be part of this run,” said Priti Sharma, a participant. The event was attended by various well-known women from all walks of life. Chairperson of Bird Group of Industries Smt Radha Bhatia, Smt Neelam Rudy, Smt Mallika Nadda, Sushri Priti Goyal, Smt Lalita Nijhawan, Smt Monika Arora and many office bearers of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti were also present. Seventeen-year-old Shivangi Pathak who is a well-known Mountaineer and has climbed the Mt. Everest, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt.Albern at a very young age was a star attraction. She was delighted to be present among her peer group to encourage them. The Rashtra Sevika Samiti presents Jija Mata, Ahilya Bai and Rani Lakshmi Bai as role models of motherhood, duty and leadership respectively. The Samiti organises various programmes every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmi Bai so that the young girls emulate her as their role models.
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