Kurukshetra’s Green Resolve
On the occasion of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Gita Jayanti, the sacred sapling of the banyan tree presented by Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the holy city of Kurukshetra is not merely a commemorative gift. It is a living symbol of spiritual tradition, nature conservation, and national consciousness. This special offering links the message of valour, sacrifice, and protection of dharma with the timeless teachings of the Gita. The sapling serves as a powerful medium to advance spiritual heritage, environmental protection, and cultural memory-all three together. Jyotisar in Kurukshetra is regarded in Sanatan tradition as the land of the dharma-yudh, where the great battle of the Mahabharata took place and where Lord Shri Krishna delivered the divine discourse of the Gita to dispel Arjuna’s doubts. The Gita’s universal message of nishkama karma (selfless action), dharma, courage, equanimity, and duty continues to serve as a guiding scripture for humanity and the world even today. The banyan tree at Jyotisar is considered a witness to that divine dialogue. “Jyotisar” means “the place of light”-the pilgrimage site from where the light of knowledge, devotion, and karma yoga radiated across the world. After its re-establishment by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century, it became the soul of the entire pilgrimage complex.
Archaeological surveys in the Jyotisar area have uncovered remains of ancient settlements and structures, confirming its long historical significance. Its enduring religious importance and cultural memory have made it a premier centre of India’s spiritual heritage. An innovative effort is underway to prepare saplings from Jyotisar’s historic banyan tree and distribute them across the country to spread the message of the Gita and raise environmental awareness. This is not just a tree-planting campaign but a plan to carry the Gita’s message as a “living tradition” to every home, institution, and pilgrimage site, establishing Kurukshetra and Jyotisar as centres of faith as well as green cultural heritage. The sapling presented to the Prime Minister embodies Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s unparalleled sacrifice and the Gita’s teachings on patience, courage, and fulfilment of duty. Just as the banyan tree provides vast shade and shelter to all, this sapling symbolises the aspiration to convey India’s tradition of tolerance, harmony, and universal brotherhood to future generations.
Saplings prepared from this historic banyan tree at Jyotisar aim to ensure that the sacred message of the Gita is not confined to books but reaches every home, institution, and pilgrimage site in a living form through tree plantation. This sacred sapling will also nurture the spirit of the Prime Minister’s initiatives ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (One Tree in the Name of Mother) and ‘Mission LiFE’. From a religious, spiritual, and emotional perspective as well, this sapling is perfectly suited for the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
This sapling is a symbol of our dedication to duty and karma yoga, as stated in Bhagavad Gita 3:9:
“Yajnarthat karmano’nyatra loko’yam karma-bandhanah | Tad-artham karma kaunteya mukta-sangah samachara ||”
(Work must be done as a sacrifice; otherwise, action binds one to the world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your duties for the sake of sacrifice alone, free from attachment.) This sapling represents a resolve to protect both nature and spirituality.
The moment when the Haryana Chief Minister presented this sapling to the Prime Minister captures a special convergence of leadership and public faith, vividly seen in photographs. The scene of both leaders reverently holding the green pot adorned with the sapling illustrates that environmental conservation and cultural heritage are accorded equal importance in national policymaking. This initiative connects auspicious occasions like Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s 350th martyrdom anniversary and Gita Jayanti with a “Green Resolve”, strengthening the message of responsibility towards the Earth alongside devotion. In the coming years, as these saplings grow into massive banyan trees, they will not only enrich the environment but also continually remind future generations that India’s spiritual heritage and reverence for nature are two inseparable dimensions of the same philosophy of life.
The presentation of the sapling from Jyotisar’s historic banyan tree by Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the sacred soil of Kurukshetra on November 25, was not mere formality but a unique symbol of the confluence of dharma, history, and the environment. This event links the messages of sacrifice, courage, protection of dharma, and karma yoga with the environmental responsibilities of the present era. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s 350th martyrdom anniversary and Gita Jayanti initiative tie his sacrifice, religious freedom, and defence of human values with the Gita’s karma yoga. When these saplings mature into full-grown banyan trees in the years ahead, they will stand as living symbols of India’s eternal tradition, where dharma, environment, and national interest are three indivisible dimensions of the same philosophy of life.
The author is an officer of the Indian Forest Service. Currently, he serves as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) in the Haryana Government and former Country Director, International Union for Conservation of Nature; views are personal
