Context

The Prime Minister of India has asked the NCC cadets to highlight the idea of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme

• About: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is an initiative to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing. 
  • As part of the initiative, states have to conduct activities to promote a structured cultural connection in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.
• Coordinating Ministry: Ministry of Education has been designated ministry for coordinating the activities of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
• Mandate: Celebrating the cultural vibrancy of India while establishing a strong mechanism to develop nationalism and cultural awareness among the citizens of our nation. 
• Background and History: Announced by the Indian Prime Minister on 31st October 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 

Objectives of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme

• Unity in Diversity: Celebrating India’s Unity in Diversity and to maintain and strengthen the traditionally existing bonds between the people of our Country.
• National Integration: Promoting national integration through a structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a series of planned engagement between States.
• Fostering a Common Identity: Fostering a common identity through showcasing of rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either State to make others understand and appreciate the diversity in India.
• Long-term Engagement: Establishing long-term engagement between each other;
• Sharing Best Practices: Promoting a culture of learning between States by sharing best practices and experiences.

Mission of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme

• Celebrating Indian Culture: Celebrating the idea of India as a nation wherein different cultural units across varied geographies meet and interact with each other. 
  • This glorious manifestation of culture will enable people to strengthen the feeling of brotherhood.
• Awareness Creation: Making people aware of the vastness of the Modern Indian State spread across a vast landmass on whose foundations the geo-political strength of the country is ensured.
• Developing Inter-connectedness: Motivating people about the increasing inter-connectedness between the various cultures and traditions, which is integral to the spirit of nation-building.
• Removing Alienation: Removing the feeling of ‘stranger in a strange land’ among the people of different states, cultures and traditions living across different states of India.
• Individual Responsibility: Inducing a sense of responsibility & ownership for the nation as a whole in order to build up the inter-dependence matrix unequivocally.
• Celebrating Diverse Culture: Celebrating the unity as well as diversity of the Nation at the same time.
• Appreciation of Cultures: Generating understanding & appreciation amongst the people and developing mutual bonding for enriching the value system of unity in the nation.

Activities Under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme

• Exchange of Culture: Cultural Exchange Programmes between partnering States with the help of artists identified through Cultural Competitions.
• Translation Activities: Translating at least 5 Award Winning Books and Poetry, popular folk songs of One State in the Language of the partner State. Translating proverbs having similar meaning in the languages of the two States.
• Author and Poet Exchange: Conducting exchange programmes for authors and poets.
• Culinary Festivals: Organising Culinary festivals in order to popularise and learn culinary practices.
• Study Tours: Conducting educational tours for schools/Universities Students reciprocally.
• Home Stay Facility: Promoting Home Stay for visitors.
• State Tour: Promoting Rajya Darshan (state tour) for tourists.
• Traditional Dress: Promoting the traditional attire of the partner State.
• Competition: Organising National/ State Specific Quiz Competitions in multiple languages. Essay Competition can be held in the language of the partner State.
• Language Classes: Conducting language Classes in schools / colleges for learning the language of the partner State.
• Traditional Sports: Enabling exposure to traditional sports of the partner States.

Significance of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme

• Promote Cultural Interaction: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme will promote national integration and cultural exchange between the different states and union territories of India.
• Promote Nationalism: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat will help develop feelings of nationalism and integration between people.
• Unity in Diversity: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat with its idea of “One India, Great India,” emphasizes unity in diversity.
• Exchange Best Practices: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is a platform for sharing best practices and experiences.

Conclusion

The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme strengthens the idea of plurality and cultural diversity in India by making people aware of the culture and traditions of different states.