Diplomats from 70 countries planted saplings at the PBG Ground, Delhi Ridge on Thursday as part of the Delhi Government’s 15-day ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s75th birthday.
A total of 75 diplomats, along with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, attended the event.
The global dignitaries planted a sapling in their mother’s name. Each sapling bore a nameplate with the dignitary’s name, their mother’s name, and the tree species being planted—turning the moment into a moving tribute to motherhood and Mother Earth.
The chief minister who planted a tree under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign initiative for Modi said in a post on X that the participation of 75 diplomats from 70 countries has given the campaign a form of global cooperation and shared responsibility. “Under the Seva Pakhwada being observed on the birthday of the visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign not only conveys the message of environmental conservation but it is also a symbol of gratitude towards our mother and the Mother Earth,” she said.
The event also saw unforgettable emotional moments. Ambassador of Cameroon to India broke down while planting a tree in memory of her late mother.
Rekha Gupta noticed her tears and immediately went over to comfort her. Seeing the Chief Minister by her side, the Ambassador became even more emotional.
When the Chief Minister embraced her, the Ambassador, with a heavy heart, revealed that her mother had passed away just fifteen days earlier. Planting a tree in her mother’s name in India had brought back poignant memories.
The chief minister also fondly hugged and consoled a female diplomat who got emotional after planting a sapling in her mother’s memory.
The chief minister said the state government is moving forward with the resolve to plant 70 lakh trees this year and appealed to the people to join the campaign by planting trees in the name of their mothers.
Sirsa in a post on X said that the participation of foreign diplomats transformed the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ mission into a global event.
“They planted a tree in the name of their mother and Mother Earth, thus honouring the shared commitment of our nations towards a greener, sustainable and better world,” he said.
Omani Ambassador Issa Saleh Alshibani lauded the initiative saying, “Thank you so much for this initiative… This is not strange to India, which has been supporting the environment for a very long time. We take this occasion to congratulate PM Narendra Modi on his birthday. This is an initiative the world needs today, especially in the face of climate change.”
The landmark event saw massive global participation of over 75 Ambassadors, High Commissioners and their loved ones representing more than 72 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North and South America, Caribbean and Latin America.
Delegates from countries including Bahrain, Bhutan, China, Russia, Oman, Spain, Austria, Brazil, Jamaica, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and many more across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Oceania joined today—making this plantation drive a truly global celebration of India’s spirit and PM Modi’s vision.
