Over 600 children from 20 schools in Chennai take part in an initiative to re-affirm their faith in diversity and tolerance
Top Notch Infotronix, a leading supplier of products and accessories for computers and consumer electronics under the brand ‘ZEBRONICS', organised a “Walk for Unity” in the city for schoolchildren, along with the Asan Memorial School. It was a pleasant and colourful sight as more than 600 children, belonging to 20 prominent city schools, including the DAV Boys School, National Public School, Chinmaya Vidyalaya and the Vivekananda School were seen walking down the length of Anderson Road, lead by Principals and teachers. In a colourful turn, children at Asan Memorial School were seen in fancy dress representing various communities and religions, intermingling and joining in the festive atmosphere.
The schoolchildren’s Walk for Unity was motivated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallying cry to observe the 139th birth anniversary of India’s first deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as a day of national unity. The Prime Minister himself launched 'Run for Unity' marathon in New Delhi while the central government has declared October 31 as the National Unity Day.
Principals and senior teachers of the various schools spoke of Sardar Patel, the Iron Man of India and home minister, who first unified the country by persuading more than 500 princely states to become a part of a democratically structured Indian union, and the importance of observing his birthday as National Unity Day. Unity does not mean uniformity, and diverse communities in the country can co-exist without fragmentation, were the messages to the children.
Said Rajesh Doshi, founder-Director of Zebronics, “At Zebronics, we believe unity is our biggest strength. Teamwork is a working manifestation of unity and that motivates every aspect at Zebronics. Our vision, goals, focus are all powered by teamwork. We are happy to be part of this Unity Drive with Asan Memorial School and the other twenty participating schools in Chennai city, spreading awareness about our nation’s diversity and the unifying culture of tolerance. Seeds sown early reap great results, and we are sure that the children participating would take it forward in various aspects and see India ‘always ahead’.”