Raipur. For outstanding contribution in the Digital District Repository project of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', the state secured third position at the national level, freedom fighters and cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh got a new identity,
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat honoured them.

As the country celebrates its 79th Independence Day, it's not just a time to celebrate freedom, but also to remember the thousands of unsung freedom fighters whose sacrifices and dedication laid the foundation for India's independence. The Digital District Repository (DDR) project, run by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has emerged as a historic initiative to give national recognition to the stories of these unsung heroes.
Mr. Pankaj Singh Rajput, a CCRT-trained teacher from Durg district, was awarded a national honor by the Ministry of Culture for his outstanding research, documentation, and digital preservation of historical heritage under this national project. His work secured third place in the national evaluation of the project, a highly prestigious achievement for Chhattisgarh.

The Amrit Gathas of Independence got digital format

Launched in 2021 under the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” initiative inspired by the Prime Minister, the project aimed at scientific research and digital preservation of unsung freedom fighters, historical events, cultural heritage, folk traditions and local history from every district of the country.

CCRT-trained teachers and district resource persons across the country conducted years of research in their respective areas to compile authentic information related to the freedom struggle. These records were verified by experts and preserved on the Ministry of Culture's official digital portal, giving national recognition to India's local history.

Chhattisgarh's cultural heritage gets a national platform

Chhattisgarh is rich in the freedom movement, tribal struggles, folk culture, and historical heritage. Through this project, many of the state's unsung freedom fighters, historical sites, and cultural heritage were documented and made part of the national digital archive. This initiative is not limited to preserving history, but also proves to be an important step towards establishing Chhattisgarh's cultural identity at the national level.

A proud achievement for the entire Chhattisgarh

A special achievement of the National Honors Ceremony was that all three teachers selected from across the state of Chhattisgarh were from Durg district. All three teachers from Chhattisgarh are Pankaj Singh Rajput of Government Promoted Primary School Tikrapara Khursul, Tikeshwar Prasad Gajpal of Government High School Aagesara, and Raghavendra Kumar Dhruv of Government Primary School Umarpoti.

The project's third-place finish in the national evaluation is a testament to the research capabilities, quality of work, and historical awareness of the state's faculty. This achievement is not the work of any individual, but the result of a collective effort by the Ministry of Culture, CCRT, teachers, researchers, local historians, families of freedom fighters, and society.

Initiatives that embody the spirit of the New Education Policy-2020

The National Education Policy 2020 places special emphasis on Indian knowledge traditions, local history, experiential learning, and community-based education. The Digital District Repository project has put these objectives into practice.