Aligarh, July 28 – Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) pledged its allegiance to the cause of environmental sustainability once again by celebrating Van Mahotsav with a mass plantation drive as part of the national campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The festival, which was hosted by the Department of Land and Gardens, was celebrated at the Yusuff Ali Aquatic and Sports Complex.
Initiating the campaign, AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon planted a sapling and underlined the emotional and environmental importance of the campaign. “This plantation drive represents the essence of the motto – Those who protect trees are protected. Similar to mothers, trees give life. By planting a sapling, we pay tribute to nature and the maternal spirit of care and selflessness,” she stated.
Prof. Khatoon welcomed the initiative taken by Prof. Anwar Shahzad, Member-in-Charge, Land and Gardens, and his team to keep working on the development of AMU’s green spaces. She highlighted that the venture is not merely an ecological endeavor—it is a culture of sustainability and emotional attachment based on national responsibility.
The senior university administrators, the faculty, and the staff were very active in the campaign, each of them planting one sapling and committing themselves to caring for it. The common slogan rang out on the campus: “Trees are life-givers—providing nourishment, shelter, and a future, just like a mother.”
By calling on individuals to plant trees in honor of their mothers, the campaign marries environmental stewardship with a sentimental gesture, turning each sapling into a living memorial and a step closer to climate awareness.
Praised for its green and sustainable campus, AMU continues to walk in tandem with national initiatives such as Mission LiFE and Panchamrit, incorporating green energy, forestation, and water conservation into campus life and daily existence.
Prof. Shahzad informed that the plantation campaign will go on through August and a few thousand saplings of various species will be planted. Particular emphasis is being placed on growing medicinal plants, such as hundreds of Moringa (Sahjan) saplings, which are used in the production of Unani medicine at the Tibbiya College Dawakhana.
The ceremony is a testament to AMU’s long-standing dedication towards ecological stewardship and a greener tomorrow.
Courtesy: Facebook Page of Aligarh Muslim University