Sonowal Plants Saplings at Krishnaguru University NSS Drive
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal joined students at Krishnaguru Spiritual University in Assam for an NSS tree-plantation drive marking the 92nd appearance anniversary of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar, calling on all to commit to environmental protection in the guru's spirit.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal participated in a tree-plantation drive at Krishnaguru Spiritual University , Assam, on 23 May 2026 .
The event was held under the university's National Service Scheme (NSS) unit to mark the 92nd appearance anniversary of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar .
Sonowal interacted with students and called the exchange 'moving', posting in Assamese with the phrase 'সেউজী ধৰণী ধুনীয়া' — 'A green earth is beautiful'.
He urged everyone to work toward environmental protection and conservation guided by the ideals of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar.
The NSS , launched in 1969 , regularly facilitates such student-led ecological activities at campuses across India.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal participated in a tree-plantation drive at Krishnaguru Spiritual University in Assam on 23 May 2026, joining students under the institution's National Service Scheme (NSS) unit to mark the 92nd appearance anniversary of spiritual figure Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar.
Context
Posting in Assamese, Sonowal wrote — 'সেউজী ধৰণী ধুনীয়া' ('A green earth is beautiful') — describing how he planted saplings on the university campus and engaged with students, calling the interaction deeply moving. He extended a call to all to work with commitment toward environmental protection, conservation, and responsibility toward nature, in the spirit of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar's ideals.
The event was organised under the university's NSS unit as part of the anniversary celebrations, blending cultural and spiritual observance with ecological action.
Policy Backdrop
The National Service Scheme, launched in 1969, is a central government programme that engages students of higher-education institutions in community service, including environmental and afforestation activities. Tree-plantation drives under NSS have been a recurring feature across educational campuses in India, particularly during national and institutional observances.
Indian political figures — especially those from states with strong regional spiritual traditions — routinely participate in such NSS-linked events, reinforcing the convergence of cultural observance with national environmental priorities.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries of such drives are university students who gain hands-on exposure to conservation practices, and the local communities of Assam that stand to benefit from increased green cover. Krishnaguru Spiritual University serves as both a religious and educational institution, and events of this kind carry weight among its student body and the broader community of followers of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar.
Sonowal's presence — as a senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Assam — lends additional political and institutional visibility to what is otherwise a campus-level environmental activity.
What's Next
Similar NSS-led plantation drives are expected at other educational institutions across Northeast India as part of annual observances and national afforestation campaigns. Any follow-up environmental announcements by state or central authorities tied to such regional observances will be worth watching as India continues to push student-led conservation at scale.
Point of View
The minister frames environmental responsibility within a locally resonant moral vocabulary rather than a bureaucratic one. The move reinforces his identity as an Assam-rooted leader even while he holds a Union portfolio centred on maritime affairs. It also signals the BJP's continued effort to embed its political presence within the cultural and religious institutions of the Northeast.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sarbananda Sonowal visit Krishnaguru Spiritual University?
Sonowal visited Krishnaguru Spiritual University in Assam to participate in a tree-plantation drive organised under the university's NSS unit, held to mark the 92nd appearance anniversary of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar.
What is Krishnaguru Spiritual University?
Krishnaguru Spiritual University is an Assam-based institution associated with the spiritual tradition of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar; it conducts academic and community service activities including NSS-linked environmental drives.
What is the National Service Scheme (NSS)?
The National Service Scheme is a central government programme launched in 1969 that engages students of higher-education institutions in community service, including tree plantation and environmental conservation activities.
What did Sonowal say at the tree-plantation event?
Sonowal posted in Assamese — 'A green earth is beautiful' — and called on everyone to commit to environmental protection and conservation guided by the ideals of Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar, describing his interaction with students as deeply moving.
Who is Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar?
Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar is a spiritual figure whose birth anniversary is observed annually; the 2026 event marked his 92nd appearance anniversary and his ideals on nature and environmental responsibility were cited at the plantation drive.
