SIGNATURE OF COMMITMENT

SIGNATURE OF COMMITMENT Signature of Commitment is an integrity building exercise aimed at promoting national integration and celebration of nationhood. It entails reaching out to educational institutions across the country and seeking a commitment from students to remain honest and loyal to the motherland by appending their signatures to theme-based posters created by them after learning and reciting the pledge in unison in their respective institutions.
A signature signifies acceptance, approval and abidance or adherence. If you sign a document, it means you are in the know of its contents. If you write or create something with a promise, it implies that that you have undertaken upon yourself the obligation to abide by each word of the document so-signed. This is the philosophy underlying the ‘Signature of commitment’ conceptualized by the Build India Group (BIG) as part of its nation-building exercise that began with the drafting and rendition of a citizen’s pledge owing allegiance to the constitution. It has been added this year to the Citizen’s Pledge Festival which is celebrated on the third Saturday of January every year across the country.
The Build India Group encourages all Indians and groups to take a pledge that they keep the nation’s interests paramount in their thought, words and actions and celebrate nationhood in any manner they like without hurting the religious sentiments of any individual or any group. The ‘Signature of Commitment’ is suggested to be accomplished in the following manner.

Methodology

1. Schools participating in the ‘Signature of Commitment’ should give a copy of the pledge (available in English and 14 other Modern Indian languages) to students, from the primary level itself, or the students may be instructed to note down the pledge from the blackboard in their diaries (Almanacs) and learn it. The language may be English, Hindi or their language of instruction so that they understand it.

2. Thereafter, they receive an instruction to make a poster on a theme such as ‘I love my country,’ hate corruption, defeat terrorism, etc. Those not comfortable with drawing posters can be asked to write catchy phrases, or taglines on the aforesaid theme not exceeding five words on a poster size paper. This activity can be undertaken even at home. But it should involve all students.

3. Ask the students to bring these posters on the third Saturday of January, the day when the pledge festival is celebrated across the country, to the school. On the occasion of the pledge festival, all students in an institution should recite the pledge in unison while holding these posters in their hands.

4. After the children recite the pledge, they are to put their signatures on their respective posters. (This is their Signature of Commitment).

5. To get the ambiance charged, the schools may organize cultural activities, and debates on various national issues and display these posters in the form of graffiti or in any manner that attracts public attention.

This is one of the most attractive features of the pledge festival this year. It can be organized in any part of the country; its main requirement is a small piece of paper and a determined mind to instill national pride among students. Our experience is that most children come out with wonderful posters/slogans and caricatures.