Karnataka made history on Sunday by forming a 2,500-km-long human chain, believed to be the longest in the world, to celebrate the ‘International Day of Democracy.’ The event, which spanned from Bidar in the north to Chamarajanagar in the south, involved participants across all 31 districts of the state.
The initiative, led by the Karnataka government in collaboration with civil society groups, aimed to symbolize equality, unity, fraternity, and participative governance. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with senior Ministers and officials, joined the main event held in front of Vidhana Soudha, the state’s legislative and secretarial headquarters. The Chief Minister began the proceedings by reading the preamble of the Constitution, after which people from various walks of life—including transgenders and differently-abled individuals—formed the human chain.
Similar events took place simultaneously in all districts of Karnataka, with Ministers, public representatives, and senior officials participating. The state government has claimed that the human chain, stretching approximately 2,500 km, will be verified by a world record team from London.
The event, expected to involve 25 lakh participants, is designed to highlight democratic values and engage citizens in a meaningful way. Each kilometer of the chain is anticipated to include over 1,000 people. Additionally, participants will plant 10 lakh saplings as part of the event, contributing to environmental sustainability.
This celebration of democracy follows Karnataka’s previous year’s initiative of reading the Constitution’s preamble. Since 2007, September 15th has been recognized globally as the International Day of Democracy by the United Nations, aiming to promote and uphold democratic principles worldwide.
Sources By Agencies
