Superhero in the backyard, Indian ginseng, Indian winter cherry, biological marvel, best tonic for the old and the young, beacon of hope, blessing from the heaven, natural ally in the pursuit of rest, fortress of solitude, and super herb — this is how the awarded student entries describe ashwagandha (withania somnifera) in the Ashwagandha: Through the reflections of children, a collection of essays, paintings, posters and slogans brought out by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB).
The booklet is the result of an ashwagandha awareness drive which the NMPB launched in the Tricity in September last year with a three-pronged strategy of “learning, inspiring and planting”. Concluded in April this year, the drive involved schools, colleges, and urban institutions through awareness programmes, plant distribution, and expert sessions.
“The success of the ashwagandha campaign lies in its ability to bridge tradition and innovation. From community awareness in Tricity to high-tech nursery practices in Shimla, this initiative is inspiring a sustainable herbal movement across north India,” says Dr Arun Chandan, regional director (north), National Medicinal Plants Board.
According to Dr Chandan, this drive was part of the National Ashwagandha Campaign, launched by the NMPB, a focused national initiative to promote awareness, cultivation, and utilisation of ashwagandha, “one of the most valued and time-tested immunity-promoting herbs in Ayurveda”.
He says in keeping with India’s traditional health knowledge and post-pandemic health priorities, the campaign has been implemented through more than 60 projects across multiple states. A financial outlay of `8 crore has been sanctioned to various implementing agencies, farmer organisations, and state institutions for public outreach, capacity building, and demonstration programmes on ashwagandha.
So far, he claims, over two lakh ashwagandha plants have been distributed among farmers, educational institutions, wellness practitioners, and households in the Tricity.
“Post-Covid, ashwagandha is being used in pizza toppings, burgers, cold drinks and ice cream in the foreign countries. This is high time we became aware of the medicinal properties of this plant. Hence, this awareness drive,” says Dr Chandan.
For students, there was an added advantage of cash prizes. “We held essay-writing, painting and poster-making competitions. We distributed cash prizes of Rs 50,000 in different categories,” says Avika Subba of NMPB.
Dimple Sharma, a Class 8 student of Ryan International School, Sector 49-B, Chandigarh, won first prize of Rs 5,000 in the painting competition. “I have saved the money for future use and planted ashwagandha at home. Now I take care of it,” she says.
Lakshmi, a student of Class 9 at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46-D, Chandigarh, did not get any prize but the plant she got at the school has become her prized possession. “I have also distributed five-six ashwagandha plants in my neighbourhood,” she says.
Hardik Veer, a Class 8 student at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Modern Housing Complex, Manimajra, learnt “very valuable things” about ashwagandha. “Now I regularly water it and take care of it,” he says of the plant he got at the school.
As many as 300 ashwagandha plants were distributed at his school. “Awareness about Ayurveda is the need of the hour. It is a very good initiative, but they should not stop at ashwagandha. Next time, there should be another plant,” says Monika Puri, principal of GMSSS, MHC, Manimajra.
Poonam Sharma, principal of Ryan International School, Sector 49-B, too wants a similar campaign in future. “We got 500 saplings of ashwagandha. We distributed them all among our students and staff. This is something new. We hope to see a new plant next time,” she says.
All the plants were given free of cost, says Meenakshi Thakur of NMPB. “Also, we held training programmes for teachers and honoured the teachers who did extremely well.”
Baljinder Kaur, lecturer in Chemistry, GMSSS-46-D, was honoured with a memento for “her support in the campaign”. “There was a lot of enthusiasm in the campaign. There should be more such initiatives,” she says.
The campaign generated interest beyond schools too. Malkit Singh, a resident of Sector 65, Mohali, planted ashwagandha in his fields measuring six acres at Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. “I’ll see how this experiment works out. If the results are good, I’ll go for a complete Ayurveda package. I mean I’ll take more medicinal plants,” says the former general manager of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Sumanpreet Singh, director and head of Confederation of Indian Industry, Chandigarh, took 1,000 saplings. “We distributed them among members of Indian Women Network and Young Indians, which are part of our organisation. We also gave the saplings to our staff,” he says.
Kamaljeet, a resident of Shivalik Enclave, says they distributed 1,000 plants each to housing societies through URWA (Unified Residents’ Welfare Association) at Dhakoli, Zirakpur. “I took help of my eight-year-old daughter in the distribution of plants. The good thing is all the saplings were given to women. Now we are also doing follow-up,” he says.
During the painting competition in Chandigarh. (Express Photo) 
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