News Analysis India

Tag: Independence Day

  • Free education, healthcare are not freebies, says Kejriwal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asserted that free education and healthcare are not freebies and said if people are given access to them, India can become the top country in the world.

    Kejriwal was speaking at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium here.

    Asserting that the future belongs to India, he said the country’s 130 crore people need to come together and resolve to make India the number one country in the world.

    “We came together and sent the Britishers out. Today, if we come together, we can make India the top country in the world,” he said.

    Lamenting the fact that many nations that got independence after India surpassed it, he reiterated that education and healthcare are key to becoming a rich country.

    “The tricolour will fly high only when every Indian has access to good healthcare and education. Congratulations to all on 75 years of independence. There is great joy and enthusiasm in the country. The air is filled with patriotism and ‘junoon’,” he said at the event.

    Paying homage to all freedom fighters and those who struggled for the growth and progress of the country, he noted it is time to celebrate progress in various fields.

    “But we need to think over challenges and our future course. Many are asking why many countries got past (us) in 75 years. Singapore that got independence 15 years after India and Japan that was destroyed in the Second World War got ahead of us. We are no less than others. Indians are the most intelligent, hardworking people in the world but still we have lagged,” he added.

    He concluded his address by singing ‘Hum Honge Kamyaab’.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asserted that free education and healthcare are not freebies and said if people are given access to them, India can become the top country in the world.

    Kejriwal was speaking at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium here.

    Asserting that the future belongs to India, he said the country’s 130 crore people need to come together and resolve to make India the number one country in the world.

    “We came together and sent the Britishers out. Today, if we come together, we can make India the top country in the world,” he said.

    Lamenting the fact that many nations that got independence after India surpassed it, he reiterated that education and healthcare are key to becoming a rich country.

    “The tricolour will fly high only when every Indian has access to good healthcare and education. Congratulations to all on 75 years of independence. There is great joy and enthusiasm in the country. The air is filled with patriotism and ‘junoon’,” he said at the event.

    Paying homage to all freedom fighters and those who struggled for the growth and progress of the country, he noted it is time to celebrate progress in various fields.

    “But we need to think over challenges and our future course. Many are asking why many countries got past (us) in 75 years. Singapore that got independence 15 years after India and Japan that was destroyed in the Second World War got ahead of us. We are no less than others. Indians are the most intelligent, hardworking people in the world but still we have lagged,” he added.

    He concluded his address by singing ‘Hum Honge Kamyaab’.

  • 12 singers living as refugees in India recite ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in melodious tribute

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Twelve singers drawn from four nationalities who are living as refugees in India have paid a tribute to their host country with a melodious rendering of the national anthem — ‘Jana Gana Mana’ — to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence.

    Dressed in their traditional costumes, the 12 artists who belong to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Cameroon, have recited it along with Grammy Award-winning artiste Ricky Kej, according to a video shared by the Union Ministry of Culture on Twitter.

    The video, shared by the ministry on August 14, had clocked over 12,000 likes on Twitter and more than 3,800 retweets till the early hours on Monday.

    India is marking the 75th anniversary of its Independence from British rule with grand celebrations under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

    Love for India is pouring from around the world!On the occasion of India’s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Grammy Award winner – @rickykej and 12 refugee singers from 4 nationalities pay tribute to the national anthem.Watch their melodious tribute here pic.twitter.com/LIgk9C2dEi
    — Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) August 14, 2022
    “Love for India is pouring from around the world! On the occasion of India’s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Grammy Award winner – @rickykej and 12 refugee singers from 4 nationalities pay tribute to the national anthem. Watch their melodious tribute here,” the ministry tweeted.

    The video, shot in a studio in Noida, is titled — ‘In solidarity with the people and goverment of India: A tribute by refugees living in India’, and ends with the display of logos of United Nations and the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).

    A large number of Afghan refugees call India their home, and in the national capital, the community lives largely in Lajpat Nagar area in south Delhi, earning the enclave the moniker of ‘Little Kabul’.

    Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday shared the video in a tweet and said: “India lives in the hearts of these young people, from countries in our volatile neighbourhood, who have found refuge, hope & future in the ever welcoming embrace of Mother India”.

    UNHCR India wrote on its Instagram account: “For India’s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 2 x Grammy Award winner @rickykej with 12 refugee singers pay tribute to the national anthem with a blend of emotions and melody.”

    “We congratulate the people of India people on this 75th Independence Day. We thank the people and Government of India for your kindness, love and support.” said the singers in unison, the UNHCR wrote.

    NEW DELHI: Twelve singers drawn from four nationalities who are living as refugees in India have paid a tribute to their host country with a melodious rendering of the national anthem — ‘Jana Gana Mana’ — to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence.

    Dressed in their traditional costumes, the 12 artists who belong to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Cameroon, have recited it along with Grammy Award-winning artiste Ricky Kej, according to a video shared by the Union Ministry of Culture on Twitter.

    The video, shared by the ministry on August 14, had clocked over 12,000 likes on Twitter and more than 3,800 retweets till the early hours on Monday.

    India is marking the 75th anniversary of its Independence from British rule with grand celebrations under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

    Love for India is pouring from around the world!
    On the occasion of India’s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Grammy Award winner – @rickykej and 12 refugee singers from 4 nationalities pay tribute to the national anthem.
    Watch their melodious tribute here pic.twitter.com/LIgk9C2dEi
    — Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) August 14, 2022
    “Love for India is pouring from around the world! On the occasion of India’s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Grammy Award winner – @rickykej and 12 refugee singers from 4 nationalities pay tribute to the national anthem. Watch their melodious tribute here,” the ministry tweeted.

    The video, shot in a studio in Noida, is titled — ‘In solidarity with the people and goverment of India: A tribute by refugees living in India’, and ends with the display of logos of United Nations and the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).

    A large number of Afghan refugees call India their home, and in the national capital, the community lives largely in Lajpat Nagar area in south Delhi, earning the enclave the moniker of ‘Little Kabul’.

    Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday shared the video in a tweet and said: “India lives in the hearts of these young people, from countries in our volatile neighbourhood, who have found refuge, hope & future in the ever welcoming embrace of Mother India”.

    UNHCR India wrote on its Instagram account: “For India’s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 2 x Grammy Award winner @rickykej with 12 refugee singers pay tribute to the national anthem with a blend of emotions and melody.”

    “We congratulate the people of India people on this 75th Independence Day. We thank the people and Government of India for your kindness, love and support.” said the singers in unison, the UNHCR wrote.

  • PM Modi speaks of 5 resolves to make India developed nation by centenary year of Independence

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged people to focus their energy on the five resolutions of making India a developed nation, removing every trace of bondage, taking pride in its heritage and unity, and fulfilling their duties in the next 25 years.

    “By the 100th year of Independence, we have to work with the vision of accomplishing what our freedom fighters dreamt of,” he said while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day.

    “I urge the youth to dedicate the next 25 years of their lives to the development of the nation. We will work towards even the development of the entire humanity. That is the strength of India,” he said.

    Modi said India will have to move ahead with big goals to fulfil the vision of a developed India in the centenary year of its Independence.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi unfurls tricolour, addresses nation on 75th Independence Day 

    “For the next 25 years we need to focus on the five resolves, developed India, removing every trace of bondage from our mind, taking pride in our glorious heritage and unity, and fulfilling our duties,” he said.

    “We need to now move with a renewed focus and resolve for the next 25 years, and this can be made possible through the strength and determination of 130 crore Indians.”

    Modi said the world looked at India with pride and hope, and as a problem-solver. “The world looks at India as a destination where aspirations are met,” he said.

    The prime minister said a stable government has resulted in fast decision-making which has been noticed around the world.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged people to focus their energy on the five resolutions of making India a developed nation, removing every trace of bondage, taking pride in its heritage and unity, and fulfilling their duties in the next 25 years.

    “By the 100th year of Independence, we have to work with the vision of accomplishing what our freedom fighters dreamt of,” he said while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day.

    “I urge the youth to dedicate the next 25 years of their lives to the development of the nation. We will work towards even the development of the entire humanity. That is the strength of India,” he said.

    Modi said India will have to move ahead with big goals to fulfil the vision of a developed India in the centenary year of its Independence.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi unfurls tricolour, addresses nation on 75th Independence Day 

    “For the next 25 years we need to focus on the five resolves, developed India, removing every trace of bondage from our mind, taking pride in our glorious heritage and unity, and fulfilling our duties,” he said.

    “We need to now move with a renewed focus and resolve for the next 25 years, and this can be made possible through the strength and determination of 130 crore Indians.”

    Modi said the world looked at India with pride and hope, and as a problem-solver. “The world looks at India as a destination where aspirations are met,” he said.

    The prime minister said a stable government has resulted in fast decision-making which has been noticed around the world.

  • PM Modi unfurls tricolour, addresses nation on 75th Independence Day 

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: As India celebrates its 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addresses the nation from the historic Red Fort, which is under a hawk-eyed vigil.

    The prime minister unfurled the national flag and addresses the nation from the historic Red Fort for the ninth consecutive time. Ahead of the flag hoist, he paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

    Earlier, the Prime Minister greeted people on Twitter. “Greetings on this very special Independence Day. Jai Hind!” he tweeted.

    The Mughal-era fort has a multi-layered security cover with more than 10,000 security personnel deployed at the venue.

    #WATCH PM Narendra Modi hoists the National Flag at Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day pic.twitter.com/VmOUDyf7Ho
    — ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2022
    Around 7,000 invitees will arrive at the Red Fort and a five-kilometre area around the Red Fort has been marked as a “no kite flying zone” till the tricolour is hoisted.

    Security cover has been beefed up across the national capital and forces are on high alert to thwart any untoward incident as police have intensified patrolling and deployed extra pickets at vital installations based on intelligence inputs received via central agencies.

    ALSO READ | Let’s celebrate the will of our historic forebears and act on unfulfilled promise

    From facial recognition system (FRS) cameras installed at the entry point of the Red Fort to multi-layered security cover and deployment of over 400 kite catchers and fliers on rooftops and other sensitive locations in the fort area to counter any threats from sub-conventional aerial platforms, the area has been completely secured, a senior police official said.

    Borders have also been sealed to ensure no untoward incident takes place in the national capital and strict action will be taken against anyone who tries to disrupt the law and order situation, the police official said.

    The multi-layered security ring, including NSG snipers, elite SWAT commandos, kite catchers, canine units and sharpshooters on high-rise buildings, has been placed around the Mughal-era fort, and adherence to social distancing norms will be must like last year due to the Covid pandemic.

    Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) had said provisions of Section 144 have already been instituted in Delhi.

    Anyone seen flying kites, balloons or Chinese lanterns from August 13 to August 15 till the end of the programme at Red Fort will be punished. Anti-drone systems from Defence Research and Development Organisation and other security agencies have also been installed, police said.

    ALSO READ | 75 years of tensions in India-Pakistan relations

    “Kite catchers have been deployed with necessary equipment on strategic locations and they will prevent any kind of kite, balloon and Chinese lanterns from reaching the function area. Radars will be deployed at Red Fort to counter any threats from sub-conventional aerial platforms and manned or unmanned flying objects,” Pathak had said.

    During the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address in 2017, a kite had landed just below the podium. The Prime Minister had, however, continued with his address unfazed. The police had on July 22 issued an order prohibiting the flying of aerial objects such as paragliders, hang gliders and hot air balloons, and this will remain in force till August 16, they said.

    #WATCH | Independence Day celebrations begin at the Red Fort in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/MXmdS3xiRe
    — ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2022
    Around 1,000 high-specification cameras have been installed in the North, Central and New Delhi district units to contain aerial objects. These cameras will also help monitor the VVIP route to the monument, police said.

    On Friday, the Delhi Police had recovered over 2,200 live cartridges near Anand Vihar Inter State Bus Terminal and arrested six people in this connection. Police are also carrying out massive checks for Improvised Explosive Devices. The personnel have been briefed about adequate security, training and deployment as per plans.

    According to the advisory, traffic for general public around Red Fort will remain closed from 4 am to 10 am on Monday. It will be open to only authorised vehicles, it said.

    Eight roads – Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg, Esplanade Road and its link road to Netaji Subhash Marg, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP Flyover, will remain closed for general traffic, the advisory stated.

    ALSO READ | ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign leads to ‘unprecedented’ demand for tricolour

    Noida, Loni, Singhu, Ghazipur, Badarpur, Safia, Maharajpur, Aya Nagar, Auchandi, Surya Nagar, Rajokri, Dhansa, Apsara, Kalandi Kunj, Jharoda, Bhopura, Lal Kuan Pul Prahlad Pur and Tikri borders will be closed for the movement of commercial and transport vehicles from 10 pm to 11 am on Monday, it said.

    Buses bound for Red Fort, Old Delhi Railway Station, Bhai Mati Dass Chowk (Fountain) from South Delhi will be diverted via Ring Road-NH-24, Marginal Bandh (Pushta) Road and new ISBT Bridge, and will terminate on Boulevard Road, the advisory added.

    Parking facilities will not be available at the Delhi Metro stations from 6 am on Sunday till 2 pm on Monday in view of the security measures adopted on the occasion of Independence Day. However, the Metro train services will continue to run as per normal schedule.

    The August 15 ceremony is particularly significant this year as it marks the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, with the government launching a host of exercises to add to the verve around the celebration.

    (With inputs from agencies)

    NEW DELHI: As India celebrates its 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addresses the nation from the historic Red Fort, which is under a hawk-eyed vigil.

    The prime minister unfurled the national flag and addresses the nation from the historic Red Fort for the ninth consecutive time. Ahead of the flag hoist, he paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

    Earlier, the Prime Minister greeted people on Twitter. “Greetings on this very special Independence Day. Jai Hind!” he tweeted.

    The Mughal-era fort has a multi-layered security cover with more than 10,000 security personnel deployed at the venue.

    #WATCH PM Narendra Modi hoists the National Flag at Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day pic.twitter.com/VmOUDyf7Ho
    — ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2022
    Around 7,000 invitees will arrive at the Red Fort and a five-kilometre area around the Red Fort has been marked as a “no kite flying zone” till the tricolour is hoisted.

    Security cover has been beefed up across the national capital and forces are on high alert to thwart any untoward incident as police have intensified patrolling and deployed extra pickets at vital installations based on intelligence inputs received via central agencies.

    ALSO READ | Let’s celebrate the will of our historic forebears and act on unfulfilled promise

    From facial recognition system (FRS) cameras installed at the entry point of the Red Fort to multi-layered security cover and deployment of over 400 kite catchers and fliers on rooftops and other sensitive locations in the fort area to counter any threats from sub-conventional aerial platforms, the area has been completely secured, a senior police official said.

    Borders have also been sealed to ensure no untoward incident takes place in the national capital and strict action will be taken against anyone who tries to disrupt the law and order situation, the police official said.

    The multi-layered security ring, including NSG snipers, elite SWAT commandos, kite catchers, canine units and sharpshooters on high-rise buildings, has been placed around the Mughal-era fort, and adherence to social distancing norms will be must like last year due to the Covid pandemic.

    Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) had said provisions of Section 144 have already been instituted in Delhi.

    Anyone seen flying kites, balloons or Chinese lanterns from August 13 to August 15 till the end of the programme at Red Fort will be punished. Anti-drone systems from Defence Research and Development Organisation and other security agencies have also been installed, police said.

    ALSO READ | 75 years of tensions in India-Pakistan relations

    “Kite catchers have been deployed with necessary equipment on strategic locations and they will prevent any kind of kite, balloon and Chinese lanterns from reaching the function area. Radars will be deployed at Red Fort to counter any threats from sub-conventional aerial platforms and manned or unmanned flying objects,” Pathak had said.

    During the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address in 2017, a kite had landed just below the podium. The Prime Minister had, however, continued with his address unfazed. The police had on July 22 issued an order prohibiting the flying of aerial objects such as paragliders, hang gliders and hot air balloons, and this will remain in force till August 16, they said.

    #WATCH | Independence Day celebrations begin at the Red Fort in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/MXmdS3xiRe
    — ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2022
    Around 1,000 high-specification cameras have been installed in the North, Central and New Delhi district units to contain aerial objects. These cameras will also help monitor the VVIP route to the monument, police said.

    On Friday, the Delhi Police had recovered over 2,200 live cartridges near Anand Vihar Inter State Bus Terminal and arrested six people in this connection. Police are also carrying out massive checks for Improvised Explosive Devices. The personnel have been briefed about adequate security, training and deployment as per plans.

    According to the advisory, traffic for general public around Red Fort will remain closed from 4 am to 10 am on Monday. It will be open to only authorised vehicles, it said.

    Eight roads – Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg, Esplanade Road and its link road to Netaji Subhash Marg, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP Flyover, will remain closed for general traffic, the advisory stated.

    ALSO READ | ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign leads to ‘unprecedented’ demand for tricolour

    Noida, Loni, Singhu, Ghazipur, Badarpur, Safia, Maharajpur, Aya Nagar, Auchandi, Surya Nagar, Rajokri, Dhansa, Apsara, Kalandi Kunj, Jharoda, Bhopura, Lal Kuan Pul Prahlad Pur and Tikri borders will be closed for the movement of commercial and transport vehicles from 10 pm to 11 am on Monday, it said.

    Buses bound for Red Fort, Old Delhi Railway Station, Bhai Mati Dass Chowk (Fountain) from South Delhi will be diverted via Ring Road-NH-24, Marginal Bandh (Pushta) Road and new ISBT Bridge, and will terminate on Boulevard Road, the advisory added.

    Parking facilities will not be available at the Delhi Metro stations from 6 am on Sunday till 2 pm on Monday in view of the security measures adopted on the occasion of Independence Day. However, the Metro train services will continue to run as per normal schedule.

    The August 15 ceremony is particularly significant this year as it marks the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, with the government launching a host of exercises to add to the verve around the celebration.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Cong shares draft of Nehru’s ‘tryst with destiny’ speech; he had written ‘date with destiny’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress Sunday shared former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s handwritten draft of his famous first Independence day speech in which he had written about the country’s “date with destiny” but delivered it as “tryst with destiny”.

    Congress general secretary, Communications, Jairam Ramesh also shared the video of Nehru’s speech delivered at the midnight session of the Constituent Assembly as India achieved independence on August 15, 1947.

    Ramesh said on Twitter, “75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.” 

    75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.The video: https://t.co/Ba0QESuZ8L pic.twitter.com/N5M5KgP7MZ
    — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 14, 2022
    Nehru in his draft note wrote, “Long years ago we made a date with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.  At the strike of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom.” 

    “Our moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of the nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.” Nehru said in his draft note of August 14, 1947.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress Sunday shared former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s handwritten draft of his famous first Independence day speech in which he had written about the country’s “date with destiny” but delivered it as “tryst with destiny”.

    Congress general secretary, Communications, Jairam Ramesh also shared the video of Nehru’s speech delivered at the midnight session of the Constituent Assembly as India achieved independence on August 15, 1947.

    Ramesh said on Twitter, “75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.” 

    75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.
    The video: https://t.co/Ba0QESuZ8L pic.twitter.com/N5M5KgP7MZ
    — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 14, 2022
    Nehru in his draft note wrote, “Long years ago we made a date with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.  At the strike of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom.” 

    “Our moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of the nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.” Nehru said in his draft note of August 14, 1947.

  • UP’s ‘village of soldiers’ gears up to celebrate Independence Day

    By PTI

    GHAZIPUR: In Gahmar, one of the country’s largest villages and where almost every household has members who have served or are serving in the Army, the enthusiasm is palpable on the eve of Independence Day with the tricolour hoisted atop every house.

    In this “village of soldiers”, hoisting the tricolour on Independence Day and Republic Day is a tradition and the government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign this year has only added to the spirit of patriotism.

    The central government has launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign under which people are being encouraged to hoist the tricolour at their houses to mark 75 years of India’s independence.

    Villagers say soldiers from Gahmar have fought in wars from World War II to Kargil conflict.

    Pictures and medals of soldiers adorn shelves in most houses of Gahmar. Village head Balwant Singh estimates that Gahmar has given 20,000 soldiers to the country so far. “Currently, about 5,000 villagers are working in different positions in the Army,” he said.

    Gahmar has a population of about 1.25 lakh.

    “The spirit of patriotism resides in the heart of every family living here. Ours is a village of soldiers. You will definitely find a soldier in almost every house here. Many members of most families are serving in the Army,” Balwant Singh told PTI.

    “Though Independence Day is celebrated every year in Gahmar village, this time special preparations are being made to mark 75 years of independence. People of the village have also joined the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign,” he said.

    “The tricolour has been hoisted atop every house in the village and the administration is also doing its bit to make the campaign a success,” he added.

    Ishwar Chandra, a social worker, said the spirit of patriotism gripped the village after many of its soldiers laid down their lives in World War II.

    “Multiple generations of some families have been associated with the Army,” he said.

    One such family is that of Lt.Col Ram Bachan Singh (retd.) who took part in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Three generations of Ram Bachan’s family have served in the Army. His son Ashok is currently serving in the Army.

    Gahmar even has a training ground to help those who wish to join the Army prepare for it.

    “Village youths have arranged all the necessary equipment for running and exercise in a ground near a river bank and they train every morning and evening,” social worker Chandra said.

    The ground resembles an Army training unit, he said, adding that it has a running track and various other facilities needed for rigorous training for Army recruitment.

    Chandra said youths of the village are inspired by their elders and also get preference in Army recruitment as children of ex-servicemen.

    “But due to youngsters focusing on training for military recruitment instead of pursuing higher education, hardly a dozen people from the village have made it to officer ranks,” he said.

    GHAZIPUR: In Gahmar, one of the country’s largest villages and where almost every household has members who have served or are serving in the Army, the enthusiasm is palpable on the eve of Independence Day with the tricolour hoisted atop every house.

    In this “village of soldiers”, hoisting the tricolour on Independence Day and Republic Day is a tradition and the government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign this year has only added to the spirit of patriotism.

    The central government has launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign under which people are being encouraged to hoist the tricolour at their houses to mark 75 years of India’s independence.

    Villagers say soldiers from Gahmar have fought in wars from World War II to Kargil conflict.

    Pictures and medals of soldiers adorn shelves in most houses of Gahmar. Village head Balwant Singh estimates that Gahmar has given 20,000 soldiers to the country so far. “Currently, about 5,000 villagers are working in different positions in the Army,” he said.

    Gahmar has a population of about 1.25 lakh.

    “The spirit of patriotism resides in the heart of every family living here. Ours is a village of soldiers. You will definitely find a soldier in almost every house here. Many members of most families are serving in the Army,” Balwant Singh told PTI.

    “Though Independence Day is celebrated every year in Gahmar village, this time special preparations are being made to mark 75 years of independence. People of the village have also joined the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign,” he said.

    “The tricolour has been hoisted atop every house in the village and the administration is also doing its bit to make the campaign a success,” he added.

    Ishwar Chandra, a social worker, said the spirit of patriotism gripped the village after many of its soldiers laid down their lives in World War II.

    “Multiple generations of some families have been associated with the Army,” he said.

    One such family is that of Lt.Col Ram Bachan Singh (retd.) who took part in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Three generations of Ram Bachan’s family have served in the Army. His son Ashok is currently serving in the Army.

    Gahmar even has a training ground to help those who wish to join the Army prepare for it.

    “Village youths have arranged all the necessary equipment for running and exercise in a ground near a river bank and they train every morning and evening,” social worker Chandra said.

    The ground resembles an Army training unit, he said, adding that it has a running track and various other facilities needed for rigorous training for Army recruitment.

    Chandra said youths of the village are inspired by their elders and also get preference in Army recruitment as children of ex-servicemen.

    “But due to youngsters focusing on training for military recruitment instead of pursuing higher education, hardly a dozen people from the village have made it to officer ranks,” he said.

  • ‘Bankipore Jail, Patna Collectorate should have been saved, celebrated on Azadi fest’

    By PTI

    PATNA: A historic jail in which numerous freedom fighters were imprisoned, Dutch-era Patna Collectorate that witnessed the 1857 Mutiny and other landmarks in the city associated with India’s struggle for ‘Azadi’ should have been preserved and celebrated today, many heritage lovers said on the eve of Independence Day.

    As India is all geared up to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence on Monday, many people, including commoners and domain experts, on Sunday lamented that the 19th-century Bankipore Central Jail, 1885-built Anjuman Islamia Hall, centuries-old Collectorate, among other heritage buildings, in the Bihar capital, have been demolished in the last decade or so.

    Identified with its characteristic red-brick structure and turrets serving as watchtowers, the landmark jail, located on Fraser Road near the Patna Junction, was razed in 2010 to make way for the sprawling Buddha Smriti Park.

    Amid an outcry from a few quarters, a small portion of it was preserved in the verdant surroundings of the park.

    A plaque installed near it reads, “Remains of the Bankipore Jail – First reference in archival records 1895. Shifted in the year 1994. Many freedom fighters were imprisoned here.”

    Many nationalist leaders and freedom fighters were incarcerated in it from time to time, including during the Quit India movement that began in August 1942 on Mahatma Gandh’s call.

    Congress leader Rajendra Prasad, who later became India’s first president in 1950, was also kept in this jail by the British government.

    His granddaughter Tara Sinha in his biography, has a chapter on his life in Bankipore Jail, and says Prasad was imprisoned there from “August 9, 1942 to June 5, 1945”.

    “Prison life is bound to be irksome in so far as it deprives one of freedom, but I should say that I did not, after all, have a bad time in Bankipore Jail,” Rajendra Prasad: A Brief Biography quotes Prasad in the chapter.

    According to the book ‘Builders of Modern India – Rajendra Prasad’ by renowned scholar Kali Kinkar Datta, when members of an official committee visited the old jail in Patna and asked if he wanted to be released, Prasad had replied, “Not, until and unless all the others were released”.

    Heritage lovers from Delhi to Patna, including scholars and conservation architects, said the preservation of built heritage is essential to “keep these stories of freedom struggle alive” and demolishing the jail or other structures having an association with it, was a “grave mistake”.

    Some suggested that the Bankipore Central Jail could have been turned into a tourist attraction on the lines of the historic Cellular Jail in Port Blair.

    Patna native and research scholar Pushkar Raj said he felt distressed over a “wave of demolition” of heritage buildings that have taken place in the city in the last 10-12 years, the latest being the historic centuries-old Patna Collectorate, a cluster of old buildings from Dutch era as well as British period, located on the banks of Ganga.

    “The Collectorate’s buildings had seen the Dutch trade and the British rule here. Its walls, literally have heard those stories and seen and witnessed so much history in the past few centuries. These buildings should have been preserved and celebrated today by both the government as well as people, especially when India is celebrating 75 years of Independence and the legacy of freedom fighters, ” he said.

    The Collectorate has also been a silent witness to the 1857 Mutiny — India’s First War of Independence; it has seen the birth of Bihar and Orissa as a separate province when Patna turned into its capital; its buildings have seen two World Wars, weathered deadly earthquakes and witnessed the “dawn of Independence on August 15, 1947”, when the Union Jack on its top was replaced with the Indian tricolour, heritage lovers said.

    On this 75th anniversary of Azadi, citizens must also pledge to work together to “reverse this trend of demolition” in Patna, they said.

    But, it was not just the central jail where so much of history happened during the freedom struggle that Patna has lost, as the Anjuman Islamia Hall on the Ashok Rajpath was demolished in December 2018 for a new complex.

    “Anjuman Islamia Hall was a historic building, established when even the modern province of Bihar was not born. So, many legendary personalities associated with the freedom movement have visited the Hall and addressed people, and many key conferences and other events had taken place in it. It was a priceless heritage. The new building will carry its name, but not its legacy,” said Bihar-born Md Umar Ashraf, a heritage enthusiast.

    A senior government official said Independence Day will be celebrated with great patriotic fervour and spirit, and many public buildings will be lit up such as Patna DM House, Patna Commissioner’s Office Building, both British-era structures; Gyan Bhawan, Bapu Sabhagar, and S K Memorial Hall.

    Short videos on some of the freedom fighters from Bihar have also been released by the state government on the occasion.

    Conservation architect Amrita Jena said Patna is a historic city, and built heritage has to be preserved as they are our “windows to the past” and “tangible remains of an era gone by”, and demolishing them means closing those windows forever.

    “Demolition of the historic jail or the Patna Collectorate was definitely a lost opportunity, as these could have been preserved, restored, reused and showcased today when India marks 75 years of its Independence. New projects could have been built elsewhere, but not at the cost of heritage, ” she said.

    PATNA: A historic jail in which numerous freedom fighters were imprisoned, Dutch-era Patna Collectorate that witnessed the 1857 Mutiny and other landmarks in the city associated with India’s struggle for ‘Azadi’ should have been preserved and celebrated today, many heritage lovers said on the eve of Independence Day.

    As India is all geared up to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence on Monday, many people, including commoners and domain experts, on Sunday lamented that the 19th-century Bankipore Central Jail, 1885-built Anjuman Islamia Hall, centuries-old Collectorate, among other heritage buildings, in the Bihar capital, have been demolished in the last decade or so.

    Identified with its characteristic red-brick structure and turrets serving as watchtowers, the landmark jail, located on Fraser Road near the Patna Junction, was razed in 2010 to make way for the sprawling Buddha Smriti Park.

    Amid an outcry from a few quarters, a small portion of it was preserved in the verdant surroundings of the park.

    A plaque installed near it reads, “Remains of the Bankipore Jail – First reference in archival records 1895. Shifted in the year 1994. Many freedom fighters were imprisoned here.”

    Many nationalist leaders and freedom fighters were incarcerated in it from time to time, including during the Quit India movement that began in August 1942 on Mahatma Gandh’s call.

    Congress leader Rajendra Prasad, who later became India’s first president in 1950, was also kept in this jail by the British government.

    His granddaughter Tara Sinha in his biography, has a chapter on his life in Bankipore Jail, and says Prasad was imprisoned there from “August 9, 1942 to June 5, 1945”.

    “Prison life is bound to be irksome in so far as it deprives one of freedom, but I should say that I did not, after all, have a bad time in Bankipore Jail,” Rajendra Prasad: A Brief Biography quotes Prasad in the chapter.

    According to the book ‘Builders of Modern India – Rajendra Prasad’ by renowned scholar Kali Kinkar Datta, when members of an official committee visited the old jail in Patna and asked if he wanted to be released, Prasad had replied, “Not, until and unless all the others were released”.

    Heritage lovers from Delhi to Patna, including scholars and conservation architects, said the preservation of built heritage is essential to “keep these stories of freedom struggle alive” and demolishing the jail or other structures having an association with it, was a “grave mistake”.

    Some suggested that the Bankipore Central Jail could have been turned into a tourist attraction on the lines of the historic Cellular Jail in Port Blair.

    Patna native and research scholar Pushkar Raj said he felt distressed over a “wave of demolition” of heritage buildings that have taken place in the city in the last 10-12 years, the latest being the historic centuries-old Patna Collectorate, a cluster of old buildings from Dutch era as well as British period, located on the banks of Ganga.

    “The Collectorate’s buildings had seen the Dutch trade and the British rule here. Its walls, literally have heard those stories and seen and witnessed so much history in the past few centuries. These buildings should have been preserved and celebrated today by both the government as well as people, especially when India is celebrating 75 years of Independence and the legacy of freedom fighters, ” he said.

    The Collectorate has also been a silent witness to the 1857 Mutiny — India’s First War of Independence; it has seen the birth of Bihar and Orissa as a separate province when Patna turned into its capital; its buildings have seen two World Wars, weathered deadly earthquakes and witnessed the “dawn of Independence on August 15, 1947”, when the Union Jack on its top was replaced with the Indian tricolour, heritage lovers said.

    On this 75th anniversary of Azadi, citizens must also pledge to work together to “reverse this trend of demolition” in Patna, they said.

    But, it was not just the central jail where so much of history happened during the freedom struggle that Patna has lost, as the Anjuman Islamia Hall on the Ashok Rajpath was demolished in December 2018 for a new complex.

    “Anjuman Islamia Hall was a historic building, established when even the modern province of Bihar was not born. So, many legendary personalities associated with the freedom movement have visited the Hall and addressed people, and many key conferences and other events had taken place in it. It was a priceless heritage. The new building will carry its name, but not its legacy,” said Bihar-born Md Umar Ashraf, a heritage enthusiast.

    A senior government official said Independence Day will be celebrated with great patriotic fervour and spirit, and many public buildings will be lit up such as Patna DM House, Patna Commissioner’s Office Building, both British-era structures; Gyan Bhawan, Bapu Sabhagar, and S K Memorial Hall.

    Short videos on some of the freedom fighters from Bihar have also been released by the state government on the occasion.

    Conservation architect Amrita Jena said Patna is a historic city, and built heritage has to be preserved as they are our “windows to the past” and “tangible remains of an era gone by”, and demolishing them means closing those windows forever.

    “Demolition of the historic jail or the Patna Collectorate was definitely a lost opportunity, as these could have been preserved, restored, reused and showcased today when India marks 75 years of its Independence. New projects could have been built elsewhere, but not at the cost of heritage, ” she said.

  • PM Modi pays homage to all those who lost their lives during partition

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid homage to all those who lost their lives during partition, and applauded the resilience as well as grit of those who suffered during that tragic period of history.

    Prime Minister Modi had announced last year that August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in memory of the struggles and sacrifices of people.

    “Today, on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, I pay homage to all those who lost their lives during Partition, and applaud the resilience as well as grit of all those who suffered during that tragic period of our history,” Modi said in a tweet.

    Pakistan was carved out as a separate country after the division of India by the British in 1947.

    Millions of people were displaced and many lakhs of them lost their lives in the communal violence that followed.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid homage to all those who lost their lives during partition, and applauded the resilience as well as grit of those who suffered during that tragic period of history.

    Prime Minister Modi had announced last year that August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in memory of the struggles and sacrifices of people.

    “Today, on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, I pay homage to all those who lost their lives during Partition, and applaud the resilience as well as grit of all those who suffered during that tragic period of our history,” Modi said in a tweet.

    Pakistan was carved out as a separate country after the division of India by the British in 1947.

    Millions of people were displaced and many lakhs of them lost their lives in the communal violence that followed.

  • President Droupadi Murmu to address nation today

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu will address the nation on Sunday on the eve of 76th Independence Day. Droupadi Murmu was elected President last month.

    The address will be broadcast from 7 pm on the entire national network of All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version.

    The broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by a broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15.

    People are enthusiastically taking part in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

    The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign commenced on Saturday and will run till August 15.

    ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

    The programme envisages inspiring Indians everywhere to hoist the national flag at their homes. The aim of the programme is to make the relationship with the national flag a more personal one rather than just keeping it formal or institutional.

    Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of India’s people, culture and achievements.

    This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

    The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on March 12, 2021, which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence.

    Last month, Prime Minister Modi launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence. The idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of Culture said.

    He also urged the people of India to hoist the tricolour at their homes between August 13 to 15 to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.

    PM Modi on Friday shared pictures of people taking Tiranga rallies from all over India. Sharing a photo in which hundreds of people took out a Tiranga march, PM Modi said: “This is a great collective effort by the people of Visakhapatnam. I admire the enthusiasm towards #HarGharTiranga.”

    The Prime Minister on Saturday urged citizens of the country to share a photo with the Tiranga on the Har Ghar Tiranga website to mark the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

    He had also urged the people to hoist the tricolour at their homes between August 13 and 15 to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.

    Earlier, Indian citizens were not allowed to hoist the National Flag except on selected occasions. This changed after a decade-long legal battle by industrialist Naveen Jindal culminated in the landmark SC judgement of January 23, 2004, that declared that the right to fly the National Flag freely with respect and dignity is a fundamental right of an Indian citizen within the meaning of Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India.

    Lauding the Centre and PM Modi for the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, Naveen Jindal has urged every Indian to make ‘Har Din Tiranga’ their motto. 

    NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu will address the nation on Sunday on the eve of 76th Independence Day. Droupadi Murmu was elected President last month.

    The address will be broadcast from 7 pm on the entire national network of All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version.

    The broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by a broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15.

    People are enthusiastically taking part in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

    The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign commenced on Saturday and will run till August 15.

    ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

    The programme envisages inspiring Indians everywhere to hoist the national flag at their homes. The aim of the programme is to make the relationship with the national flag a more personal one rather than just keeping it formal or institutional.

    Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of India’s people, culture and achievements.

    This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

    The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on March 12, 2021, which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence.

    Last month, Prime Minister Modi launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence. The idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of Culture said.

    He also urged the people of India to hoist the tricolour at their homes between August 13 to 15 to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.

    PM Modi on Friday shared pictures of people taking Tiranga rallies from all over India. Sharing a photo in which hundreds of people took out a Tiranga march, PM Modi said: “This is a great collective effort by the people of Visakhapatnam. I admire the enthusiasm towards #HarGharTiranga.”

    The Prime Minister on Saturday urged citizens of the country to share a photo with the Tiranga on the Har Ghar Tiranga website to mark the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

    He had also urged the people to hoist the tricolour at their homes between August 13 and 15 to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.

    Earlier, Indian citizens were not allowed to hoist the National Flag except on selected occasions. This changed after a decade-long legal battle by industrialist Naveen Jindal culminated in the landmark SC judgement of January 23, 2004, that declared that the right to fly the National Flag freely with respect and dignity is a fundamental right of an Indian citizen within the meaning of Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India.

    Lauding the Centre and PM Modi for the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, Naveen Jindal has urged every Indian to make ‘Har Din Tiranga’ their motto. 

  • Jyotiraditya Scindia to lead ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign in Gwalior

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia will be inaugurating a photo exhibition and spearheading various programmes at Maharani Lakshmi Bai Ki Chhatri and Central Jail in Gwalior as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on Sunday.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year announced that August 14 will be observed as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ to remind the nation of the sufferings and sacrifices of Indians during the partition in 1947.

    According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, a photo exhibition will be organised by Civil Aviation Ministry on August 14 at Maharani Lakshmi Bai Ki Chhatri in Gwalior.

    The event will be inaugurated and led by Scindia.

    During the event, he will be hoisting the national flag at Maharani Lakshmi Bai Samarak, paying his tributes to the freedom fighters of our freedom struggle and will also meet and felicitate their family members.

    During this visit, the Minister will also be inaugurating Railway Hockey Stadium, Media Center at Phoolbagh and various upgradation works at a district hospital in Murar.

    Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) is being observed by the Central government and the Indian populace to mark the country’s 75th anniversary of independence with an enthusiasm to bring the Tiranga home and be a part of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.

    ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

    The programme envisages inspiring Indians everywhere to hoist the national flag at their homes. The aim of the programme is to make the relationship with the national flag a more personal one rather than just keeping it formal or institutional.

    Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of India’s people, culture and achievements.

    This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

    The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on March 12, 2021, which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence.

    Last month, Prime Minister Modi launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence. The idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of Culture said.

    He also urged the people of India to hoist the tricolour at their homes between August 13th and 15th to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.

    PM Modi on Friday shared pictures of people taking Tiranga rallies from all over India. Sharing a photo in which hundreds of people took out a Tiranga march, PM Modi said: “This is a great collective effort by the people of Visakhapatnam. I admire the enthusiasm towards #HarGharTiranga.”

    Earlier, Indian citizens were not allowed to hoist the National Flag except on selected occasions. This changed after a decade-long legal battle by industrialist Naveen Jindal culminated in the landmark SC judgement of January 23, 2004, that declared that the right to fly the National Flag freely with respect and dignity is a fundamental right of an Indian citizen within the meaning of Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India.

    Lauding the Centre and PM Modi for the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, Naveen Jindal has urged every Indian to make ‘Har Din Tiranga’ their motto. 

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia will be inaugurating a photo exhibition and spearheading various programmes at Maharani Lakshmi Bai Ki Chhatri and Central Jail in Gwalior as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on Sunday.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year announced that August 14 will be observed as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ to remind the nation of the sufferings and sacrifices of Indians during the partition in 1947.

    According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, a photo exhibition will be organised by Civil Aviation Ministry on August 14 at Maharani Lakshmi Bai Ki Chhatri in Gwalior.

    The event will be inaugurated and led by Scindia.

    During the event, he will be hoisting the national flag at Maharani Lakshmi Bai Samarak, paying his tributes to the freedom fighters of our freedom struggle and will also meet and felicitate their family members.

    During this visit, the Minister will also be inaugurating Railway Hockey Stadium, Media Center at Phoolbagh and various upgradation works at a district hospital in Murar.

    Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) is being observed by the Central government and the Indian populace to mark the country’s 75th anniversary of independence with an enthusiasm to bring the Tiranga home and be a part of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.

    ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.

    The programme envisages inspiring Indians everywhere to hoist the national flag at their homes. The aim of the programme is to make the relationship with the national flag a more personal one rather than just keeping it formal or institutional.

    Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of India’s people, culture and achievements.

    This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

    The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on March 12, 2021, which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence.

    Last month, Prime Minister Modi launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence. The idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of Culture said.

    He also urged the people of India to hoist the tricolour at their homes between August 13th and 15th to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.

    PM Modi on Friday shared pictures of people taking Tiranga rallies from all over India. Sharing a photo in which hundreds of people took out a Tiranga march, PM Modi said: “This is a great collective effort by the people of Visakhapatnam. I admire the enthusiasm towards #HarGharTiranga.”

    Earlier, Indian citizens were not allowed to hoist the National Flag except on selected occasions. This changed after a decade-long legal battle by industrialist Naveen Jindal culminated in the landmark SC judgement of January 23, 2004, that declared that the right to fly the National Flag freely with respect and dignity is a fundamental right of an Indian citizen within the meaning of Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India.

    Lauding the Centre and PM Modi for the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, Naveen Jindal has urged every Indian to make ‘Har Din Tiranga’ their motto.