India-World Champion 2011

Struggle for the Freedom: Is India really an Independent Country?

India did wake up to life and freedom on 15th August, 1947. Today as we walk freely and without any restrictions on the streets of India, we tend to forget that our every breath of freedom is due to those freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to free our mother land; who sacrificed their happiness that they could have got by living with their families instead of fighting with British away from home, so that the next generation (includes us) can live the life with liberty and sovereignty. We definitely have forgotten the main reason for their sacrifice (mentioned in the last two paragraphs of this blog). We are very familiar with many famous Indian Freedom Fighters such as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Chandra Shekhar Azad and many more. Along with these fighters, there were many other strugglers whose name has been vanished and probably are not even remembered as much as these famous fighters.

Remembering Our Brave Freedom Fighters

India’s initial fight for Independence started in 1857. Mangal Pandey born on 19th July, 1827 in Nagwa village of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh was the very first Indian freedom fighter who rose against British. He was a sepoy in the 34th regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry that belonged to the British East India Company. When they were stationed at Barrackpore near Kolkata, Mangal Pandey attacked British Officers and tried to kill them due to the fact that the cartridges they were supposed to use in their rifles were greased with animal fat and the sepoys were supposed to bite them before they fired. This was against the religious beliefs of the Hindus and Muslims sepoys. Many of his followers joined him in this uprising against British. Mangal Pandey was arrested and was found guilty. He and his fellow Jemadar were sentenced to death by hanging on 8th April, 1857.
Even though, the journey of our first hero, Mangal Pandey had ended, the rebellion continued by many other freedom fighters.

“Bundele harbolon ke munh hamane suni kahaani thi,Khoob ladi mardaani woh to Jhansi waali raani thi.” -Subhadra Kumari Chauhan

Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmibai born in 1828 was called Manu during the childhood. She lost her mother at the age of 4, her father encouraged her with martial training including horse riding, fencing and shooting. She than got married to Raja Gangadhar Rao and became a Queen of Jhansi when she was given the new name Rani Lakshmibai. Rani gave a birth to a son who unfortunately died within 4 months and few months later, Gangadhar became ill and urged to adopt a son only one day before his death. Rani than adopted a son named Damodhar Rao witnessed by the local British representatives. Upon the death of Raja, British-Indian authorities refused to recognize the adopted child as a next prince. They confiscated the state jewels and deducted Raja’s debts from Rani’s annual pension. She was than required to leave Jhansi fort, but Rani did not leave and followed her duty in protecting the state of Jhansi. In 1858, British attacked the Jhansi Fort and after weeks of conflict, they succeeded in seizing Jhansi. However Rani managed to escape along with her son and took refuge in Kalpi with the small group of her faithful soldiers. Three months later, with the help of Nawab of Banda and others, Rani lead a successful attack on the British fortress at Gwalior which was under the control of General Hugh Rose. Rani was determined to secure Jhansi from British annexation throughout her life. Her decision of not giving up went to the extent of establishing links with various revolutionaries including Tatya Tope. It is said that during her meeting with Tatya Tope she had mentioned her vision and foresight for India’s freedom. During the war of Gwalior, thousands of soldiers were killed. On the last day at the battlefield, Rani rode on her horse as the rebellious leader, dressed as a man with her sword. She was in the middle of the battle when a British Army soldier threw his sword at her, killing the braves Jhansi Ki Rani on 18th June, 1858.

This was just a beginning of the war against British to free India.

Dadabhai Naoroji born on 4th Sept., 1825 to a poor Parsi family in Bombay did not get into the battlefield yet struggled in various different ways to get Indians their true rights. Dadabhai entered the political battle in 1852. In 1853 East India Company had applied for a renewal of their lease which Dadabhai strongly opposed and sent petitions to the British government, but the government denied his plea and renewed the lease. Dadabhai felt the British misrule was due to the ignorance of Indian people. He started Gyan Prasarak Mandali (Society for Promotion of Knowledge) for the education of adults. Dadabhai wrote several petitions to Governors and Viceroys in regards to the problems in India. Eventually he felt the Britishers should be made aware of troubles in India. In 1855 he went to England where he joined many learned societies where he conveyed many speeches and wrote several articles on the plight of India. On 1st. December 1866, Dadabhai founded the East Indian Association which included high-ranking officers from India and also people who had access to Members of the British Parliament. Dadabhai Naoroji died at the age of 92 on 30th June 1917. Before his death, several of his requests were approved by the government. In 1892 he was elected to the British Parliament from Central Finsbury as the Liberal party candidate. Dadabhai got a resolution passed in the British Parliament for holding preliminary examinations for the I.C.S. in India and England. He also got the Wiley Commission, the royal commission on India expenditure, to acknowledge the need for even distribution of administrative and military expenditure between India and England. In 1885 Dadabhai was founder of the Indian National Congress along with A.O. Hume. He was elected three times for the post of the President of the Indian National Congress. It was during his presidential address in 1906 when the demand of Swaraj (Self-rule) was publicly expressed by him which was finally achieved on 15th August 1947 through many more struggles by our freedom fighters that came into action after the death of Dadabhai Naoroji.

“Political guru of Mahatma Gandhi; one of the pioneers of the Indian national movement; founder of the Servants of India Society,” Gopal Krishna Gokhale was born on 9th May 1866 in Kothapur, Maharashtra. He was the first generation of Indian to receive college education. Gokhale was respected widely in the nascent Indian intellectual community and across India. He came into publice in 1866 when he started delivering speeches on “India under the British Rule”, which was much appreciated. He regularly contributed his articles to Bal Gangadhal Tilak’s weekly “Mahratta” through which he tried to awaken the hidden patriotism of Indian people. In 1902 Gokhale became a member of the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi where he spoke for the people of India. Due to the fact that he had an excellent grasp of the economic problems of our country because of which he was able to present during the debates. In 1905, Gokhale started a new society called "Servants of India Society". This society trained workers for the service of the country. In the same year, Gokhale went to England to convey his concerns relating to the unfair treatment of the Indian people by the British government. Gokhale pleaded for gradual reforms to ultimately attain Swaraj, or self-government, in India. He was involved in introducing the Morley- Minto Reforms of 1909, which eventually became law. Though the reforms sowed the seeds of communal division in India, yet, they gave Indian access to the seats of the highest authority within the government, and their voices were more audible in matters of public interest. Gopal Krishna Gokhale fought for the rights of every Indian where he did find success and eventually he died on 19th Feb. 1915.

The first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of a state in India, Sarojini Naidu was born on 13th Feb. 1879. She was a brilliant student and proficient in Urdu, Telugu, English, Bengali, and Persian. Sarojini Naidu joined the Indian National Movement during the wake of partition of Bengal in 1905 where she met Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, C.P. Rama, Swami Iyer, Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru. She awakened women of India, traveled from city to city and asked for the rights of the women. Sarojini Naidu re-established self-esteem within the women of India. In 1925 Sarojini Naidu headed the annual session of Indian National Congress at Kanpur and played a leading role during the Civil Disobedience Movement, which is when she was jailed along with Gandhiji and other leaders. In 1942, she was arrested during the “Quit India” movement and was jailed for 21 months with Gandhiji. After Independence, Sarojini Naidu became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. She was the first woman Governor. Sarojini Naidu died on 2nd March 1949 in her office.

An Immortal revolutionary and one of the greatest martyrs, Ashfaqulla Khan was born on 22nd Oct. 1900 in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Ashfaq joined revolutionary activities in 1922, when Mahatma Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement after the violence incident of Chauri Chaura when a police station was set on fire and some policemen had died. Youngsters including Asfaq were very disappointed and they decided that the country should become free as early as possible. Ashfaq who was a muslim became a very good friend with Ramprasad Bismil who was also from Shahjahanpur and was hindu, yet the religion did not come in the way during their freedom struggle. Sachindra Nath Sanyal founded the organization “Hindustan Republican Association” whose objective was to win the freedom for India through armed revolution (violation). Ashfaq and Ramprasad were part of this association. In 1925, the association issued a policy called Krantikari which eliminated the inequality and slavery. Carrying out the revolution requires a lot of money, which is why the famous Kakori train robbery was conceived. The idea of robbery was of Ramaprasad which Ashafaq opposed saying it would be a hasty step, yet joined the idea of the robbery along with Sachindra Bakshi and Rajendra Lahiri. On 9th Aug. 1925 the robbery took place when the train from Shahjahanput to Lucknow was approaching Kakori. The group of ten young revolutionaries took the money and fled. For about one month none of the revolutionaries were arrested until 26th Sept. 1925 Ramaprasad Bismil was arrested while Ashfaq was able to escape. Finally in Delhi, Asfaq was caught by the police and was charge sheeted in the court. A committee which consisted of reputed lawyers like Moti Lal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sriprakasha, Acharya Narendra Dev, Govind Ballabh Pant and Chandra Bhanu Gupta was formed to defend the revolutionaries in the Kakori train robbery case. Their effort in defending the revolutionaries failed in the court of justice under British rule. As a result, Ramaprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Roshan Singh were sentenced to death and rests of them were given life sentences. Whole country protested against the death sentences and petitions were made to the viceroy, yet there was no difference. On 19th Dec. 1927, Ashfaqulla Khan was hanged to death at district jail, Faizabad. “Ashfaq’s devotion to the cause of freedom made him the foremost among those who gave their lives to win the freedom of the country. Love for the motherland, clear thinking, courage, firmness and loyalty were embodied in Ashfaq to the hilt. He deserves to be remembered and cherished by all Indians for his noble qualities.”

A distinguished scholar, great poet, true freedom fighter and independent India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad was born on 11th Nov. 1888 in Mecca. His father Maulana Khaiiruddin had left India during Sepoy Mutiny and settled in Mecca. In 1890, he along with his family returned to India and settled down in Calcutta. Maulana Azad visited many places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Turkey where he met many banished revolutionaries, patriotic leaders, freedom fighters and other political members who inspired Azad with their revolutionary activities. After returning back to India, he joined revolutionary movement which was under Aurbindo Ghosh and Sri Shyam Sunder Chakravarthy. Mualana Azad also opened secret revolutionary centers all over North India and in Bombay (now known as Mumbai). He convinced Muslim revolutionaries to fight for India’s freedom rather than fighting for anti-Muslim causes. In 1912 Mualana Azad started a weekly journal creating awareness of Indian nationalism and revolutionary ideas which were based on Hindu-Muslim unity. In 1916 the weekly journal proved to be a threat to British Empire and so he was expelled from Calcutta and was released after the First World War in 1920. After he was released, he actively participated in Khilafat Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement and Salt Satyagraha. He was imprisoned several times but this could not stop his struggle for freedom. In 1947 after India gained its independence Maulana Azad was appointed as the Minister of Education in the cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. He served country until he died of a stroke on 22nd Feb. 1958.

Freedom… But is this a real Freedom!

After more than two hundred years of British rule, on 15th August 1947 India finally gained its Independence. It was a celebration time for all the patriotic hearts and was a victory of hundreds and thousands of martyred souls. On the other side, there was a disaster happening due to the partition of India and Pakistan which the last British Governor General, Viscount Lord Mountbatten of Burma announced on 3rd June 1947 under the provisions of the Indian Independence Act 1947. After the declaration of Independence, people started moving closer to their families and relatives, from India to Pakistan and from Pakistan to India. The train that would go to Pakistan filled with people would come back with the same people killed with hatred which was clearly shown from their dead faces and the train bringing people to India would return back to Pakistan with same people with a bloody and scary death. Since then there has been the biggest enmity between India and Pakistan which was once One United Country. It is very sad that hundreds and thousands of freedom fighters who dreamt for a free unified country and truly dedicate themselves to gain this freedom has been shattered. We did gain our freedom, yet got divided into two different nations filled with hatred for each other.

Today when Indians display their hatred towards Pakistan, have they ever stopped for one second and gave a thought to all our freedom fighters who struggled for “Unified” nation... Today when Pakistanis show their hatred towards India, can they just think for one second about all the freedom fighters who struggled for their entire life so that the future of the “Unified” nation would be bright and successful...

It is really funny how we say India and Pakistan are now Independent countries, but can anyone tell me how are we independent? Our freedom fighters fought for one soil, one country, not for India and Pakistan (two different countries). They became two different countries by the Britishers who could not bear the unity and love that is in every hearts of the country people. Today India and Pakistan hate each other, kill each other, create wars and this is actually walking on the path that Britishers created for us,...How are we independent if we are still doing what Britishers started and wanted us to do? Is this what our freedom fighters struggled for? Is this a True Independence?



Thank you,
Purvi Parikh

Bhagat Singh: A Real Legend & A True Inspiration

On 23rd March, 1931 the legend was born, Bhagat Singh. He is the “Symbol of the heroism of the youth of India.” In other words, he was one of those youngsters of India who spend their entire life in fighting to free India from British rule. Even though, Bhagat Singh was put to death before India’s freedom, he still lives and he will always live in the heart of every true Indian.

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28th, 1907 in Banga village in Layalpur district of Punjab province. He was the son of one of the heroes who fought to free India from British rule, father Sardar Kishan Singh and mother Vidhyavati. Bhagat Singh’s uncles Ajit Singh and Swaran Singh were also the revolutionaries, even his grandfather; Arjan Singh was a freedom fighter. His father and his uncles were even sent to the prison by the government. Later they all were freed from the prison. Bhagat Singh was the third son of his parents.

Bhagat Singh was very friendly. From his childhood he was very much interested in studies. Bhagat Singh was liked by all his classmates and was a favorite person of his teachers. He was the leader in his class. Big boys used to carry him on their shoulder from school to home. Bhagat Singh’s childhood showed a signification that later on in his life he would become a leader of revolutionaries. The patriotism flew in his veins since his childhood days. On April 13, 1919, a very tragic even had taken place. British soldiers opened fire in Jallianwala bagh, Amritsar where countless people were gathered. There was no escape from British bullets and neither had they carried any weapons. Firing went on for quite some while. Innumerable people were dead. This event caused anger in the mind of people all over India. The next day instead of going to school, Bhagat Singh went to Jallianwala Bagh. There he kissed the earth and collected a bottle of mud wet with the blood of Indians and then he returned back home, where he worshipped it with flowers. During this Massacre, Bhagat Singh was only 12 years old. After this terrible event Bhagat Singh’s decision of driving British out of the country became firmer.

Bhagat Singh was with the non-cooperation movement, which was declared by Mohandas Gandhi. In 1922, when Bhagat Singh was only 15 years old, the congress organized a procession in the town of Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district, where some rogues came and locked up about twenty-two policemen in the house and they put it on the fire which killed all the policemen. This violence made Mohandas Gandhi very sad and he ended the non-cooperation movement. The end of the non-cooperation movement disappointed Bhagat Singh. The questions that weakened his faith in non-violence and non-cooperation were “Should an important movement be given up, just because twenty-two persons died? Before that, a nineteen year of revolutionary by the name Katar Singh has been hanged by the British government. Then none of these supporters of non-violence become so important now?” Bhagat Singh left his school and joined National college. This college was started by the great patriot, Lala Lajpat Rai.

Bhagat Singh was very knowledgeable in history and politics. During the day he listened to the lectures and in the evening he talked about the revolution with his friends. Bhagat Singh in his college life, he played the roles of the great Kings of India like ‘Ranapratap’ and Chadragupta.’

Bhagat Singh didn’t limit himself to the books. His desire of becoming a revolutionary grew as he learned more and more about revolution. Bhagat Singh’s grandmother forced that he should get married. A girl was also chosen, but Bhagat Singh’s aim was to free India from British rule so he didn’t want to marry. He left home and went to Lahore. Nobody knew where Bhagat Singh went. Before leaving, he wrote a letter saying, “The aim of my life is to fight for India’s freedom. I don’t wish for worldly pleasures. At the time of my Upanayanam (the initiation ceremony among the Hindus), my uncle had taken a sacred promise from me; I promised to sacrifice myself for the sake of the country. Accordingly I am now giving up my own happiness and going out to serve the country.” Bhagat Singh’s parents were very worried about their son. Finally, his people searched for him and brought him back home.

After returning back home, Bhagat Singh couldn’t sit idle. During those days Akali Dal had arranged a procession. But the district collector, Dil Bagh Singh issued an order that nobody should provide either food or drink to the members of Akali Dal because they wanted to prevent this procession. Dil Bagh Singh belonged to Bhagat Singh’s family, but because he was government office, he hated revolutionaries. Bhagat Singh went to villagers and explained them about Akali Dal and he arranged the supply of food for them at night very secretly and in the day there were talks about the freedom of India and people’s duties. Bhagat Singh also had chance to talk. Seeing this, collector became very angry. He issued an arrest warrant for Bhagat Singh, but because Bhagat Singh was only 17 years old, a minor, he was not arrested. Collector’s anger grew more and more.

“Bhagat Singh was a fountain of Zeal.” He thought his village, Banga was very small for his revolutionary activities, so he went to Lahore where ‘Naujavan Bharat Sabha,’ the union of revolutionaries was founded and Bhagat Singh was the secretary. This new union started teaching the lesson of revolution to the people of Punjab. Its aim was to spread Indian culture and to strengthen the youth of India. The main goal was to bring revolution of India’s freedom. In few days, this union had started many branches in different places. Sooner the time was changed, the revolutionaires’ birthdays were being celebrated, and people took out the pictures of the revolutionaries and much more. During those days Bhagat Singh used to talk about revolution and about freedom of India in public. Police were looking for him and he was escaping from them. But finally police caught him and put him in the jail. They had arrested him because few days some rogues had thrown bomb on procession during the Dussera festival and it had killed many people and police suspected revolutionaries. They tortured Bhagat Singh in many ways, but he didn’t open his mouth. Finally, magistrate feed him on bail of sixty thousand Rupees for which two rich people Duneedchand and Daulatram came forward. Bhagat Singh was released, but during his bail period he was not supposed to take part in any revolutionary activities otherwise those two rich people would have to pay sixty thousand Rupees. So Bhagat Singh didn’t take any chance and went to his village where his father had opened him a dairy. Bhagat Singh took care of that dairy for few days. Even though, Dussera bomb case was still going on, Bhagat Singh was released, he was not even on bail anymore. He closed his dairy at that time and went on with his work of revolution. In 1928, after he attended the meeting of revolutionaries in Delhi, he never returned back home.

Chandrashekhar Azad, a young revolutionary was introduced to Bhagat Singh in Delhi. In order for police to not to recognize him, he removed his beard and wore a hat. The aim of the ‘Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sangha’ (The Indian Socialist Republican Party) was “to establish a republic in India by means of an armed revolution.” These revolutionaries were looking for the bomb which could explode by causing a defending sound and destroying everything nearby when thrown on the ground. They needed numerous bombs like this to drive out British. Bhagat Singh went to Calcutta to learn how make these bombs. From there he bought as many bombs as he needed. He learnt making bombs from a revolutionary, Jatindranath Das. In Agra, the revolutionaries started a factory. But they needed money for food, and for the things to make bomb. They started to loot government offices. At last they made bombs and tested successfully at Jhansi Fort.

In February 1928, a committee from England visited India which was known as the Simon Commission. They visited to decide “how much freedom and responsibility could be given to the people of India.” But because there was no Indian in that committee, the people of India were very angry. They decided to drive out the committee back. People protested where ever the Simon Commission went. When Simon Commission entered Lahore, it had to face a big procession by ‘Naujavan Bharat Sabha.’ Thousands of Indians took part in this procession whose leader was an elderly revolutionary, Lala Lajpat Rai. They decided to protest on the railway station as soon as Simon Commission enters Lahore. During the protest, a police superintendent One Scott ordered to start biting people with heavy stick. In that biting, a police officer name Saunders hit Lala Lajpat Rai so hard that he died. The revolutionaries decided to take revenge. Bhagat Singh with the help of Chandrashekhar Azad, Sukhdev and Rajguru planned to kill Scott. Unfortunately they killed Saunders because of the mistaken identity, but it shooked the British government. The next day the posters by ‘Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sena’ appeared on the walls in the streets of Lahore saying “Lala Lajpat Rai’s death is avenged. Saunders has been murdered.” Also there were warnings for the government. After that event, people’s respect for Kranti Dal grew. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Chandrashekhar Azad escaped from Lahore. Bhagat Singh dressed as a foreign youth and ran away with Durga bhabhi, wife of revolutionary Bhagavaticharan and their child. Rajguru dressed up as an ordinary worker and Chandrashekhar Azad dressed up as a pundit (scholar) so that no one can recognize them and they went away. The police searched for them but couldn’t find them anywhere.

In April 1929, the central legislative assembly had a meeting in Delhi. The British government had decided to place two bills before the assembly which would definitely harm country’s interests. Even If assembly would reject those bills then viceroy could use his power and make them as a law. ‘Hindustan Samajvadi Prajatantra Sena’ had decided that they won’t let this bill pass, so they send Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt to Delhi. They had decided to go there and throw bomb and get arrested. On April 8th, 1929 both of them went to the assembly with the bomb. First the members rejected the bill, but as soon as the government member said “Viceroy had exercised his special powers,” the bomb fell and explored causing a fearful sound and then the other bomb fell. People were frightened and they were running, but no one was killed because their aim was not to kill anyone. Suddenly red pamphlets were thrown by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt saying ‘Long Live Revolution!’ The police came to them, but they were afraid because Bhagat Singh had a pistol in his hand. He gave away his pistol and they both got arrested, as planned. This incident drew world’s attention towards them. British government had started trembling. After this incident, government found the revolutionaries’ factories in Lahore and Shaharanpur and they also seized the material that could make seven thousands more bombs. In few, days, many leader of Kranti Dal were arrested. Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary friends were kept in Lahore jail.
The trial had begun. During those days, even political prisoners were not treated properly, they were given rotten food. Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary friends decided to fight against such conditions and treatment, so they went on hunger strike. This hunger strike went on for about two months. Then the government gave up and considered their needs during the prison time. After the sixty-fourth day on the hunger strike, a revolutionary by the name Jatin Das died but never gave up the strike. The trial had drawn the attention of the whole world. The court was guarded by the police. Before entering the court, Bhagat Singh and his companions would shout ‘Long Live Revolution! Down with the Imperialism!’ During the trial Bhagat Sing and Batukeshwar Dutt stated “If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud. When we dropped the bomb, it was not our intention to kill anybody. We have bombed the British Government. The British must quit India and make her free.” In other words, they explained the whole world their goal of the association. The final judgment was given: Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were to be hanged on March 24th, 1931, whereas some revolutionaries were given life time imprisonment, some were to be kept in prison for five years, some for seven and others for ten years. After hearing the judgment, people all over the country were angry. Thousands of appeals were made, but all of them were rejected. Finally, on March 23rd, 1931 at 7:33pm Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged. They were hanged one day before the official judgment.

As soon as people came to knew that Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were already hanged, they became very angry with the British government. They started killing Britishers very badly. People were also angry at Mohandas Gandhi, they came down on the streets shouting “Down with Gandhi,” due to the fact that he was the one who could have saved those three revolutionaries’ life by not signing the Irwin Pact during the meeting with the Viceroy until the British government agrees to commute the three revolutionaries’ death sentence.

Bhagat Singh became ‘Shaheed’ or Martyr at the age of twenty-four. His patriotism became an inspiration for many Indian youth. Even today people admire him, many poems and songs are written about his courage and many movies are still made on Bhagat Singh. Above all, Bhagat Singh became a Legend on 23rd March 1931 and a symbol of bravery. Bhagat Singh’s achievement is that today India is an Independent Country. It was Bhagat Singh, who wanted the ‘total independence,’ otherwise Mohandas Gandhi was happy with the ‘dominion status.’

Bhagat Singh had stated in his prison diary: “The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation here after, but to make the best use of it here below; and not to realize truth, beauty and good only in contemplation, but also in-the actual experience of daily life’ social progress depends not upon the ennoblement of the few but on the enrichment of democracy; universal brotherhood can be achieved only when there is an equality of opportunity-of opportunity in the social political and individual life.”

Bhagat Singhji will always be alive in the hearts of every true Indian!


Jai Hind!

The importance of Indian Republic Day, January 26th

Introduction to January 26th:

January 26th was celebrated even before the Independence of India from the British rule on August 15, 1947 but in different context, “It was the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress at midnight of December 31, 1929 - January 1, 1930, that the Tri-Color Flag was unfurled by the nationalists and a pledge taken that every year on January 26, the "Independence Day" would be celebrated and that the people would unceasingly strive for the establishment of a Sovereign Democratic Republic of India”.

India became a Republic and the constitution came into force on January 26, 1950. The Constituent Assembly was organized and appointed a committee with Dr. Baba Saheb. Ambedkar as Chairman to draft the Constitution. India declared herself to be a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The Indian Constitution, the longest in the world, consist 397 articles and 12 schedules, which provides for a single citizenship for the whole of India.

Constitution represents justice, social, economic and political liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. January 26th is celebrated all over the country at national capital, state capitals, municipal corporations, talukas, panchayats and other official agencies. At the level of the people, it is observed in families, housing colonies, schools, colleges and other institutions of every kind.

Celebration at the Capital, New Delhi:

Republic Day is celebrated at New Delhi “with most spectacular events include the march past of the three armed Forces, (air, sea & land) massive parades of police contingents, Home guards and Civil Defense, NCC, school children and cultural troupes folk dances by tribal folk from the different states in picturesque costumes marking the cultural unity of India.

Further, the streak of jet planes of Indian Air Force, leaving a trial of colored smoke, marks the end of the festival. The trees on both sides of the routes and the lawns become alive with spectators.” And, no other country in the world can parade so many ethnically different people in splendid uniforms as India's Armed Forces. But they are all united in their proven loyalty to the Government and in their proud traditions and legendary gallantry.

Since many years, the Republic Day Parade starts from Rashtrapati Bhavan and winding its way through the heart of the city, ends at the historic Red Fort in Old Delhi.
Republic Day reminds us of the fulfillment of the pledge that was made on the midnight of Independence Day as a “tryst with destiny”.” The act of framing the Constitution puts a spotlight on B.R. Ambedkar whose indefatigable efforts and sharp insights helped the preparation of the document. It endeavors to secure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity and assures the dignity of the individual by conferring fundamental rights upon the citizen. With one stroke, it abolished all distinctions of status, rank, creed, color and sex.”

The President of India at New Delhi takes salute of the contingents of Armed Forces. In the States, the Governors take the salute, and in Taluqas and administrative headquarters on same procedure is adopted.

The celebration mood lasts for one week. It consists of the ground preparations, rehearsals, the main display and at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi, three days later (i.e. 29th January) the massed bands of the Armed Forces "Beat the Retreat" in a majestic manner, a day before Martyrs Day. The notes of ‘Abide with me’, favorite of Mahatma Gandhi is played with final retreat marking the end of Republic day celebrations The mass media, All India Radio, Doordarshan and TV channels are agog with a variety of programmers.

Republic Day message from Dr. Rajendra Prasad - the 1st president of India

"We must re-dedicate ourselves on this day to the peaceful but sure realization of the dream that had inspired the Father of our Nation and the other captains and soldiers of our freedom struggle, the dream of establishing a classless, co-operative, free and happy society in "his country,"

"We must remember that this is more a day of dedications than of rejoicing - dedication to the glorious task of making the peasants and workers the toilers and the thinkers fully free, happy and cultured”.