Essays

August 15, 1947 is the day engraved in gold in the history of India. It is the day when India attained its freedom from the clutches of a long slavery of over 200 years of the British Rule. It was a long and hard struggle in which many freedom fighters and great men laid their lives for our beloved motherland. Mahalma Gandhi led the great non-violent movement against which the British had to finally succumb. The country produced great leaders and patriots like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Subhash Chandra Bose, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Laid Lajpat Rai, Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, Sardar Valldbh Bhai Patel, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and Chandra Shekhar Azad.

The struggle for Independence was such a moving force that it united all the people belonging to different castes, classes and beliefs into a single nation. Women also came out of their houses and significantly contributed to the freedom struggle. Women like Aruna Asaf Alt, Sarojini Naidu, Vijay Laxmi Pandit, Kamla Nehru, Kasturba Gandhi. and Annie Beasant contributed greatly to the success of our freedom movement.

August 15 is celebrated as Independence Day every year. On our first Independence Day, Pandit Nehru, our first Prime Minister, hoisted the National Flag, the Tricolour at the Red Fort. At midnight when the whole world was sleeping. India awoke into a great nation promising peace, prosperity, equality and liberty.

Since then, Independence Day is traditionally celebrated with full zeal, fervour and great excitement. Every particle and pollen in the air seems to be charged with the love of the motherland on this particular day. One can see small children carrying small Tri-colours in their hands running with zeal towards their schools early in the morning for flag hoisting ceremonies in the schools. Every vehicle, tempo, auto rickshaw, has a Tri-colour flying on top. Songs full of patriotism can be heard at every street corner.

The day is celebrated with great fervour and people pay homage to the thousands of lives laid down by great men and women, they remember the countless sacrifices made and they glorify the great Indian tradition and culture with which we have enriched the world.

The Prime Minister of India hoists the flag at the Red Fort and gives a traditional speech addressing the people of India. All government and private institutions, schools, colleges and universities celebrate this day of great historical importance by hoisting the Tricolour and distributing sweets and ladoos. People sing National Anthem and patriotic songs and hear speeches in memory of the glorious and long struggle, the sacrifice and great deeds of the people which led India to independence.

Even the Television Channels and Radio programmes are charged with patriotism Films based on patriotic themes are telecast to let the people and children know about the various incidents of our freedom struggle and to inspire love for our motherland. Newspapers too print special editions, and cite inspirational stories of great men excerpted from great books written by the great men.

Independence Day, thus, is an important day in the life of every Indian. Year after year, it reminds us of the great sacrifice and struggle made by our freedom fighters to free Mother India from foreign rule. It reminds us of the great ideals which were the foundation of the dream of a free India, envisioned and realized by the founding fathers. It also reminds us that our forefathers have done their share of duty. It lies in our hands now how do we shape and form the future of our country. They have played their part and have played it really well. The country now looks up to us how we perform our part now.