Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Greetings

 

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Greetings

India has come a long way; it has completed 75 years of her Independence. It is a matter of joy. Mahamahim Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation on the eve of the Independence Day, August 15, her first after becoming the President, was a non-starter, frankly. The marginalized sections of the society expected more from one of their
own. PM Narendra Modi, as usual, spoke for the 9^th time with confidence and authority, as expected, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a traditional annual ritual. He is a politician to the core, as demonstrated repeatedly, holding the reigns of the country for the last 8 years. Good or bad; history will judge it in due course but, to my mind, prima facie, he is yet to become a statesman. It takes time; India requires statesmen to steer India that is Bharat, a multi religious and diversified society. PM Narendra Modi termed India as ‘the mother of democracy’ in his long speech in the morning of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotav. But, on ground,  our political democracy is yet to be transformed into social and economic democracy as visualized by Babasaheb Ambedkar.  The speech was full of hope to make India a ‘Developed country’ in the next 25 years; a long way to go. At the same time, the speech tended to create further confusion with the assertions like ‘Gulami Ka Ansh Mitana Hai’ – eradicate the mindset of servitude. It would have been

better and in order, if he had mentioned about the beating and killing of a dalit boy of 9 years by his school teacher in Jalore, the other day, just because he touched the water supposed to belong to some high caste in the school. Caste system, about which the society and the government, is blissfully silent, is the biggest negation of the very edifice of our constitution which professes; Equality, Liberty, Justice and Fraternity. Anyway, today on the occasion of happiness, I have no intention to be negative. India is on rails and I take this opportunity to greet my fellow countrymen on the reaching an important milestone of 75^th year in the fascinating journey to development and prosperity and also wish God Speed to the Government.

As a humble and duty conscious citizen of India, I joined the call of ‘Ghar Ghar Tiranga: Har Ghar Tiranga’, and rightly so. We should be proud of our national symbols and heritage as PM Naendra Modi reiterated this in his speech today – respect and preserve our ‘drohar and Virasat’. But we should not be oblivious of the reality – Jara Dekh Jo Kuch Ho Raha; Hone wala Hai, Bhala Rakha Kya Hai Ehde Kuhan Ki Dastano Mein. There should be no acrimonious debate on this. We are yet to go a long way for that we need to remain on track. And it could only be done if we bring about ‘Ekta and Ek Jut Ta’ – Unity and Togetherness as asserted by PM Modi. May God show us the way to much needed ‘Unity’ in the years to come.

We celebrated Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with great enthusiasm and solemnity in Jalandhar – hoisted the Tricolour at our house as ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’, my grand-daughters, Suhani and Rupal participated in the programme at their school and I unfurled the National Flag as the

Chief Guest at a celebratory function at the Silver Residency Apartments, an abode of more than 200 hundred cultured and well to do families in a residential complex.  It was a befitting function to celebrate the occasion – Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. In my brief remarks, referring to the ‘mantra of unity’ of PM Narendra Modi, said that the unity starts from the family, Mohalla, City, State and reaches the country at large. Let us start and profess ‘unity’ from here itself – Tum Hi Tum Ho To Kya Tum Ho; Hum Hi Hum Hain To Kya Hum Hain. Congratulating the audience on the Independence Day, I said that it was a matter of satisfaction that we had a functional constitution which had stood the test of time. In spite travails and tribulations, India remained India only because of the constitution. Referring to the recent unfortunate and condemnable incident of beating and killing of a 9 year old dalit child by his own teacher in Jalore of Rajasthan, I added that democracy had no meaning without establishing a casteless society – Aa Gariat Ke Parde Ik Baar Phir Utha Den;

Bishadon Ko Phir Mila Den; Nakshe Dui Mittan Den. Many of the smart and well groomed children of the Silver Residency presented a colourful cultural programme dedicated to the freedom and freedom fighters which was well appreciated. The Management of the Residency headed by Anil Kaul and Rahul Verma took considerable pains to arrange the function with their associates namely; Kamal Grover, Amit Garg, Raj Khera among others. Dr. Vandana Saggar shouldered the onerous duty of ‘Master of Ceremonies’ with her usual flair and aptness. Ladoos and Samosas added to the fun and frolic of the morning of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Chisti Ne Jis Zamin Mein Paigamme Haq Sunaya;

Nanak Ne Jis Chaman Mein Vehdit Ka Geet Gaya;

Mera Watan Wahi Hai Mera Watan Wahi Hai.