Celebrating India's 72nd Independence Day

After years of diminishing ethos, India is rising and it will not stop. Yesterday’s Independence Day was celebrated all over India in a very big way.
“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom,” these were the words delivered by the first Prime Minister of Independent India, Pandit JawaharLal Nehru, on the night of August 15, 1947.
He hoisted the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of Red Fort in India’s Capital New Delhi, and this subsequently became a symbolic gesture on every August 15. While India celebrates its 72nd Independence Day this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the nation on the eve of Independence Day. PM Modi said the country is filled with confidence and is scaling new heights. “We are celebrating the 72nd Independence Day in a positive atmosphere. Our daughters have crossed seven seas and coloured the seas in the colours of our flag,”
In his speech, PM Modi also said that when an Indian goes anywhere, all countries of the world welcome them. The power of the Indian passport has increased. “We want to progress more and there is no question of stopping or getting tired on the way,” he added.
Here are top 10 quotes from PM Modi’s speech on 72nd Independence Day:
1. “We are celebrating this Independence Day when every Indian anywhere in the world is proud that India is the sixth biggest economy in the world today. India used to be counted in the ‘Fragile Five’ in the world. But today, India is a multi-billion dollar investment. The narrative changed.”
2. “The recently concluded Parliament session was one devoted to social justice. The Parliament session witnessed the passage of the Bill to create an Other Backward Class (OBC) Commission.”
3. “When 1.25 billion dreams go towards a goal, there’s nothing that cannot happen. In 2014, the people of the country did not just stop at forming a government. They got together for nation-building and they will keep at it.”
4. “Businesses used to talk about red tape, now they talk about red carpet. They used to talk about policy paralysis, today they talk about reform, perform, transform.”
5. “By 2022, when India completes 75 years of independence, India will send a son or daughter to the space with the national flag in hand. With this, India will become the fourth nation to send a human to the space.”
6. “A mega healthcare scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan will be launched on September 25 this year, on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay. It is high time we ensure that the poor of the country get access to good quality and affordable healthcare.”
7. “Women officers commissioned in short service (SSC) will get opportunity for permanent commission like their male counterparts.”
8. “The honest taxpayer of India has a major role in the progress of the nation. It is due to them that so many people are fed, the lives of the poor are transformed.”
9. “We have to free our society and country from this demonic mentality of rape. Recently in Madhya Pradesh a rapist was hanged by the fast-track court. We should spread this news and make people aware. Rule of law is supreme and no one can take law in their hands.”
10. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee showed us the way for Jammu and Kashmir: Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat. We want to go ahead on that road. Not by bullets and abuse, we want to embrace the patriotic people of Kashmir.”
President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, addressed the nation on the eve of the 72 Independence Day today. In his speech, President Kovind spoke of the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi and his noble mantra” on the power of ‘ahinsa’ or non-violence. The president said that contentious issues and extraneous debates should not distract us at a “pivotal moment”. President Kovind addressed a range of issues in his speech including that of the role of women in our society and the choices they are entitled to, amid concerns over their privacy and safety.
When India celebrated its 72nd Independence Day yesterday Bollywood celebrities, in particular, were active since morning and tweeted their wishes. Ranveer Singh wished his followers by sharing a picture of himself with a bunch of children waving the national flag. Actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Hansal Mehta, Yami Gautam and Manisha Koirala are some of the celebrities who have posted their wishes on Twitter.
Interestingly, Independence Day is an important day for Bollywood as well in terms of box office, as Akshay Kumar starrer Gold and John Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate were hit the screens yesterday . While it is too early to say anything, Gold is expected to outshine the Milap Zaveri directorial.
Every year Independence Day is celebrated with great vigor and joy at the Red Fort in New Delhi. The Indian Prime Minister delivers a remarkable speech on this auspicious occasion addressing the nation and its citizens at the Red Fort. People from all over India participate in the celebrations. The Red Fort has been illuminated with about 2,500 lamps from 7:30 pm to 11 pm since 10th August.
The rehearsels for the celebrations of 72nd Independence Day were on full swing on 13th August at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi. School children performed a rehearsel dressed in a tricolor attire for the function. The contingents of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force also participated in the dress rehearsels and practiced their march.
The celebrations of Independence Day will not be restricted to just the national capital, but will joyously take place in other Indian cities. The contingents of National Cadet Corps (NCC) also performed a complete dress rehearsel at the Motilal Nehru Police Stadium located in Bhopal. Women Commando Force (WCF) personnel also participated in the rehearsels at the Fort St. George in Chennai on 13th August.
Strict security measures were adopted during the dress rehearsels at the Red Fort. The Bomb Disposal Squad was present to take care of the security at the Red Fort. An all-women Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team were inducted by the Delhi Police to tackle terrorist activities. Women commandos were deployed at the premises of India Gate and Red Fort during the celebrations of Independence Day.
What’s so special about the 72nd Independence Day? This year’s is undoubtedly a special one from the perspective of social and economic development with India successfully becoming the sixth largest economy of the world. Several other developments contributed to the well-being of India making this Independence truly a special one.
> Pratyusha Mukherjee