As India celebrates a landmark year of its Independence, the government, Opposition, Armed Forces, artists and industry commit themselves to realizing the dreams of more 1.3 billion Indians at home and across the world
Our Bureau
New Delhi
It is a day which fills the entire country with pride. It is a day of celebration. It is also a day of reaffirming the promises made by the country to itself on August 15, 1947. As India celebrates 75th anniversary of Independence from the British colonial rule, all spheres of society are joining in, articulating the dreams of New India and also talking about the challenges ahead.
On Thursday, ahead of India’s 75th Independence Day, a number of big artists from the Indian film fraternity came together to lend their voices for the patriotic anthem titled ‘Hum Hindustani’. The track, which has been produced by Priyaank Sharma and Paras Mehta of music label Dhamaka Records, was released today. The anthem is a beautiful amalgamation of soulful lyrics, a melodious tune, and is sung by 15 legendary personalities from the Indian film fraternity, a feat that has been taken on for the first time ever.
The song carries the much-required message in today’s trying times, of the country, uniting as one and spreading hope for a better tomorrow and faith via the powerful platform of music. With 15 industry stalwarts uniting to lend their voices to the song, ‘Hum Hindustani’ promises to resonate with every Indian across the globe.
The Yacht Club of Hyderabad marks 75 years of Independence at Hussain Sagar Lake, in Hyderabad on Friday. (ANI Photo)
Right from Lata Mangeshkar to Amitabh Bachchan, Padmini Kolhapure, Anil Agarwal, Sonu Nigam, Kailash Kher, Alka Yagnik, Shabbir Kumar, Shraddha Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Shruti Hassan, Tara Sutaria, Ankit Tiwari, Siddhanth Kapoor, and Jannat Zubair, these phenomenal artists, musicians, and industry stalwarts have crooned to the song with aplomb along with Anil Agarwal, a philanthropist who was touched by the rendition.
In another commitment to the country, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Friday said that Indian armed forces will take strong action against organisations that will try to hamper our unity while adding that “We have to keep unity and integrity intact.”
While addressing an event organised by the Ministry of Defence as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Rawat said that after attaining freedom, India was forced to enhance the capabilities of its armed forces in the wake of attacks. “After Independence, our country faced attacks and we had to increase the capabilities of our armed forces and other security agencies to work together. Our country is a peace-loving nation but we faced some situations and we had to train our forces for war.”
He further said India as democracy has shown the way to other nations. “Our country has laid the foundation in front of the world that takes forward the democratic process. The motive of our country is ‘the world is one and in the coming years we will take this message to the world,” said Chief of Defence Staff.
Speaking at the event, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the next 25 years India has to build ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’, a prosperous, self-reliant, self-respecting country, that does not attack any other nation but gives a befitting reply to anyone who tries to attack it.
“What kind of India do we build by 2047, on 100 years of independence? We have to build ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’, a prosperous, self-reliant, self-respecting India, that doesn’t attack any other country but gives a befitting reply to anyone who casts an eye on us. In the coming times, we will build an even stronger India,” said Defence Minister.
“The spirit of the ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ we are celebrating today, or should I say the spirit of freedom, sovereignty and immortality, is not a new or modern sentiment for India. I would like to mention about Captain Vikram Batra, who even after seeing death in front says, ‘Yeh dil maange more’. What is this sentiment? I bow my head to these immortal sons who laid down their lives for their nation,” Singh said.
Ahead of the 75th Independence Day celebrations on August 15, a full-dress rehearsal was held at Red Fort in the national capital amid tight security on Friday morning. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, security force personnel were seen wearing masks during the rehearsals to avoid transmission of the virus. A march past was conducted in the arena of the Red Fort as a part of the rehearsal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the rampart of Red Fort on August 15.
Earlier on Monday, Modi said that Indian villages and farmers will play a crucial role in deciding the country’s condition when it completes 100 years of independence in 2047. Addressing the nation after releasing an instalment of financial benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), the Prime Minister said the milestone of completing 75 years of Independence on August 15 will mark an occasion for new resolutions and goals. “August 15 is going to come a few days from now. This time the country is going to celebrate its 75th Independence Day. This important milestone is not only a matter of pride for us, it is also an opportunity for new resolutions, new goals. We have to take this opportunity to decide where we want to see India in the coming 25 years,” said PM Modi.
At another event, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that India@75 is a declaration for a new India with new dreams, new energy and new commitment. Goyal was addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Annual Summit’s special session on ‘Synergy between the Government and Business for sustainable growth’.
The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting is ‘ India@75: Government and Business Working Together for Atmanirbhar Bharat’, informed the official release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. While delivering the keynote address, Piyush Goyal said that 75 years ago we worked to get freedom, now we must work in mission mode to become Aatma Nirbhar. “We have a never-before opportunity to take the country to the sphere of fast-track growth, development and prosperity. At 75, it is about looking at how far we have come and the journey ahead,” he said.
Piyush Goyal said that Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is a call to action for 130 crores (1.3 billion) Indians and 130 crore is not just a number, it is 130 crore possibilities, it is our USP or Unlimited Sources of Potential. He said, we are looking at Jan-Bhagidari and Udyog-Bhagidari for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “India’s youth is a torchbearer of the future,” he said.
Not just the government but the Congress Party also has announced year-long celebrations to commemorate 75 Year of the Country’s Independence with a slew of programs, said a statement issued by AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal.
As India is celebrating ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate 75 years of its Independence, the Indian National Congress has decided to form committees in all states to organize year-long celebrations and to organize Swatantra Senani & Shaheed Samman Divas in all the districts of the country, said the release. “The party led by Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders and workers played a stellar role during the Freedom struggle – from ‘Satyagrah’ to ‘Salt March’, from ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ to ‘Quit India Movement’, it led the world’s biggest & longest ‘Non-Violence Movement’ against the Imperial and Colonial British Rule and finally achieved independence for the Country. Post-Independence, the Congress Party scripted the path for a modern and vibrant India, standing in the front line of the most progressive nations in the world”, said General Secretary Venugopal.
Meanwhile in Jammu and Kashmir, a few days ahead of the 75th Independence Day, the Army hoisted the tallest national flag on Tuesday. The 100-metre-high flag was hoisted at the famous tourist destination of the valley, Gulmarg. “The 100 feet high Indian flag symbolises the beginning of a new era of peace and patriotism in Kashmir. The project has been jointly executed by the Indian army and Solar Industries Pvt Ltd. Foundation stone of the project was laid on February 7, 2021 and the flag dedicated to the nation on August 10, 2021,” read a statement of Indian Army.
After the flag hoisting ceremony, the army accorded honour to the flag by saluting it. On Sunday, more than 1.3 billion Indians at home and across the world will be celebrating the Independence Day, repeating the Tryst with Destiny made some 75 years ago.
