Home >> South Asia >> India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal

     Email   Print 

Appreciating the Spirit of India’s Independence Day

Nava Thakuria - 9/15/2011

A teenager, coming out with his father on August 15 to observe the Independence Day (of India) suddenly raised a question, “Deuta, why there are vehicles (loaded with passengers) on the roads and why the shops are open today? Are the people of Guwahati not observing the Independence Day?”

The father, an Assam based journalist, responded passionately that there were celebrations of the auspicious day throughout the State and hence the people were out of their houses. He also clarified that the closed city did not signify the celebration; rather it indicated the ongoing diktat of some militants, who made it a habit to impose general-strikes on every I-Day (also the Republic Day) of the country.

Not only that teenager, there are thousands of adolescents in Northeast India, who had never experienced the joy of both the auspicious days. Every year, they only witness deserted home towns and cities with dreaded silence during the observation of the days. People never came out from their residences to join the government functions, as the militant outfits of the region have always prevented the observation of both these days as a sign of protest against New Delhi. But slowly the situation has been changed, as the common people have started showing a great spirit to join the celebrations; and amazingly the number is increasing every year.

This year, while India was celebrating its 65th I- Day, the scenario was more festive in the Northeast. The citizens of the largest democracy in the world observed the day with fanfare, though the country was put under a high security alert because of militants’ threats. As usual, militant outfits imposed general strike on August 15 but the citizens largely ignored the diktats and joined the government and community celebrations in large numbers.

The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh hoisted the National flag in the national capital amidst warm applause from the dignitaries, children in colourful dresses and the proud citizens. Addressing the Nation from the Red Fort, Dr Singh remembered the sacrifice of the martyrs and freedom fighters, who under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi fought for India’s freedom from British colonial rule.

Mentioning India’s present challenges, the Prime Minister pointed out that terrorism, extremism, communalism and fundamentalism had emerged as the greatest threats to the unity and integrity of the country. He urged the state governments, all political parties, civil society groups and social and religious leaders to cooperate with the central government in rooting out terrorism from the country.

As a regular practice, the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) with 11 other Northeast based armed outfits called for a general strike on August 15 in the region. In a joint statement issued by Paresh Barua led ULFA faction that was endorsed by Hynnitrep National Liberation Front of Meghalaya, Kamatapur Liberation Organisation, Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup, Kangleipak Communist Party, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, People's Revolutionary
Party of Kangleipak/Progressive, Revolutionary People's Front, United People's Party of Kangleipak, United National Liberation Front of Manipur, Tripura People's Democratic Front and National Liberation Front of Twipara declared about the general strike starting from August 14 midnight till the next day evening.

But defiant Guwahatians in particular and Assam people in general once again ignored the diktat and organized community functions to hoist the National Tricolour with great enthusiasm. The people from various sections held I-Day functions at various places in the city. The journalists took the lead to observe the 65th I-Day in Guwahati Press Club in a befitting manner.

After hoisting the National flag at the press club, senior journalist Ranen Kumar Goswami called for resolute fight against the forces of terror and secession. Every Indian has the right to celebrate the National Days of the country, like the I-Day and the Republic Day, and he or she should come out boldly to assert this right, he asserted adding that the terrorism that has been trying to disrupt the democratic process in this part of the country is backed by enemy countries.

Addressing the gathering, another senior journalist Ajit Patowary reiterated that it is high time to rise against all evil forces which have been trying to disrupt the democratic process in the country. He also led a procession in the city street after the flag hoisting ceremony where journalists and civil society group members had participated chanting patriotic slogans.

Mentionable that Journalists Forum Assam earlier appealed to the people of Northeast India to celebrate Independence Day defying the diktat of the militants. In a press statement, issued by JFA president Rupam Barua and its secretary N. Thakuria, the forum argues that both I-Day and R-Day are two auspicious occasions for every patriotic Indian to pay their respect to hundred thousand martyrs of India's Freedom Movement.

The landlocked Northeast, which is surrounded by Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), Burma and Bangladesh, is home to more than 20 active armed outfits, who have been fighting against New Delhi with demands ranging from sovereignty to self rule. Active among them, the ULFA was formed in 1979 and it continues fighting for a sovereign Assam. Of course a section of ULFA leaders are now pursuing peace initiative with the Indian central government. Thousands of people have already lost their lives due to insurgency in the region during the last few decades.

However, the spirit of Indian nationalism among the people of the Northeast never dried up and hence the diktat of militants could not deter them from participating in the celebrations. Like different other States of the mainland India, the alienated region also witnessed the government functions at various State capitals and district head quarters to observe the I-Day. Moreover, the enthusiastic citizens organized community celebrations in many places.

One can only hope that hundred thousand children and youths of Northeast India would realize as early as possible that strikes do not signify the celebration of the Days, rather a threat to the patriots, and that they would never get the chance to ask the question that was raised by the journalist’s teenager son.