This year India completes 75 years as an independent nation. It was in 1947 when the country freed herself from the clutches of colonial British rule and as one of the youngest democracies of the world, India has come a long way. Today, India has claimed its position as a world leader and is among the best performing major economies of the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisioned and announced a series of events and activities to be carried out by various government departments, ministries and agencies to celebrate the 75 years of India’s Independence. To further this, the Government of India (GOI) decided to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence, which falls on 15 August 2022, at national and international levels as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
A National Implementation Committee under the chairmanship of the Home Minister was constituted for the commemoration to guide the policies and programmes to be undertaken by various Ministries of GOI under the India @ 75 commemoration.
Celebrating 75 years of freedom
The government also set up a National Committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of India with 259 members. The National Committee included dignitaries and eminent citizens from all walks of life and it would provide policy direction and guidelines for formulation of programs for the commemoration of 75th anniversary of Indian Independence.
The celebrations were launched 75 weeks prior to 15 August 2022 i.e., on 12 March 2021 which happens to be the 91st anniversary of the historic Salt Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi. The 75-week countdown to the 75th anniversary of Independence and will end post a year on 15 August 2023.
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is also celebrating India’s glorious history, its people, culture, achievements and more. This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to
enable PM Modi’s vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
India is marching towards self-reliance which is one of the cornerstones of freedom in the true sense. Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make In India initiatives are propelling India towards full and sustainable self-reliance.
As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, every month a series of commemorative events are held across the nation organized by the ministries and departments to pay tribute to or in honour of forgotten heroes or the unsung catalysts of India’s freedom movement.
For example, in July 2022, hundreds of events were held across the country on Kargil Vijay Diwas, Mangal Pandey’s birth anniversary, azadi ki rail gadi aur stations, birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak called Kesari Utsav, Over the Moon with Chandrayaan that will celebrate Chandrayaan 2 and gear up for Chandrayaan 3 launch in August.
India’s fight for freedom was not an easy one. Thousands of people sacrificed life of luxury, some even sacrificed their lives to make sure India becomes a free nation. Today, efforts are being made, constantly, to remember the unsung heroes of the freedom struggle and their sacrifices.
The new Parliament
On 12 July 2022, PM Modi unveiled the National Emblem cast on the roof of the New Parliament Building. He also interacted with the ‘shramjeevis’ who have been involved in the making of the Parliament and lauded their contribution towards the new Parliament building and to the nation.
The National Emblem is made of bronze with a total weight of 9,500 kg and is 6.5 meters in height. It has been cast at the top of the Central Foyer of New Parliament Building. A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6,500 kg has been constructed to support the Emblem.
The concept sketch and process of casting of the National Emblem on the roof of New Parliament Building has gone through eight different stages of preparation from clay modeling / computer graphic to bronze casting and polishing.
It was on 10 December 2020 when PM Narendra Modi had laid the foundation of the New Parliament Building. This was an intrinsic part of his vision of self-reliant India or ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. A Parliament made in ‘free’ India is a landmark opportunity ‘to build a peoples’ Parliament for the first time after independence’ and one which will match the needs and aspirations of a ‘New India’ in the 75th year of Independence in 2022.
Futurist and inclusive approach
The construction of Parliament House of India is a milestone event in India’s democratic history. It marks an important stage of the country’s democratic traditions. It presents an opportunity to the nation to, along with building the Parliament, build the nation together.
India’s present Parliament House is a colonial-era building that was designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. It took six years to complete and was constructed fully in 1927. The building was originally called the Council House and housed the Imperial Legislative Council. In 1956, two floors were added for the need of more space and in 2006, Parliament Museum was added to showcase the 2,500 years of rich democratic heritage of India.
The New Parliament building has been envisioned to reflect the aspirations of New India and that of 135 crore Indians. With a built-up area of 65,000 sq ft, the new building is a triangular shaped building for optimal space utilisation. The new building will be futuristic and sensitive to the demands of the time.
Environmental sustainability is at the core of the Central Vista project, with a comprehensive plan to use centralised systems and infrastructure, promote the use of public transport and have upgradeable technology, systems and services.
The new building will have six granite statues of important personalities, four galleries each for the two Houses of Parliament, three ceremonial foyers, three India galleries and one Constitution gallery. Each wall in the building will have a dominant theme dedicated to those who have contributed in nation building such as a tribal leader or a woman leader.
India reclaims its rich heritage
In the initial years post-Independence, the focus of the leaders was nation building, ensuring education, employment, housing and health care and other basic facilities for one and all.
Over a period of time, the goal post also shifted and India had to secure its borders and make sure foreign enemy stays at bay. India even went to war with China and Pakistan on a few occasions. In time, with the advancement of science and
technology, India hit the ground running in the space technology race and aced it.
Every decade posed new set of goals and accompanying challenges to ‘free’ India. It has come a long way and today comfortably shares stage with other world leaders. And, now, after 75 years, it’s finally reclaiming its heritage that got lost and was conveniently ignored for centuries.
Slowly but steadily, Indians are finally getting over the colonial hangover and obsession with everything foreign or western. Indian history is a testimony of how advanced the region was culturally, socially, spiritually and scientifically. India was and continues to be the epicenter of knowledge. India gave the world its first university, the numeral zero, Ayurveda, plastic surgery and the list goes on. It’s time to reconnect with our heritage and knowledge.
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Manu Shrivastava
SManu Shrivastava is a journalist and lawyer with DraftCraft International and Co-Convenor of #TheWomanSurvivor, #MeTooAtHome and #MeTooBeyondBorders initiatives.
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