Independence Day as I have seen it

Independence Day, for many persons like me, is a day to remember the valiant soldiers who have laid down their lives to bring Independence to our country. And, who have, subsequently, kept up the fight against intruders to ensure that our borders are safe from outside attacks.
On this day, the tricolor is unfurled in the capital New Delhi by the Prime Minister and in the states by the chief ministers. There are the usual lectures by the chiefs to maintain contact with the masses and, some states present parades of the local military, police, fire brigade personnel, NCC cadets, and the Home Guards etcetera.

Nothing is on a lavish scale because the day is in the middle of August which is the season of rains, hence any outdoor program has to be drawn up accordingly.
My memories of Independence Day is one of mixed feelings. In my school days, there used to be the prabhat feri – or procession early in the morning by young boys and girls. They would be dressed in white and would carry the tricolor and march through the streets singing patriotic songs. There would be band boys with drums and they would provide the music.
The tricolor would flutter from each house and the sweet shops would make special Independence Day sweets – usually sandesh in three layers corresponding to the colors of the flag. There would be enthusiasm all around because Bengalis had played a major role in the freedom struggle.
Foremost among them was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who had given the war cry – ‘give me blood and I will give you freedom’. He had formed the Indian National Army and wanted to tie up with foreign powers to help get freedom. However, he suddenly disappeared and it is believed that he died in an air crash in Japan.
Anyway, apart from Netaji, there were many other young freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives so that India could get freedom – names like Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki, Bijoy, Badal, and Dinesh became immortal. Songs were composed to talk about their valor. Those patriotic songs would be sung on Independence Day.
It has to be membered that Bengal was one state that was deeply and directly involved in the freedom movement because of personalities like Netaji with added inspiration of Rabindra Nath Tagore. Bengalis are poets at heart and the freedom struggle got its dose of insulin from patriotic songs penned by the likes of Kazi Nazrul Islsam, Dwijendra Lal Roy, Tagore and others. (to be continued …)

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