RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri K.S. Sudarshan has said that the objectives of the 1857 revolution would be incomplete till the dream of unity of all Indians is achieved. He said this while inaugurating the ?Naman 1857?, a function organised by Sanskar Bharati at Bithur, near Kanpur, on February 15 to pay tribute to the martyrs of 1857 war of independence.
He said despite having all the qualities, India has repeatedly been defeated by foreign forces due to lack of organisational skills. He said the countrymen would have to be united and to resolve for further struggle to make India a superpower. He said the revolution of 1857 had all possibilities of achieving freedom, but the leakage of the planning failed it. Shri Sudarshan also released a CD on 1857 and also a book, San 57, based on the revolution by Dr Ashok Batra. The function concluded on February 17.
Presiding over the inaugural ceremony, noted literary person Dr Narendra Kohli said the conspiracies to denigrate the freedom fighters have been hatched in the country many times. He said the revolution of 1857 cannot be dubbed a revolt. The British historians described it as a revolt. He said only those who are always ready to pay price for their freedom, live with dignity in the world.
Noted Odissi dancer, Smt. Sonal Mansingh said the soil of India has always given shelter to those who looked at her with love and regard. But those who looked at her with evil eyes, were suitably punished by the warriors of this land.
At the concluding ceremony, the Sanskar Bharati appealed to the countrymen to pay tribute to the freedom fighters of 1857 war of Independence for 150 seconds on May 10 at 6.57 pm. Shri Yogendra, patron of the Sanskar Bharati, directed the Sanskar Bharati activists to bring an extensive awareness among the people all over the country so that maximum number of people can join the event. Some other social and political organisations also assured full cooperation to Sanskar Bharati in this celebration. The BJP would also join it on May 10. Shri Yogendra expressed concern over the regular negligence of freedom fighters by the government, as there is no proper memorial in the memory of the martyrs. He said by remembering the martyrs the countrymen continue to remain connected with their culture, history and values of sacrifice.
Senior journalist Shri Muzaffar Hussain said it is due to the efforts of Veer Savarkar that the historians had to accept the 1857 revolution as the war of independence. He said the revolution was a unique example of Hindu-Muslim unity and it was based on the real spirit of secularism. He said the historians of leftist background tried their best to defame the revolution but could not succeed. He stressed the need to conduct more research to highlight the nationalist aspect of the revolution. Shri Tarun Vijay, editor of Panchjanya, stressed the need to materialise the dreams of the revolutionaries.
The bank of the Ganges in Bithur witnessed enchanding performances by folk dancers from different parts of the country. The folk artists presented their dances and songs which captivated the audience. The cultural programme began with Vande Mataram by Sumangla Ratnakar and her associates from Karnataka. It was based on the Bharatnatyam style. The artists from Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Mahoba, Kanpur, Haryana, Manipur, Jharkhand and Kashi also presented their programmes. A play, Jhansi Ki Rani, was also performed by the artists. The play staged under the direction of Viva Shivarkar, is the Hindi translation of Marathi play Vijay Mhanali Dharatali, written by Shri Mangesh Manohar Bakshi.
(FOC)
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