On March 12, 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flagged off ‘Padyatra’ (Freedom March) from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, to mark the inauguration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (India@75). He said the celebration will continue till August 15, 2023. He stressed on five themes for the Mahotsav such as Actions@75, Achievements@75, Resolve@75, Ideas@75, and Freedom Struggle. He reiterated that these are the guiding forces for moving forward. For him, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav means the elixir of energy of Independence. It means elixir of inspirations of the warriors of freedom struggle; elixir of new ideas and pledges and nectar of Aatmanirbharta.
The theme Freedom Struggle anchors the Government’s commemoration initiatives under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It is instrumental in bringing alive stories of unsung heroes, whose sacrifices have made freedom a reality for us and also revisit the milestones, freedom movements etc. in the historical journey to August 15, 1947. Programmes under this theme included Birsa Munda Jayanti (Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas), Declaration of Provisional Government of Free India by Netaji, Shaheed Diwas etc. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led the celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on November 15, 2021. November 15 was declared as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas by the Prime Minister.
Tribal Heroes
Highlighting the role of tribals in the freedom movement, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said that since ancient times, the tribals have inhabited border areas, including Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland among others and have played a great role in protecting the country. Even before Independence, tribal heroes have played an important role in the struggle for India’s Independence.
Run Honouring Rani of Jhansi
As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (Hq IDS) organised a run from Maharani Laxmi Bai Smark, Gwalior to National War Memorial in New Delhi between October 15-21, 2021. In the spirit of Jointness and living up to the motto of ‘Victory through Jointness’, a team of six officers and one NCO from the Tri-Services, covered the distance of 350 kilometres in seven days. The run also commemorated Rani of Jhansi, who laid down her life in 1858 at Gwalior in the War of Independence and Declaration of Formation of the Provisional Government of Free India by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose on October 21, 1943. The Ministry of Culture and Amar Chitra Katha did a special collaboration for Amrit Mahotsav and came up with two important titles ‘Brave Women of Our Freedom Struggle’ and ‘Women in Power’. Doordarshan is slated to air a mega historical show titled Swaraj– Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha. As a build-up to the show, its promo was launched recently at an event organised at Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi, by Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur. The historical docu-drama series, Swaraj—Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha is a 75 episodes mega show illustrating the glorious history of India’s freedom struggle from the 15th century onwards.
Kashi Utsav, a three-day festival, was organised in Varanasi to celebrate the classic heritage and culture of Kashi especially the centuries-old luminaries who are Goswami Tulsidas, Sant Kabir, Sant Raidas, Bhartendu Harishchandra, Munshi Premchand and Shri Jaishankar Prasad
Kids Writing On Unsung Heroes
The programmes under the theme Ideas@75 was inspired by ideas and ideals that have shaped us and that will guide us as we navigate through this period of Amrit Kaal (25 years between India@75 and India@100). Programmes such as Kashi Utsav dedicated to Hindi literary luminaries from the land of Kashi, postcards to the Prime Minister wherein more than 75 lakh children are writing their vision of India in 2047 and their impressions of unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle are being celebrated under this theme. Kashi Utsav, a three-day festival, was organised in Varanasi to celebrate the classic heritage and culture of Kashi especially the centuries-old luminaries who are Goswami Tulsidas, Sant Kabir, Sant Raidas, Bhartendu Harishchandra, Munshi Premchand and Shri Jaishankar Prasad. The programme was organised at Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre, Varanasi from November 16-18, November, 2021. IGNCA hosted a programme on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, with the support of the Uttar Pradesh State Government and Varanasi Administration under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Varanasi or Kashi was chosen for this festival because of its rich cultural heritage and splendid history and resplendent beauty. There is special focus on technology as far as this theme is concerned. Programmes such as ‘Digital passports/e-passports’ and ‘Focus on Drone technology, Scientific technology’ are the key areas in this theme. A dedicated website was created where the citizens could upload rashtra gaan in their own voice. Resolve@75 is the next important theme chosen as part of the celebrations. This theme focuses on our collective resolve and determination to shape the destiny of our motherland. It states that in our country’s journey to 2047, it is required that each one should rise up and play our part as individuals, groups, civil society, institutions of governance etc. It is only through our collective resolve, well laid out action plans and determined efforts that ideas will translate into actions. Events and programmes under this theme include initiatives such as Constitution Day, Good Governance Week etc. that help bring alive our commitment towards the ‘planet and people’ while being driven by a deep sense of purpose. The Government of India observed Mahaparinirvan Diwas on December 6, 2021 as part of the major commemoration of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. On this occasion Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar launched ‘Shreshtha Yojana’ and National Fellowship Management
and Grievance redressal Portal.
The next important theme is achievements@75 and the main agenda of this theme is showcasing evolution and progress across different sectors. Events and programmes under this theme include initiatives such as Swarnim Vijay Varsh dedicated to the victory of 1971, launch of Shreshtha Yojana during Mahaparinirvan Diwas etc. Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations’ started with setting off four Swarnim Vijay Mashals on a nationwide journey from the National War Memorial on December 16, 2020 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Lastly, the theme actions@75 highlights steps being taken to implement policies and actualise commitments. This theme focuses on all the efforts that are being undertaken to help India take its rightful position in the new world order emerging in a post-COVID-19 world by highlighting the steps being taken to implement policies and actualise commitments. It is driven by Prime Minister Modi’s clarion call of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas to make India Aatmanirbhar. It encompasses Government policies, schemes, action plans along with commitments from businesses, NGOs, civil society that helps actualise our ideas and help us collectively create a better tomorrow. Programmes under this theme include initiatives such as Gati Shakti— National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity. PM launched the Gati Shakti—National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity in New Delhi on 13 October 2021, heralding a new chapter in governance. Gati Shakti—a digital platform—will bring 16 Ministries including Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc. Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity and make Indian businesses more competitive. It will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools with ISRO imagery developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics).
