Greetings on Independence Day of India
Om Sharma
Dear BSNA and GBC Family,
Greetings on the occasion of 69th Independence Day of India!
A bit relevant background on the this occasion -
India's Independence struggle began in 1857 with the Sepoy Mutiny in Meerut. Later, in the 20th century, the Indian National Congress and other political organizations, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, launched a countrywide independence movement. The Constituent Assembly, to who power was to be transferred, met to celebrate India's independence at 11 pm on August 14, 1947. India gained its liberty and became a free country at midnight between August 14 and August 15, 1947. It was then that the free India's first prime minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech from Red Fort.
As India celebrates its 69th year of independence from the British it's time to remember those who fought tirelessly for the freedom of the country and those who shaped its destiny in the subsequent years with their vision and wisdom. We salute them. The illustrious list of freedom fighters is indeed long but just to name few, Rani Laxmi Bai, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Sarojini Naidu, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Ashfaqualla Khan, Dr. Annie Besant, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and many more. Their fervor and conviction inspired many people to participate in the freedom struggle that eventually led to the British leaving India.
North Korea, South Korea, Bahrain and Republic of the Congo share their independence day with India. Mountbatten chose the day Aug 15 as it also commemorated the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied Forces.
Regards,
Om Sharma
Dr. Om Sharma
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Brahman Samaj of North America (BSNA)
Executive Vice President
Global Brahman Confederation (GBC)
Tel: 908-359-3348