Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Speaker Sharingain Longkumer and Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha with school children depicting the Dandi March at Secretariat Plaza, Kohima on March 12. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 12
Nagaland today joined the celebration of India’s 75 years of Independence (Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav).
In the state capital Kohima, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio addressed the gathering, which took place at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza.
The celebration witnessed a march by over 150 volunteers drawn from National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) from High School Junction, Kohima to the Nagaland Civil Secretariat. The March culminated at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza where the volunteers were joined by school children.
The occasion featured cultural presentations, and song-and- dance displays on patriotic themes and unity dance by the tribes of Nagaland. A photo exhibition on the theme ‘Celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence’ was also organised by the Bureau of Outreach & Communication, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
The photo exhibition which depicts India’s freedom struggle consists of old and rare photographs of well-known and less known freedom fighters of the country, Gandhi’s advent into the freedom struggle, the historic march from Sabarmati to Dandi to break the British Salt Law which became a precursor to the countrywide mass movement against the British Rule and intensified the freedom movement. Photos of freedom fighters like SardarVallabhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose and important events connected in their fight for India’s Independence were also exhibited.
Further, the schools in Nagaland also organized one-hour conference/ seminar/ symposium/ talk/ webinar/ presentation by students on the topic ‘Events leading to India’s independence from British rule and Role of various freedom fighters in it’ including essay Competition/Creative Writing Competition on the topic ‘Analysis of India’s struggle for independence – different schools of freedom movement from 1857 to 1947’.
The Nagaland University (NU) also joined the celebration at its headquarters in Lumami with a symposium in which a select panel of speakers were identified and roped in both from teaching and non-teaching community.
According to a release from NU PRO Peter Ki, the deliberations were extensively on India during freedom struggle, India during 74 years of Independence, and the achievements of India during 74 years in the post-colonial period, and the future challenges and opportunities that the youth of the nation be faced with.
The panelists included Dr Kundan, Subject Matter Specialist (Agricultural Extension), KVK, NU, Lumami, Shailendra Sharma, Principal Gr II, KV Lumami, NU, Dr Anthony V Richa, Deputy Registrar (RDC), and College Development Council i/c, Nagaland University, Prof Mk Sinha, Department of Economics, Nagaland University, Prof AK Singh, Department of Political Science & Transparency Officer, RTI, Nagaland University, and Prof Pardeshi Lal, Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University.
The symposium recommended for organizing separate such events marking the celebration of 75 years of India’s independence with participation of all sections of the University community particularly the women and the students.
Suggestions were also made for a special commemorative session consisting only of women panelists to know the other side of thought on India’s freedom struggle and its achievements in 74 years and the future challenges, the release stated.
In Dimapur, the Pranabananda Women’s College organised a talk on ‘Indian Freedom Struggle’ at the college auditorium with I Imkongakum Ao, Assistant Professor, Department of History, highlighting the importance of the freedom struggle in Indian history. According to a release from the college, he also acknowledged that India is now considered a potentially powerful country in the world because of the sacrifices of the freedom fighters, and said that it is the responsibility of every Indian to remember and immortalize India’s freedom struggle and fighters. The programme was followed by an essay competition participated by degree students of PWC on various topics related to the Indian freedom struggle, it added.
