1857 first struggle for independence, not sepoy mutiny: Sonia

Rae Bareli, July 30 (UNI) United Progressive Alliance chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said the 1857 struggle for Independence should not be termed merely a ''sepoy mutiny''.

''Though pro-British historians have termed the 1857 struggle a Sepoy Mutiny, this is a limited word for such a big protest which finally led to the Independence of the country,'' she said.

Addressing a function on the honour of great freedom fighter Beni Madho, on the opening day of her three day visit to her parliamentary constituency, the AICC president said the 1857 struggle was related to Independence and livelihood which was widely supported by the masses. Ms Gandhi said freedom fighters used to carry five 'rotis' to different villages and distribute it amongst the people. ''People influenced by their ideas used to in turn prepare five more rotis and distribute it to people in other villages to spread the Idea of independence,'' she said.

'' With the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress, and the support of the people and sacrifice of the freedom fighters, the goal of Independence was achieved,'' she noted.

Claiming that Mahatma Gandhi's philosphy of'Ahimsa' was accepted world wide, she said now even United Nations General Assembly has resolved to observe his birthday on October 2 as 'International Day of Peace'.

However, the Rae Bareli MP was critical over the state of affairs in the post-Independence period saying that even after 60 years of Independence, the country has not achieved its goal in the field of education and development.

'' Much has to be done unitedly for achieving the target in the field of education and development'', she said.

During the occasion, the Congress leader also honoured some freedom fighters of the area.

Before addressing the function, Ms Gandhi visited a Durga Temple which was built by Beni Madho.

Beni Madho, an expert guerilla fighter, had assisted Hazrat Mahal in her fight against the British forces.

UNI