60th Independence Anniversary: Parliament holds special function

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lead the nation in commemorating the 60th Anniversary of India's Independence tomorrow at a special function to be organised in the Central Hall of Parliament.

The function, to be held at 1930 hours, would also be addressed by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and would be attended by union ministers, MPs and other dignitaries.

The function would include a recitation of the composition "Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye" and "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" by Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his son Amaan Ali Khan, while noted lyricist Javed Akhtar would render a poem "Pandrah August" in Hindi which will befollowed by its English translation "Fifteen August" by noted actress and his wife Shabana Azmi.

"Aadhi Raat Mein Suraj" and "Vande Matraram" by Pandit Jasraj, will be other highlights of the function to be telecast by Doordarshan on its Lok Sabha Television Channel.

A documentary on Independence featuring parts of Pt Jawahar Lal's "Tryst with Destiny" speech will also be shown.

UNI