Parliament celebrates Independence Day

New Delhi, Aug 16: Parliament celebrated the 60th anniversay of India's Independence with musical renditions and President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressing the need to sustain high growth and wipe out the scourge of poverty, backwardness and corruption.

The leaders pledged to take the country to greater heights and make growth socially inclusive. They spoke of the need to improve the delivery systems of the government at all levels and said India inspired the world, plagued by wars and terrorism, to adopt values of non-violence and tolerance nourished by it.

The function was organised last night in the Central Hall of Parliament, which was packed with Members of Parliament, Council of Ministers, diplomats and other dignitaries. To mark the occasion, Parliament House was lit up.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Vice-President Mohd Hamid Ansari.

The President noted that the country was witnessing ''historically unprecedented rates of economic growth'' and it should be the endeavour of all to sustain this as also to ensure that it was socially inclusive.

''We must ensure that every region of the country participates in and benefits from the process of economic growth that is destined to transform India,'' Ms Patil said.

She spoke of the need to adopt modern technology in agriculture and improve farm practices and asked the industry to scale new heights in the face of stiff global competition. The President also underscored the need to combat the ''menace of corruption.'' Ms Patil said the nation would remain indebted to the ''selfless sacrifices'' of many and paid homage to leaders of the freedom movement. In this regard, she made a reference to the phenomenal contribution of leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Subramaniam Bharathi, C Rajagopalachari, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Sarojini Naidu and Aruna Asaf Ali.

Dr Singh said the world today wanted India to do well and the external situation was ''benign and favourable.'' He said India needed to be in the forefront of the evolution of knowledge, and its people ought to inculcate a scientific temper and foster a more enlightended and modern outlook.

''The cancer of corruption must be extinguished if democracy and development have to have a real meaning to our people,'' Dr Singh said.

The Prime Minister said Parliament had an important role to play for attaining the national goals of development and progress. ''The representatives of our people have to ensure that all the institutions of our republic--the legislature, the judiciary and the executive-- are all responsive, accountable, transparent and honest in their functioning. This much we owe to our people and to all those who sacrificed their lives to give us our freedom sixty years ago,'' he said.

Mr Chatterjee said the country's representative institutions and the other organs of the State and media should become models for the rest of the world. He also stressed on the need to improve governance.

Mr Ansari said doubts about the country's capability had given way to certitude.

''Justice has to be dispensed in social, economic and political terms, Liberty has to be of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship, equality means equality of status and opportunity,'' he said.

The event began with a performance by Sarod mastero Amjad Ali Khan and his two sons-- Amaan and Ayaan. Amjad Ali Khan regaled the audience with two favourite hymns of the Mahatma--'Vaishnav jan to tane kahiye' and 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.' This was followed by reading of a poem in Hindi by Javed Akhtar titled 'Pandrah August' (Fifteenth August). Its English version was read out by his wife Shabana Azmi, famous film actress and former Member of Parliament.

Next in line was well-known vocalist Pandit Jasraj who sang ''Aadhi raat me andhara'' (sun at midnight). The words of the classical number have been written by Akhtar. This was followed by a recital by him of Bankim Chander Chatterjee's famous verse 'Vande Matram.' The troupe accompanying the legend, added to his magnificence.

Pandit Jasraj then sought the permission of the Speaker to go, who requested him for another number.

The best came in the end with Pandit Jasraj mesmerising the audience with a bhajan in praise of Lord Krishna. So deep was the sound that it touched the dome of the Central Hall and reverberated back. So soothing was its tone that it melted many, who swayed their heads as he sang.

A visibly touched Pandit Jasraj after completing his performance went around blessing and wishing the crowd. This was followed by a documentary on Indian democracy.

UNI