Nehru Memorial starts year long independence celebration

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) India's democratic institutions are a legacy of the national movement and the tradition of secularism and non violence owe their allegiance to the freedom struggle, this view was echoed in the inaugural ceremony of an year-long celebration by Nehru Memorial Museum and Library commemorating the 60th year of independence.

The celebration was inaugurated yesterday on the occasion of Sadbhavana Diwas, on the 63rd birth anniversary of late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Mr P Chandramohan, Curator of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library told UNI that the year-long celebrations will witness seminars, competitions and other cultural activities.

Noted freedom struggle historian and Chairman of National Book Trust Professor Bipin Chandra in his inaugural lecture on "Legacy of Freedom Movement", highlighted the contribution of the national movement in nation building. "Legacy of the freedom struggle has become the basis of our republic," he said.

He stressed that civil liberties and the tradition of secularism in India was the legacy of the national movement.

"All national movements, whether socialist, extremist or non-violent struggle, all converged to make India a nation, which Britishers opposed on all fronts," Prof. Chandra said.

"Indian intelligentsia devised the term 'nation in the making' to create a notion that all Indians are one people, this led to the recognition of its diversity, which in turn culminated in the beautiful phrase 'unity in diversity'. And perhaps, this was the reason why Indian nationalists envisioned "Political and economic nationalism" not "cultural nationalism", so that no specific culture dominates India," he added.

The veteran historian noted the fact that Indian nationalists were the first to understand colonialism and its adverse social and economic effects on the nations.

Starting her address on an optimistic note, Chief Guest, Prof.

Shantha Sinha, Chairman of the newly-constituted National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and a Magsaysay award winner, said, "We have enough democratic space to foster our nation, we have a tradition of non-violence and public discourse that can go deep in nation building." "Democracy is a gift the national movement has given us and even the poor in India knows what it needs to make a nation," she added.

Dr Madan Gopal Singh, renowned scholar-singer, on composite musical traditions gave a lively performance on the Sufi music tradition. His singing of 'Chaiya Chaiya' from the Bollywood blockbuster movie 'Dil Se' in a Sufiana style drew appreciation from the audience.

Prof. Mridula Mukherjee, Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library gave away the prizes to the school children who participated in the cultural event. "Sadbhavana Diwas was chosen to inaugurate the year-long celebration as this day gives a message of communal harmony and tolerance," she said.

Ms Nafisa Ali, Chairperson, Children Film Society, interacted with the children and urged them to become better citizens. A short film by Children Film Society, "Bachchon Se Baten" was also shown.

"Ab Dilli Door Nahi", a film on a young boy's struggle to save his innocent father from being wrongfully hanged, was screened.

An internationally acclaimed film, "Khamosh Panni", on the trauma of partition was also shown.

UNI