HP pays tribute to freedom fighters

Shimla, May 10 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh joined the nation in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first war of independence by lighting 150 lamps and observing 57 seconds silence at 1857 hours to pay tributes to the freedom fighters at the state-level concluding function organised at the historic Ridge Maidan here today.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal paid tributes to the martyrs and said that it was their sacrifices which laid the foundation for freedom of the country way back in 1857.

"The 150th anniversary of the freedom movement would serve as a reminder to the present and coming generation since lakhs of countrymen were martyred for raising voice against the foreign rulers." He said that it was their sacrifices which brought the country's freedom as the freedom movement prolonged for a long time of over 90 years. He said that Himachal Pradesh had also played its active part in the freedom movement as almost from every district freedom fighters fought against the foreigners.

Mr Dhumal said that the State Government had decided to retrace the history of freedom fighters who had actively participated in the freedom movement and maintain a register to record their history so that the contribution of the state in the freedom movement was written in the history of the State.

He said that the Government would also be endeavouring to install statues of the prominent freedom fighters at the district headquarters besides other befitting monuments to be raised in their memory as a mark of respect to them in recognition of their martyrdom.

The Chief Minister said that had Netajee Subhash Chander Bose not formed Azad Hind Sena of the patriotic minded Indians the freedom movement would not have gathered momentum to result into its independence on 15th August, 1947.

He said that similarly the martyrdom of Sardar Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chander Shekhar Azad had not gone waste since the entire country was indebted towards their sacrifices and the torment they suffered at the hands of Britishers.

He said that it is pertinent to note that in the wake of least communication modes the freedom movement spreaded all over the country and protests were marked from every nook and corner of the country which speaks of the spirit of national integration and patriotism people had under those circumstances.

Mr Dhumal said that the real tributes to the martyrs of the country would be to uphold the tradition they had initiated and fight against the divisive forces and work unitedly for the progress and prosperity, communal harmony and peace of the country. He also honoured the school children who had taken part in various competitions organised to mark the celebration.

UNI AS PS JS2047