A Speech for Students on Republic Day of India 2017

Dear Guardians of Nation; Congratulations! Many-Many Happy Returns of the Day. Wishing you great success in Academics and Life.

You are the Future's Torch Bearer of the Republic of India. The onus is on you "Little Kids, Teens and youths" to take the tradition forward with great pride and make the Nation Proud.

We celebrate the Republic Day, the Birthday of the Republic of India every Year on 26th January. Celebrations go on with loads of fun and fiesta across the country. The world sees on this day the many colors of 'One India' spread from Kashmir through Kanyakumari.



India is the country where people of different religions lives and work together. Many different languages are spoken among different communities but one thing is common among all, they sing a song together The National Anthem on the beats of drums. All Indians speak one common language, sing a common song and Salute the National Flag the moment "Tri Color" unfurls. The "Jan Gan Man…" rushes the adrenaline high in every human being who is an Indian.

The teachings from all Great Gurus and Guides teach us to live together in harmony and that harmony is inscribed well by the creator of Indian National Anthem, Gurudev Ravindra Nath Tagore. When Bangladesh became a separate Independent country in 1971, the Gurudev wrote National Anthem for Bangladesh "Amar Sonar Bangla" in Bengali. The Nobel Committee has recognized him for his work in Literature, titled Geetanjali and bestowed Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

The then ruling British Government Knighted in 1915 bestowed him with "Kinghthood", however, the Saint was not hungry for any awards and rewards. In 1919, post Jalianwala Bagh Massacre, whole country was shaken. The Gurudev slaps back The Victoria by renouncing his Knigthood; this was the 'Gandhian Ways of Protest'.

Gandhi Ji as we all know him as Bapu, the Father of Nation and the Mahatma Gandhi was the man behind making Indian Freedom Struggle a success. His mantra, the peaceful protest by not damaging or causing any harm to public and property but non-cooperation to ruling Government made British to run for life. The English, who were ruling us from a century left for their home country without saying a 'Nay'. India got complete freedom from British Rule on 15 August 1947.

Countless of men and women; army personals, students, thinkers, philosophers, scientists, engineers, farmers, socialists, scholars and industrialists lost job, wealth, family and life during the India's Freedom Struggle. First Freedom Struggle began in 1857; the Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi was the "HERO" of that war, who halves the British Soldiers with both hands. Sadly, the 'Lioness of Jhansi' last life and war halted. However, the fire to throw away British and get Freedom remains ignited.

The nationalism was on the rise; many committees, forums and groups were founded by Nationalist Leaders. Some of these are: East India Association in 1867 by Dadabhai Naoroji; Indian National Association (INC) in 1876 by Surendranath Banerjee; Arya Samaj by Dayanand Saraswati, Brahmo Samaj by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and others, All India Muslim League in 1906 by All India Muhammadan Educational Conference at Dhaka. The purposes of al the men, women, committees and forums were same; To Get Freedom from British rule.

British Government brought in practice rules & regulations and policies to suppress the nationalists movement. Education of English was made compulsory; Bengal was divided in East Bengal and West Bengal in 1905. Rowlatt Act was brought in place, under which 'any Indian could have been kept in prison for 2 years without trial citing any reasons on the basis of doubts only.' British Police and Monarchy were made more powerful. British tried everything to doze of the fire burning inside every Indian to get freedom. But Gandhi Ji made come back from South Africa in January 1915.

Just one Indian and history changed for forever!

Gandhi Ji took together every Indian from every level of society in Indian Freedom Movement. This does not mean before arrival of Bapu, Indians were less striving for Free India or less hungry to get free. The arrival of the Father of Nation made freedom Movement more centralized; Gandhi Ji declared "Swaraj", first non-cooperation Movement. British Government suppressed the Movement by illegally arresting Indians. Jails were filled with Indian men and women fighting for Freedom. Gandhi Ji was jailed for 6 years in 1922 but later released after serving 2 years. As soon out from jail, he established Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. In between, there were differences of thoughts among Indian leaders fighting for Freedom. One group was in favor of fighting for freedom peacefully; others were aggressive. The aggressive group was in belief that 'Freedom is not the thing to ask for but to obtain'. However, purpose of both the groups was common, to get Complete Freedom. Gandhi Ji was strictly against any kind of violence that may harm any human by any means. His approaches bring every Indian together.

The work of great men and women to fight for Freedom includes many Greats whose name shall remain written in the Golden Book of Indian History till the human race shall exist on the planet Earth. The likes of Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Sri Aurobindo, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Rabindranath Tagore and Dadabhai Naoroji and millions more are the Heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle. This page is not enough to mention about all men and women who gave Blood for Freedom. Millions of Salutes those courageous men, women and children who played with self lives and made British Monarchy see the Sunset on this Holy Land.

During freedom struggle jails were filled by innocent Indians asking Swaraj; students left universities, scholars left libraries, lawyers left courts, businesses stopped trading foreign goods; the purpose was common to Handover Free India To Us. British government killed many nationalists; Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Madan Lal Dhingara, Sukhdev, Veer Savarkar, Khudiram Bose and countless more.

The more British Government tried to suppress Indian National Movement the stronger it turned. On 26 January 1930 Purn Swaraj observed. The English Queen was awestruck in disbelief.

Gandhi led Dandi March between 11 March and 6 April 1930 on protest against Salt Tax, the movement was a great success. The British monarchy felt helpless in front of Peaceful Indians. This movement is also known as salt Satyagrah or the Namak Satyagrah. Many such Movements, protests and disobedience movements shouted peacefully on the British Raj to Go Back. The roots of British Government weakened day by day and finally they agreed to leave the country 'with at least something what Indian could give them in agreement.'

Yes, you heard right, we are a Nation who loves every human; even we don't hate our enemies. And I can say with Guarantee, the British took the Learning of Gandhism with them, 'The Power of Peace'.

On 15 August 1947 we became the Free India; the last British Governor General, Lord Mountbatten left for Britain. C. Rajgopalchari became the first Indian Governor General of India. The Constitution of India to define fundamental rights and duties of every individual, institution and government drafted under the leadership of Dr. Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar by the Constituent Committee. The constitution was adopted in the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and taken into practice on 26 January 1950; Tri Color Rose High on the Beats of Drums and Lyrics of Indian National Anthem. India became the Republic of India on this day. Dr. Rajendra Prasad became our First President and the Chief Commander of Indian Defence Forces.

Our constitution is longest written constitution in the world. The constitution of India is moderate in nature and gives the Rights of Equality to every human being irrespective of creed, cast, religion and color or culture. The Constitution of India is a Seal of 'United India'. Every year on 26 January, we celebrate the Birth of Our Republic and the Birth together with whole nation. This day is called THE REPUBLIC DAY!

The Great Freedom Fighters gave us Free India and a Republic where we can live freely, breath fresh air and share happiness with others. Freedom comes with responsibilities and our constitution gives us plenty of Rights and Duties. Let's make the pledge together to live up to the expectations of constitutions and fulfill our duties bestowed on us towards our Motherland.

Let's celebrate the Great Indian Republic with Greater Responsibilities and inscribe a script for which our children will be proud of. We are the torch bearer. Our ancestors; the freedom fighters gave us the Torch of Freedom. Let this torch burn brightly and pass on to next generation to spread the lights. Let's celebrate the Republic Day in style.

THANK YOU ~ JAI HIND