Category DAYS TO REMEMBER

         Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the out nation, is an inspiring person, who shaped world history. Gandhiji stands out among the great men of the world as a symbol of non-violent resistance to political and social repression.                      

        Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2nd, 1869 in Gujarat. He became the leader of a movement that attracted millions in the struggle for freedom. He was a strong advocate of nonviolence. India got freedom on August 15th, 1947. Gandhiji was assassinated on January 30th, 1948.

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              Do you know that the food that we consume every day reaches us through a chain of many people? A morsel of bread before it landed on our palm was a seed that was sown in a field, cared for and harvested by a farmer, bought and sold by businessmen, before being purchased and brought home by our parents from the market. While all links of the chain are important, the indispensable link is the farmer. While farming remains the foundation stone of any society, it hardly receives the respect and dignity it deserves. In India, the National Farmers Day, popularly known as Kisan Diwas, is celebrated on December 23.

                The day is celebrated in the honour of Chaudhary Charan Singh who was the fifth Prime Minister of India. Charan Singh belonged to a peasant family; and therefore, it was easy for him to relate to the problems of the farmers. He introduced many policies in favour of farmers and he was able to bring together all the farmers against the landlords and moneylenders who exploited them.

                In India, more than 70 percent of the population depends on agriculture for income in one form or the other. The observance of Kisan Diwas sheds light on the plight of the farmers in India and the vital services they render to the nation.

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            The Army, the Navy and the Air Force, three wings together known as the armed forces, defend a nation from extraneous threats. Indian Armed Forces Flag Day, celebrated on December 7, is observed to respect and cherish the services of the armed forces and to collect funds for the well-being of soldiers.

            The observance started in 1947 and ever since, the sacrifice of the men in uniform who valiantly fought on the borders to safeguard the country’s honour is remembered and appreciated. On this day, small flags are distributed to the general public across the country and the funds collected, are utilised for the welfare of defence personnel and their families.

             The Armed Forces are rendering invaluable services to our nation. The day is an opportunity to thank them and remember them in a special way.

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           December 4 is the Indian Navy Day. Indian Navy safeguards the Indian waters and coasts.

           The Naval Force or maritime force is designed to defend the nation against threats that come through the seas. The maritime history of India dates back about 6,000 years, as navigation was popular in the Indus Valley civilization.

           The Maurya Empire, the Kalinga Empire and the Vijayanagara Empire were known maritime powers during their reign. Shivaji Bhosale of the Maratha Empire is considered the Father of the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy founded by the East India Company came into force in 1612. Today, the Indian Navy plays a great role in securing the marine borders of the country as well as enhancing the international relations of India through many ways like seaport visits, joint exercises, humanitarian missions and calamity relief. The modern Indian navy has undergone speedy renovation in order to enhance its strength in the Indian Ocean region.

           Navy Day in India is observed to honour the courageous attack by the Navy on the Karachi harbour during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971 and pay respects to all the martyrs of that war.

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                                                In 1886, labourers in Chicago had declared a general strike starting from May 1 in order to limit the working hours to 8 hours a day. In the commotion that ensued, police fired at the workers and killed eight of them. The event created further ripples in the society as riots broke out and the police and the military killed more civilians. In 1891, the anniversary of the Chicago protests was observed as the International Workers’ Day for the first time. The day is also known as May Day.

                                                In India, the day has another significance too. In 1923, a prominent Communist leader Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar raised the red flag in Chennai on May 1 and inaugurated communism in India. That was also the event when May Day celebrations were introduced in our country. May Day symbolizes the strength in union and fraternity and it tells the world that labourers who build the world are to be respected and their rights, protected.

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                                                The Indian Constitution is considered one the most comprehensive of all constitutions in the world. On April 14, India celebrates the birthday of the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar Jayanti is an occasion to acknowledge not only the contribution he has made to create the Constitution, but also the efforts he took in uplifting the Dalits and other marginalized castes in India.

                                                Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a multifaceted personality, marking his presence as an economist, jurist, politician and social reformer who fought against social discrimination towards the untouchables, while also supporting the rights of women and labour. He is known the world over as the Indian crusader for social justice.

                                                Ambedkar Jayanti inspires men and women to stand up for their rights and fight against any kind of discrimination in society.