A speech for India's 75th Independence Day

Good morning Anganites!!!

We are celebrating the 75th year since India’s independence! Our country has been through an incredible journey. We are feeling a sense of pride isn’t it?

India became an independent nation in August 1947. Until then the British ruled this land for about 200 years. Before that the Moghuls ruled for about 300 years.

So how was India before those 500 years?

It is said that this land is known as Bharatavarsha …named after King Bharata who probably ruled over most of it..

Well, there doesn’t seem to have been an ‘India’ - a country with a separate identity back then. There were big and small Maharajas and their kingdoms! …. Most of them with a self-sufficient and flourishing economy.

It is only since independence that the Kingdoms were brought together to create ‘India’ the country as we and the world know it today. That it has stayed united and independent for 75 years is a BIG DEAL! It is incredible! We should be proud of it!

The rulers exploited and left this land ravaged. But that’s now history.

Let’s look beyond that and take note of some of India’s glorious achievements since then.…

*India was considered a poor and third world nation. Today global agencies project that India is likely to be the world’s third biggest economy in the coming 10 years! This is a BIG DEAL! It is incredible! We should be proud of it!

*India was a country needing and taking help from the more advanced western world. Today, we see ourselves as the one with the ability to give aid to our neighbouring less privileged countries! This is a BIG DEAL! It is incredible! We should be proud of it!

* Our presence and performances at the Common wealth and Olympics used to be limited and lacking. Our recent medal haul with a 4th ranking at the CWG tells us that we can compete and win globally in athletics and sports as well! This is a BIG DEAL! It is incredible! We should be proud of it!

*Even recently, at the beginning of the pandemic, in the midst of their own worrying statistics, the western world announced that India would be wiped out what with our population numbers and hygiene conditions. We proved them wrong! Not only did we deal with it smartly and effectively, we became one of the key vaccine suppliers to the world! This is a BIG DEAL! It is incredible! We should be proud of it!

*Today India is looked upon as one of the technology leaders in the world. Be it call centres, back office operations, technology operations, or IT research and development centres, We are serving the global community in the new ways of doing successful business. This is a BIG DEAL! It is incredible! We should be proud of it!

As we step forward into the future, we must see ourselves as the flag bearers for India’s Centenary celebrations!

Each one of us has the ability to do what our country has done and is doing. We must contribute to making our country stronger and self reliant. But how?

*I read this somewhere - when we buy local, travel by rickshaw or eat at the local dhaba - the profits go to someone in the locality and the money stays in the country…we can do that .. Let’s make it happen!

*The quality of our health will improve our lives. Being environmentally conscious in our choices can only do us good and we will leave a better place for our children..we can do that .. Let’s make it happen!

*Just being good neighbours who are always there for each other is so easy in a colony like Samartha Aangan! We are already such a loving family! Lets try and improve on that … a little more awareness and sensitivity towards our neighbours is all that is required to make this society of ours a heaven on earth! .. we can do that .. Let’s make it happen!

Samartha Aangan has achieved a milestone too this year. It is about 20 years since the colony welcomed its first resident. This society has also grown from being just another housing colony to being one of the most coveted residential premises in this locality. We should keep it that way ….. we can do that .. Let’s make it happen!

Today we stand here together as proud Indians…as proud Anganites!!!

Wish you all a very happy 75th Indian Independence Day!

Thank you and Jai Hind!