As India gears up to celebrate its 70th year of independence
from the British on Saturday, it's time to remember those who fought tirelessly
for the freedom of the country and those who shaped its destiny in the
subsequent years with their vision and wisdom.
The illustrious list of freedom fighters is indeed long and
includes Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Sarojini Naidu, Sardar
Vallabhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Jawaharlal
Nehru and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Their zeal and
conviction inspired many people to participate in the freedom struggle that
eventually led to the British leaving India, enabling the country to formally
declare independence on 15 August, 1947.
The freedom fighters
gave many slogans that motivated lakhs of Indians to join them in the freedom
movement. Some of these slogans are worth recalling on the eve of
Independence Day:
·
'Vande Mataram (Hail to the Mother(land))'
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
· 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan; Long Live Youth, Long Live Farmer'
Lal Bahadur Shastri
·
'Jai Hind'
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
· 'Swaraj Mera Janamsiddha adhikar hai, aur main ise laker
rahoonga (Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it)'
Coined by Kaka Baptista and adopted by Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Coined by Kaka Baptista and adopted by Bal Gangadhar Tilak
