SPEECH ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

Jai Sri Gurudev!!

My dear friends,

We were the privileged lot to have been born in free India. We were able to breathe the fresh free air since our birth. If at all we want to know the pangs of agony of being slaves under a foreign rule, we must ask our elders born before 1947. It was indeed a Himalayan task for every Indian those days to fight against those powerful giants – the British rulers. We must not allow those hard times and struggles fade away from our memories. Hence it is befitting for us to celebrate such National festivals and recall those heroic deeds of our National heroes. We remember them today. Right from Mahatma Gandhi to the local patriotic leaders we owe our gratitude. When we regard those martyrs who laid their precious lives for our sake, we must not ignore the common people who sacrificed their lot for the good cause. There were farmers, land lords, businessmen, teachers, writers, poets and students who helped the land achieve the long cherished freedom. Today we have come a long way in the path of free India. We have proved ourselves worthy of freedom. We are considered as the largest democracy in the world. How proud we were when Abhinav Bindra made our National Flag flutter and ‘Jana Gana Mana’ played at the background in Beijing? We are proud of it and feel very happy about all these positive aspects. But are we blind to the black clouds surrounding us? Are we very successful in using our freedom in the right manner? If so, why should there be so many bomb blasts, killings, attacks on government offices, cases against so many politicians and so many unstable governments? Well my dear friends, what can a student do at this juncture? Should we go and catch the terrorists? Should we fight against the corrupted politicians? Or should we take over the country into our hands by waging another war for freedom? No, we are not expected to do all these things. We must keep observing things around us. We will have our own day. Before that, let us do our duty of preparing ourselves to be well-educated citizens of tomorrow. Let us do our duty sincerely and study hard to achieve a goal. Today we require youngsters with lot of knowledge and energy. Illiteracy is the first enemy for a democratic nation. Let us get rid of illiteracy and take India to a bright future.

Jai Hind! Jai Karnataka!

Preamble of the Flag Code of India says that:

The significance of the colours and the Chakra in the National Flag was amply described by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in the Constituent Assembly which unanimously adopted the National Flag. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan explained -

"The Ashoka Wheel in the center of the white is the wheel of the law of dharma. Truth or satya, dharma or virtue ought to be the controlling principles of those who work under this flag. Again, the wheel denotes motion. There is death in stagnation. There is life in movement. India should no more resist change, it must move and go forward. The wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change."

Facts About IndiaIndia is full of talent, intelligence and creativity. There have been many stars in the galaxy of India, contributing a lot to this universe. Here is the glimpse of ancient India, which surely make every Indian proud for his motherland. These set of facts inspires every Indian to work hard with honesty and sincerity towards the goal and help the country to regain its shinning position.

India never invaded any country in her last 1,000 years of history.India invented the Number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.The world's first University was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.According to the Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Although western media portray modern images of India as poverty struck and underdeveloped through political corruption, India was once the richest empire on earth.The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 5000 years ago. The very word 'Navigation' is derived from the Sanskrit word Navgatih.The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean Theorem. British scholars have last year (1999) officially published that Budhayan's works dates to the 6th Century which is long before the European mathematicians. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th Century; the largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 1053.According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world.USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century-old suspicion amongst academics that the pioneer of wireless communication was Professor Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.Chess was invented in India.Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he along with health scientists of his time conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India.When many cultures in the world were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan Culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilisation).The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus, attracted by India's wealth, had come looking for a sea route to India when he discovered America by mistake.India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.Yoga was originated in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.