Assam by Tinat: January 2014

The Martyr extraordinaire!

Day: 30th January, 2014
Venue: Rajib Bhawan, Guwahati
Time: 10 am
Occasion: Martyr's Day, International Non-violence Day, Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary

A prayer session, discussions about Gandhiji and the feeling of serenity is what we all felt as all the Congress party workers congregated and aligned with the spirit of the Mahatma at the premises of the Rajib Bhawan.

Venue: ITA, Machkhowa

Time: 5.30 pm

Occasion: Sadbhabana Sandhya (On the occasion of the Mahatma's death anniversary)

President of the USA, Barack Obama, when asked what was that one wish he had, he said, " I would have liked to meet Mahatma Gandhi and have a meal with him, while seated on the floor." But he deeply regrets not having met Bapuji, the man who changed the history of India, believed in life and wished for world peace.

An evening is probably not enough to understand the sacrifice of the Mahatma but we in all earnest tried to be with Bapuji by singing his songs and taking a pledge to be more humane to our fellowmen.

A documentary on Bapu being telecast on Doordarshan

Live Transmission from Delhi

Members of the Kasturba Gandhi Ashram

Tanya Tarannum enthralled the audience with her songs

The members of the Assam Mahila Congress singing, "Raghupati Raghava Rajaram......"

Shri Hembhai, veteran Gandhian, spoke at length about being compassionate and loving

"We have a responsibility towards our country. Each person has a duty and that is to add to the value of the country." Hembhai, social worker and veteran Gandhian said, as he spoke from the heart. Talking about deep introspection by every individual, he said that we should take a pointer from Bapu's 'simple living, high thinking.' Sympathy for the people who need it most should be the mantra of life, he said adding that compassion should be the other word we should remember to keep close to our heart at all times.

APCC, President, Shri Bhubaneshwar Kalita speaking on the ideals of the Mahatma

Sadly, however, The Sadbhavana Sandhya organised jointly by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and The Flag Foundation hardly had any takers. It can be understood that the Mahatma's principles hardly hold any water in an age where talk of being humane, compassionate, loving, helping is considered to be 'boring' and a thing of the past. I am only worried about what these words will be replaced with!

65th Republic Day celebrations

"........Equality, unity, an outlook of friendship and co-operation, a sense of duty and responsibility towards the nation, an approach based on integrity, selflessness and the spirit of service -- are aspects of a composite code of ethical and moral values that must inform, permeate and pervade our national life.

A high level of commitment in this respect is a sine qua non for the successful working of our elaborate, sensitive and interlinked systems of constitutional, political and administrative functions.

Republic Day, particularly in this auspicious golden jubilee year of Independence, is an appropriate occasion to review dispassionately our achievements, the extent to which we have progressed in attaining our goals, the problems and difficulties we encounter and the steps we must take to overcome the challenges that confront us.

.....Crimes against weaker sections and women, acts of violence and intimidation, challenge our claims of building an egalitarian society. The fruits of progress to a substantial extent are negated by our burgeoning population and the complexities innate to the task of equitable distribution in a country of India's diversities and dimensions.

More than seven decades ago, Mahatma Gandhi had cautioned against what he termed as the seven social sins. Writing in Young India in 1925, Bapu raised his finger against politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, education without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity and worship without sacrifice.

I feel we need to ponder over Bapu's words. I feel convinced that India's need today is for a profound moral and ethical rejuvenation, the building of a nationwide commitment to our national values and goals and the integration and unification of the people.

Simultaneously, there must be a forthright and outright rejection of casteism and communalism with its invidious, sinister nexus with corruption and criminality. Increasingly it is evident that India's failing to rid herself of these evils will aggravate the ills and vulnerabilities that vex our nation and lead to grave consequences. I sincerely hope the nation heeds Bapu's worlds." Shankar Dayal Sharma, 9th President of independent India, on the eve of Republic Day of 1997, the year in which India completed 50 years since independence prayed for India's advancement and striving towards becoming a major superpower in the years to come. Dr Sharma recalled the inspiring words of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, whose birth centenary India was celebrating in 1997, who wanted through India's liberation, Asia and the world to move forward towards larger goal of human emancipation. The former president of India also talked about the extent to which India have progressed in attaining the goals, problems and difficulties that the country has encountered and the steps taken to overcome the challenges. The speech also puts light onto the crimes against weaker sections and women, acts of violence and intimidation, that challenge India's claim of building an egalitarian society for all. As for the future of the country, the president wanted the approach to be value-based and people-centred.

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Venue: Rajib Bhawan, Guwahati

Time: 8 am

Occasion: Flag hoisting ceremony

Early morning Republic Day preparation

The tri-colour being prepared for hoisting

Shri Sarat Barkotoky, Veteran Congress leader

Shri Jain, freedom-fighter and staunch Gandhian

Flag hoisting by Shri Jain

Rajib Bhawan resplendent on Republic Day

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Venue: Veterinary Field, Khanapara

Time: 9 am

Occasion: The State Republic Day programmme

Being a part of the spirit of the Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati with the rest of the nation only enhanced the spirit within of what I can do for the country and my party than what they can do for me.

On this 65th Republic Day celebrations, I pledge my allegiance to India and the Indian National Congress