Thomas said to him, “My Lord and My God”. (St. John 20:28)
Issue No. 8 Vol. VII
August 2013
A Monthly publication for the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kuwait
"A Tribute to our Freedom Fighters"
Every year, 15th of August is celebrated as Independence Day of India. The day commemorate political independence from of the nation from the British rule on 15th August 1947 and that independence is celebrated every year, although in a much more subdued form than on Republic Day. The Independence Day of India is much more than commemorating the anniversary of India’s free statehood. It is a moment of celebration, a day to pay tribute to the martyrs because of whose struggle and sacrifice we are breathing an air of freedom. This year, we celebrate our 67th Independence Day. The Independence Day of any country is a moment of pride and glory. "Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again." - Jawaharlal Nehru (Speech on Indian Independence Day, 1947) ‘Free India’ was a dream of all Indians under the British rule. Everyone during that rule fought in some way or the other with a common aim of ending British and other colonial authorities in India. After a century of revolutions, struggle, blood shedding, battles and sacrifices, India finally achieved independence on August 15, 1947. India was free in 1947 from the British Empire but the country lost many men and women who were filled with undaunted courage and spirit of patriotism. Today, they are known as freedom fighters because they sacrificed their lives for their motherland. There are endless number of men and women other than the above list who daringly fought for India’s freedom. Indian freedom fighters with their true spirit and undaunted courage had faced various tortures, exploitations and hardships to earn us freedom. With unfailing courage and endurance our freedom fighters stood at the forefront fighting back India from the British clutches. On this Independence Day, let's celebrate the triumphs of their struggle... The pioneers of the freedom movement were Mangal Pandey, Tantia Tope, Rani of Jhansi and the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi who introduced non-violent ways of fighting the enemy. Other notable freedom fighters of India are Annie Besant, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bhagat Singh, Bipin Chandra Pal, Sukhdev Tapar, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sarojini Naidu, Dadabhai Naoroji, Sucheta Kriplani, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Ram Prasad Bismil, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Gopi Krishna Gokhale, Kittur Rani Chennamma, Rani Avanti Bhai, Begum Hazrath Mahal, Preeti Lata Waddadar, Matangiri Hazra, Kasturba Gandhi, Kalpana Datta, Lakshmi Sahgal (Capt. Lakshmi), Beena Das, Kanaklatha Baruah, Nellie Sengupta, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya, Indira Gandhi, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Aruna Asif Ali, Sucheta Kriplani, Bhikaji Cama, Savitribhai Phule, Usha Mehta to name a very few! A great source of inspiration to all countrymen from these great personalities who led the freedom struggle and got this largest democracy independent on August 15, 1947; never forget their sacrifice. We Salute You !!!!!!!!!!! Jai Hind!!!!!!!!!!! Vande Mataram !!!!!!!!!!! P.O. Box 25562 Safat 13116 Kuwait Tel : 24317631 (Res.) Mob : 97723631 St. Thomas Centre Tel: 2564 7060 E-mail: st.thomasmtcq8@gmail.com www.st-thomasmtckuwait.com
Rev. Chacko Thomas Acting Vicar
vicar@stpetersmarthomakuwait.org (For Private Circulation only)
Parsonage Location Salmiya, Street 10, Bldg No. 20 1st Floor, Flat No. 14 Al-Dhahok Bin Qays Street Opp. Bestow Super Market