The Hindu : Rain was no damper to their spirit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 16, 2003

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National

Rain was no damper to their spirit

By Our Staff Reporter

In New Delhi school children watched the celebration at the Chatrasal Stadium braving the rain.

NEW DELHI AUG. 15. Incessant rain, which began around midnight on Thursday and continued for almost 10 hours, failed to dampen the spirit of nationalist fervour as thousands of people, including children, participated in the wettest Independence Day function ever at the Red Fort this morning.

Though the unexpected heavy showers caught everyone off guard, the enthusiasm and sense of purpose were not lost and everyone heard the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, in rapt attention.

In Srinagar, a motorcyclist belonging to the Jammu & Kashmir police smashed through a glass panel in a splendid show of heroism.

Mr. Vajpayee was received at the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort by the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, two Ministers of State and the three Service Chiefs and introduced to the General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, Maj. Gen. Mathew Thomal, who then conducted him to the saluting base where a combined Inter-Services and police guard presented the general salute.

Thereafter, Mr. Vajpayee inspected a guard of honour. He then proceeded to the ramparts of the fort as the seasoned announcer, Jasdev Singh, read out lines from his poem, Badhe chalo, badhe chalo.

In Guwahati, the Judge's Field winessed a strange spectacle -- crows put up their own line-up in front of a contingent of security force personnel.

And as he was going up to the ramparts in a lift, the lines of another of his poems, Geet naya gaata hoon, were rendered by Mr. Singh.

On the ramparts, Mr. Vajpayee exchanged greetings with some senior politicians and diplomats who sat on both sides of the podium with open umbrellas. Some, such as the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had come well-prepared with their raincoats on.

Mr. Vajpayee then unfurled the National Flag, becoming the first non-Congress Prime Minister to do so six times. As the Tricolour opened majestically, catching the wind, and fluttered with a gentle sway, the cannons boomed. The sound of 21 guns brought a sudden frenzy, as pigeons, which live in the crevices of the fort walls, took to the air.

But despite the downpour, the Red Fort looked splendid with flower and leaf decorations and flags hanging all around, lending a touch of festivity. The Prime Minister too, during his address, mentioned how marvellous it looked even after 150 years.

Mr. Vajpayee's reference to the growing foreign exchange reserve, the mission to the moon and his recitation of a poem, Kadam mila kar chalna hoga, brought rounds of applause from nearly 10,000 children of various schools who participated in the programme.

About 500 of them were Junior Division Cadets of NCC from the Delhi Directorate who participated in the singing of the National Anthem along with about 3,500 children from 45 participating schools of Delhi. They also sat in such a way that they formed the map of India when seen from above.

These little soldiers cheered wildly when a large number of balloons, carrying paper sparklers, were released at the end of the function to signal the spirit of true freedom.

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