Defying all odds, including a boycott call by some armed militant outfits, the people of far eastern Bharat (India) celebrated the 76th Republic Day, unfurling the Tri-colour paying homage to the known and unknown martyrs of India’s Freedom Movement against the colonial British forces.
Resentments against the governments in respective State capitals as well as in New Delhi, anti-India rhetoric and even the diktats from separatist militants could not deter from joining the celebrations aspiring for a powerful nation, which is definitely a Biswa Mitra (if not immediately, it can emerge as Biswa Guru), a guiding light for the human race with its legacy, culture and environment-friendly natures.
The auspicious occasion passed peacefully except for some unfounded reports of bomb blasts in the prehistoric city of Guwahati, which the authorities had out rightly rejected. Many areas of the Imphal valley in Manipur looked deserted as the marketplaces were closed and a few people seemingly came outside their residences on 26 January 2025.
As the Kartavya Path in the national capital witnessed a series of events showcasing the military might of Bharat along with its vibrant cultural heritage in the gracious presence of President Droupadi Murmu and her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, the respective Governors, chief ministers, and other lawmakers across the country unfurled the national flag at the State capitals. Most of the northeastern States accorded the spirit of democracy, integrity, and patriotism even though alerted by the anti-national statements issued by armed insurgents who have been waging a war against New Delhi for various homelands.
Trouble-torn Manipur, where a large section of people pursue anti-Delhi rhetoric, witnessed the courteous presence of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, who unfurled the Tri-colour in Imphal. Focusing on the 75 years of enactment of the Constitution, Sarkaryavah Hosabale opined that every Bharatiya should strengthen and develop the nation not only a responsibility but a fundamental duty too. Reciting the story of Lord Ram, who sacrificed his fundamental right to the throne in Ayodhya to fulfill his fundamental duty by accepting a 14-year exile, he exemplifies the precedence of duty over rights.
Highlighting the spirit, Guwahati-based popular news channel Da News Plus organized a talk show after saluting the national flag at its premises, where new generation Indians were appealed to reaffirm their understanding of the Vedic knowledge system while accepting the modern scientific discourses. Moderated by its editorial adviser Professor Dayananda Pathak and joined by journalist turned academician Paresh Baishya and this writer, the live discussion also comprised other pertinent issues including due electoral and diplomatic reforms in India.
While it was reiterated that the people remain the ultimate authority of a democracy, they should also possess the duty and responsibility in accordance with various constitutional rights. At the same time, the electorates should get a proper road map for selecting their representatives to the Parliament, legislative assembly and, local urban and rural bodies with distinctive mandates that have a high participation. Moreover, the status of diplomats representing India across various nations must be decided based on national interests and definitely not to fulfill any criteria imposed by international forums like the Commonwealth. The participants were unanimous in their views that New Delhi should engage a diplomatic mission to cater to the needs and aspirations of billion-plus Indians first, asserting its identity as a sovereign nation.
As prescheduled, Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya unfurled the national flag in Guwahati and paid tributes to the martyrs, where he commented that the State government is committed to maintaining the law and order situation with effective actions against social evils like drug abuse, child marriage and human trafficking.
State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while unfurling the Tri-colour in Dibrugarh, announced that the eastern town will soon have a legislative assembly complex, where Tezpur will emerge as the State’s cultural capital and Silchar will house a mini secretariat. Manipur Guv Ajay Kumar Bhalla unfurled the national flag at Kangla Fort in the presence of State CMN Biren Singh and other dignitaries. Arunachal Pradesh Guv KT Parnaik, Tripura Guv Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Meghalaya Guv CH Vijayashankar, Nagaland Guv La Ganesan, Mizoram Guv Vijay Kumar Singh and Sikkim Guv Om Prakash Mathur also offered honor to the Tri-colour and remembered the sacrifices made by countless individuals for the nation.
The militant groups, who once unanimously dictated the residents to boycott R-Day and Independence Day functions now split into different factions, even in urging the people to avoid the celebration. Denouncing the boycott call by the militant outfits, the nationalist citizens appealed to everyone settling in the region to observe the R-Day, unfurling the Tri-colour in both individual and community level celebrations. The Patriotic Peoples’ Front Assam also reminded that a number of brave-hearts including Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakoti, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan Barman, Rauta Kachari, Hemoram Patar, Gunavi Bordoloi, Thagi Sut, Balaram Sut, etc laid down their lives for the honour of the Tri-colour, adding that the national flag does not belong to the government alone (but the citizens of Bharat). Hence it should be a moral responsibility for each and every Bharatiya to pay tribute to the martyrs on both R-Day and Independence Day.
