I-Day celebrations are now mere events: Freedom fighter
AGRA: Freedom-fighter Shashi Shiromani was out on the streets of Agra on the evening of August 14, 1947 with a purpose but had a few takers.
Shiromani is 82 now.
“I was young when I moved on the Yamuna Kinara road of Agra on August 14, 1947 evening to inform the residents that India would attain independence at midnight but not many believed me. There were people who mocked me,” recalls Shiromani.
“Later, radios were arranged and placed for public at Rawatpada crossing and it was only after hearing Pt Jawaharlal Nehru at midnight that people finally believed that we were an independent country free from British rule. People broke into celebration,” he said.
“In early years, Independence Day celebrations were matter of pride and people used to compete about the height of the national flag which they put up at their houses. The main celebration used to take place at Ramlila ground. This continued for years after which the venue was shifted to Chungi Maidan on Yamuna Kinara road and then shifted to other locations,” he says. “Prominent leaders used to address the people. Sweets were distributed in schools and colleges. People used to roam around on bicycles with national flag on it. Teachers used to wear khadi as it was a token of patriotism those days,” Shiromani recalls. “With growing politicisation, celebrations became events and now it is more of a ritual. Today, celebrations lack the feelings that we had for independence,” laments Shiromani.