On India's 72nd Independence Day, the only section of people who seem independent are the radical Hindu groups: They recognise no authority, bristle at the control imposed on them and feel they have no obligation to others The word independent has varying shades of meanings. It could mean anyone who is free from outside control and not subject to another's authority; one who is unwilling to be under an obligation to others; or one whose validity and value is dependent only on his/her opinion. It was precisely why our forefathers felt so intoxicatingly liberated on 15 August, 1947: India, after all, was to become a self-governing nation, free from British control. Yet, their liberation was not absolute. They were to subject themselves to an authority they considered legitimate. They were to recognise constraints and obligations spelt out in the Constitution. Our understanding of freedom, unfortunately, is increasingly coming under strain now. On the 71st anniversary of India's Independence, the only section of people who seem independent, in the dictionary sense of the term, are the myriad radical Hindu groups mushrooming all over India. They seem to recognise no authority, bristle at the control imposed on them, feel they have no obligation to others, and their own validity is derived from their own sense of what India should be. Damn all those who differ from them, or so they think. Examples conveying their idea of independence are captured in media headlines every other day — they lynch in the name of the cow, accost inter-faith couples, ride motorcycles shouting provocative slogans to trigger communal conflict, judge who is patriotic, and mount pressure to proscribe books and films. It can get as petty as objecting to the film Loveratri only because it rhymes with 'Navratri', and as dangerous as shooting at the student leader Umar Khalid. They have turned festivals — whether of Hindus or Muslims or Christians, and even public celebrations not linked to any religion — into days of alarm and caution. Who can tell what they might find objectionable and unearth a reason to protest and fight? They feel emboldened because the climate for their politics has become favourable, the most recent example of which is Madhya Pradesh. As we celebrate the 71st anniversary of Independence and enjoy a day-off from work, the madrasas in Madhya Pradesh have been ordered to hold Tricolour rallies and send videos to the State Madrasa Board as proof. The board will then judge which madrasa staged the best show. Other schools too have been asked to organise rallies, but they have been exempted from furnishing proof to the authorities. It is a glaring instance of the State doubting the patriotism of Muslims. It is just the kind of cue radical Hindu groups are quick to pick on. Madhya Pradesh illustrates why suspicion and aggression have become the primary drivers of the politics of Hindu radicals. Or why they think they are under no obligation to anyone or required to submit to authority. Their conduct is a manifestation of their ideological belief. As is true of other groups on the opposite side of India's ideological spectrum, Hindu radicals also believe India's Independence remains an unfinished business; it is just a milestone on the long path to making the nation a 'Hindu Rashtra'. This fact has had Hindu radicals re-interpret "independence" and "independent". All their actions, from lynching to hate mongering, are part of a long struggle which they believe will make India truly independent. This will happen with the advent of the 'Hindu Rashtra'. It is altogether a different matter that their ideological gurus have not outlined the contours of 'Hindu Rashtra', beyond just venting anger and hate against some social groups and categories of people. Yet, behind this thought is a long political tradition, best represented by the actions and ideas of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the high priest of the Hindu Right, who coined the term 'Hindutva'. Freedom from British rule was not always Savarkar's principal impulse. For instance, when the Congress ministries in provinces resigned in 1939, in protest against the British unilaterally making India a party to World War II, Savarkar offered to work with the colonial masters. On 9 October, 1939, Savarkar met Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, who reported to the Secretary of State for India their conversation. "The situation, he (Savarkar) said, was that His Majesty's Government must now turn to the Hindus and work with their support," Linlithgow said. Savarkar also pointed out to the viceroy that France and Britain had strong differences in the past, but came together to face Germany. Likewise, the "essential thing was for Hinduism and Great Britain to be friends, and the old antagonism was no longer necessary". Given that Gandhi, Nehru, Patel — the triumvirate of the national movement — were Hindu, who were the Hindus that Savarkar wanted the British to befriend? Obviously, they were those who were not participating in the anti-colonial movement. They were the Hindus who had rejected the idea of territorial nationalism for cultural nationalism. Savarkar said so in as many words: "If India, because it was a territorial unit and called a country must be a national unit as well, then all of us must also be Indians only and cease to be Hindus or Muslims, Christians or Parsees. So they, the leaders of those first generations of English educated people, being almost all Hindus, tried their best to cease themselves to be Hindus and thought it below their dignity to take any cognizance of the divisions as Hindus and Moslems and became transformed overnight into Indian patriots alone…" Savarkar asked Hindu Sanghathnists to "first correct the original mistake". In other words, the struggle for Independence was not as important as the struggle to create the Hindu patriot — not the Indian patriot, mind you. On this kind of exercise, Muhammad Ali Jinnah's Muslim League too had embarked, demanding Pakistan as a homeland for Muslims. Like Jinnah, Savarkar's idea, too, was anchored in the two-nation theory.<doc-sep>A large number of Indians attended the flag hoisting ceremonies held at the High Commission in Canberra Thousands of Indians across the world today proudly celebrated India's 72nd Independence Day with the Indian flag fluttering high and the national anthem reverberating at Indian missions abroad. Indians in China, Australia, Singapore and many other countries marked the day with hoisting of the national flag and singing of patriotic songs. In Beijing, a large number of the Indians took part in the Independence Day celebrations held at the Indian Embassy. India's Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale hoisted the Indian flag and read President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation. Several Indian dignitaries, including BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, senior Congress leader Karan Singh, who are currently in China, took part in the flag hoisting ceremony. A large number of Indians were present at the occasion. In Melbourne, a large number of Indian expatriates attended the flag hoisting ceremonies held at the Indian High Commission in Canberra and consulate buildings in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to mark the 72nd Independence Day. Congratulating the Indian government, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that India and Australia were great friends with a lot in common as modern, vibrant and diverse democracies. "Australia's large and growing Indian community makes a much valued contribution to so many areas of our national life - and has for many year," Mr Turnbull said here in an official statement. "Whether through culture, community, education, science or enterprise, Indian-Australians are helping make our nation stronger and more dynamic. "We have a connection and friendship that stretch from Adelaide to Amritsar, Hobart to Hyderabad and everywhere in between," he said. Mr Turnbull said that he was fortunate to have seen the flourishing relationship first hand during his visit to India last year. "I am confident that our deepening ties will ensure that these friendly relations will continue to prosper in the coming year," he said. In his congratulatory message, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs minister Alan Tudge said, "India today is the world's largest democracy sharing our liberal democratic values and commitment to freedom. "As Australia's fifth largest export market, and our 10th largest trading partner overall, Australia and India have a relationship based on strong political, economic and community ties," he said. Mr Tudge highlighted that investment between the two sides have grown significantly in the last decade and the number of Indians born in Australia also jumped. Meanwhile, Indian diaspora across the country held several cultural events and special dinners to mark the occasion. Last week, Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee, who was attending the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2018, hoisted the Indian flag at the iconic building Federation Square here. In Singapore, more than 500 Indians in Singapore joined High Commissioner Jawed Ashraf in celebrating India's Independent Day. The Indian flag was unfurled in the presence of more than 800 Indian nationals. A concert of patriotic songs and cultural performance was also organised to mark the occasion. A mid-morning reception was hosted at the High Commission for the business community linked to India.<doc-sep>27 May, 2021, 05:59 AM IST The Dynamic Duo of a Holistic Self-Care Hunt for the brightest engineers in India Let's get smarter about money Tomorrow is different. Let's reshape it today How they can help in wealth creation Independence Day 2018 Highlights: India now land of reform, perform and transform, says PM Independence Day 2018 Highlights: India now land of reform, perform and transform, says PM India is celebrating 71 years of independence today. Track this space for all the highlights from Red Fort.<doc-sep>Students perform a dance during India’s Independence Day celebrations, in Jammu. (Source: AP) Students perform a dance during India’s Independence Day celebrations, in Jammu. (Source: AP) As India celebrates its 72nd Independence Day on August 15, Indians across the world are all excited for the important day. Today’s events started with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisting the Tricolour, followed by his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. ALSO READ | LIVE Updates of PM Narendra Modi’s address from Red Fort ALSO READ | This video of National Anthem by Indian athletes is the best thing you’ll see today Indians including celebrities are sharing what freedom means to them and how they define independence on this historic day. On the eve of the Independence Day, people on social media paid tributes to those who fought and made the supreme sacrifice to free the country from the British Raj. While others marked the occasion with patriotic songs and dance. And as the celebrations for the historic day begins, here is how people on social media are observing this day.<doc-sep>
Team India hoisted the national flag in the UK on Wednesday. (Source: BCCI) Team India hoisted the national flag in the UK on Wednesday. (Source: BCCI) The Indian cricket team celebrated India’s 72nd Independence Day by hoisting the national flag at the Taj London on Wednesday. India is currently on the English shores for a five-match Test series. They are already 2-0 down in the series and are gearing up for the third Test at Trent Bridge which begins from August 18. In a video released by the BCCI, the entire squad along with support staff took part in the flag-hoisting ceremony after which skipper Virat Kohli wished his fellow countrymen ‘a very happy Independence Day’. “On behalf of the Indian cricket team, all the way from the UK here is wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day. Jai Hind!”, Kohli said. It’s a great feeling to be an Indian. May the tricolour always fly high. Happy Independence Day 🇮🇳 Jai hind ! pic.twitter.com/qtKTfxP09D — Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) 15 August 2018 Earlier former India cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman also conveyed their wishes. “I bow down to all those who laid down their lives so that we can celebrate this day. Happy #IndependenceDay India,” wrote Laxman on Twitter. ⁠”Everything in life is hard-earned. “Just like our independence. Among countless other things, there would have been no ‘Team India’ if not for the sacrifice of our brave freedom fighters. Let us not take that freedom for granted. #HappyIndependenceDay,” Tendulkar tweeted. MUST WATCH: On Independence Day, members of #TeamIndia came together to honour the tricolour in England. What a proud moment this #HappyIndependenceDay 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 #IndependenceDayIndia Full Video Link—> https://t.co/MBEx1zhR6K pic.twitter.com/LWhooUwORO — BCCI (@BCCI) 15 August 2018 Meanwhile, India and England will once again lock horns against each other in the third Test which begins from Saturday. Jasprit Bumrah has been declared fit for the match. Virat Kohli also expressed confidence of being fit for the match.