MARTYRS’ DAY
By Dr Arvind Kumar
30th January every year is observed as Martyrs’ Day to pay homage to the martyrs who suffered and died for the freedom, welfare, and progress of the country. It was on 30 January 1948 that Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated a little before the sunset when he was going to attend his evening prayers. Gandhiji was among the millions of martyrs and freedom fighters who sacrificed everything for the country’s Independence, welfare and progress. Since Gandhiji’s martyrdom on 30 January 1948, this day was declared as the Martyrs’ Day and since then every year the Nation pays homage to the Mahatma and other martyrs on this day. On Martyr’s Day, the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, and the three service Chiefs gather at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and lay wreaths on the Samadhi decorated with multi-colour flowers. The armed forces personnel blow the bugles sounding the Last Post. The inter-services contingent reverses arms as a mark of respect to the martyrs. A two-minute silence in memory of the Father of the Nation and other martyrs is observed throughout the country at 11 a.m.
Merely paying tributes or visiting Rajghat on this sacred day to remember the Martyrs is not enough. We should emulate the examples of these martyrs and put the ideals cherished by them into our daily practice to make our society more vibrant, resilient and dynamic. Many ills that afflict our society can be done away with the spirit of sacrifice, tolerance, mutual social harmony and love for the marginalized segments of the society. Let’s pledge on this sacred day to keep our environment clean, educate at least one child per head and save energy and food.
