Page 14 - NIS English 1-15 September 24

78th Independence Day
Cover Story

40 crore people brought us

freedom, 140 crore citizens

will make India prosperous

In his 11th consecutive address from the
ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, on one hand, paid tribute to the
freedom fighters and the citizens of that time,
and on the other hand, described the strength,
dedication, and devotion to democracy of the 140
crore citizens currently engaged in making the
country prosperous with the spirit of nation first
as an inspiration for the world…

n Today is that auspicious moment when we pay our respects
to the innumerable revered brave freedom fighters who
sacrificed their lives for the country and committed
themselves for the freedom of the country; who struggled
throughout their lives, embraced the gallows bravely with
slogans of Bharat Mata ki Jai. It is a festival to remember
their grit, resolve and patriotic virtues. It is due to these
bravehearts that we have the good fortune of breathing
freely on this festival of independence. The country is deeply
indebted to them. We express our reverence towards every
such great personality. If our ancestors, whose blood flows in our
n Today I extend my deep respect to all those who are veins, could achieve this, then today we
protecting the country with full dedication with commitment are a country of 140 crore people. If 40 crore
for nation building; and are also trying to take the country to
people could break the shackles of slavery,
new heights. Be it our farmers, the high morale of the youth,
if 40 crore people could fulfill the dream of
the contributions of our mothers and sisters; or the dalits,
oppressed, exploited, deprived; today their patriotic zeal achieving freedom, then 140 crore citizens
and faith in democracy have become an inspiration for the of my country, 140 crore of my family
world. I salute all such people with deep respect.
members, if they set out with a resolution,
n Let us now recall the days of pre independence. During
determine a direction and march forward
the hundreds of years of slavery, every period has been
step by step, shoulder to shoulder, no
a struggle. Be it our youth, older people, farmers, women,
matter how great the challenges, how
or tribals, they have continuously fought against slavery.
History is proof that even before the much-remembered intense the scarcity or the struggle
Revolt of 1857, there were many tribal areas in our country
for resources, we can overcome every
where battles for independence were fought.
challenge and build a prosperous Bharat.
n Before independence, 40 crore countrymen showed
immense spirit and capability. They marched forward with
a dream, a resolution, and fought tirelessly. There was
only one voice—"Vande Mataram," and only one dream— countrymen can also build a prosperous Bharat with the
Bharat’s freedom. We are proud that their blood runs in our same spirit.
veins today. They were our ancestors. They were just 40
n There was a time when people were committed to die for
crore. Just 40 crore people uprooted a global power and
the country, and we achieved freedom. Today is the time
broke the shackles of slavery.
to commit to living for the country. If the commitment
n We can achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. If 40 to die for the country could bring us freedom, then the
crore countrymen could give us freedom with their hard commitment to live for the country can also create a
work, dedication, renunciation and sacrifice, then 140 crore prosperous Bharat.
12 New India Samachar September 1-15, 2024