'Remember those who sacrificed lives for country'

A number of cultural and patriotic programmes marked the 67th Republic Day celebrations in the newly-constructed Mahatma Gandhi Open Air Auditorium at Beedanagudde Ground here on Tuesday.

Speaking after unfurling the tricolour here, District In-charge Minister Vinaykumar Sorake said it is the most important duty of all individuals to remember those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. “The country is in the democratic realm with an egalitarian system of governance because of those great personalities,” he added.

The minister said Congress had adopted the resolution of ‘Poorna Swarajya’ on January 26, 1930. The Constitution was adopted on the same day in the year 1950. The Constitution, adopted by the country, is the result of an in-depth study of many constitutions across the globe.

The uniqueness of all other constitutions has been incorporated in the Indian Constitution. The tyrannical British rule, based on divide and rule policy, ended on August 15, 1947. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr B R Ambedkar and Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad were instrumental writing one of the finest constitutions in the world, the minister added.

Cultural programmes, staged on the occasion, were the highlight of the day. A number of school children displayed their patriotic zeal through various programmes. Five teams from the schools in the district took part on the occasion.

‘Raitha Geethe’ by Mukunda Kripa English Medium Higher Primary School students, ‘Vande Matharam’ and ‘Kadam Kadam Badhayeja’ by St Cecily English Medium Higher Primary School students, ‘Navu Bharatiyaru’ by Mukunda Kripa English Medium Higher Primary School students, ‘Bandaladi Haruthide Bhavya Bharatha’ by St Francis Xavier High school, Udyavara, students and ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ and ‘Jai Ho’ by Poorna Prajna Degree College students were among the cultural programmes which added colours to the celebrations.

As many as 11 teams took part in the parade at the ground and the prizes for best march past teams were presented to Cecily English Medium Higher Primary School (Primary section), Cecily English Medium High School (High school) and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College NCC Army (College) respectively. The police, home guards and police band teams were also part of the march past on the occasion.