Colours Of Freedom

On 14th of August 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said,
At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.....
August 15, 1947. It was the day India steered away from the clutches of the British. It was the day India marched into the alley of freedom. It was the day that the struggle of a nation ended. Today, sixty one years later, India is fighting for freedom from the clutches of fear. Freedom from the grip of terror. Freedom to choose between life and death. The strikes at Bangalore, Ahemdabad, Jaipur and Hyderabad are still fresh in our memory. The battle ground is vast, the enemy is unknown, the aftermath is devastating, panic is striking. The future looks ominous...
This Independence Day the fear of terror seemed to have dampened the spirits of enthusiastic Bangaloreans. The usually crowded MG Road was almost deserted. The tricolour was minimal. Celebrations were tepid. The mood at Cubbon Park was a stark contrast though. It was bustling with people. Flags were plenty. There were several activities including a painting competition, lunch for less fortunate children, cultural events, screening of the Kannada movie "Footpath" and interaction with its nine year old director Kishan.
A mix of children from diverse backgrounds,from different schools and varied age groups participated at the painting competition organized by Colorama. As I walked around, I noticed a popular theme portrayed in several paintings.
Peace was the message. Peace is the need of the hour.

Below are shots of some of the interesting paintings and excerpts from the famous speech by Jawarlal Nehru on the eve of the Indian Independence.


We have to build the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell.




To the nations and people of the world we send greetings and pledge ourselves to cooperate with them in furthering peace, freedom and democracy.




We shall never allow that torch of freedom to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest.




We cannot encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in thought or in action.




We have to labour and work, and work hard, to give reality to our dreams.