Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared an article by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, highlighting the sacrifices of freedom fighters and calling upon citizens to dedicate themselves to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Sharing the article on X, PM Modi said, “As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day, Honourable Vice-President of India Thiru CP Radhakrishnan recalls his visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, remembering the sacrifices of freedom fighters from across the country. He calls upon people to dedicate themselves to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 during this Amrit Kaal and work together for the progress and prosperity of the nation.”
In his article, V-P Radhakrishnan extended Independence Day greetings to citizens and paid tribute to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence.
The Vice President recalled his recent visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he participated in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign and commemorated Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s historic hoisting of the Tricolour on Indian soil on December 30, 1943.
He also recalled visiting the National Memorial Cellular Jail, where several freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, Yogendra Shukla, Batukeshwar Dutt and Sachindra Nath Sanyal, were imprisoned by the colonial authorities.
V-P Radhakrishnan said the Cellular Jail continued to evoke memories of the courage, suffering and sacrifice of those who fought for India’s freedom.
Remembering freedom fighters from across India
The Vice President emphasised that India’s freedom struggle brought together people from different regions, backgrounds, ages and genders with a common objective.
“Freedom fighters, be they from Kashmir in the north or Tamil Nadu in the south; from Gujarat in the west or Assam in the east, people belonging to all regions, backgrounds, ages and genders came together with one common goal—the freedom of Mother Bharat,” he said.
He paid tribute to several prominent figures of the freedom movement, including Rani Lakshmibai, Mangal Pandey, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Rani Gaidinliu, Kanaklata Barua and tribal leader Birsa Munda.
V-P Radhakrishnan also highlighted the contribution of V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, who challenged colonial economic domination by establishing an indigenous shipping enterprise, saying the freedom struggle extended beyond the battlefield to the economic sphere.
Tribute to Tiruppur Kumaran
The Vice President paid special tribute to Tiruppur Kumaran, popularly known as Kodi Kaatha Kumaran, or the “protector of the flag”, who hailed from Radhakrishnan’s hometown of Tiruppur.
He recalled that Kumaran continued to hold the national flag even as he sustained fatal injuries during a protest in 1932. He was 27 years old when he died, with the Tricolour held close to his body.
V-P Radhakrishnan noted that several young freedom fighters made the ultimate sacrifice at a very young age, citing Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Khudiram Bose, Kanaklata Barua, Anant Laxman Kanhere and Vanchinathan.
He also commended the efforts of PM Modi to bring the stories of unsung heroes of the freedom movement into the national consciousness.
Call for collective commitment to Viksit Bharat
Concluding his article, V-P Radhakrishnan called upon citizens to reflect on the sacrifices of the freedom fighters and renew their commitment to the nation.
He urged people to dedicate themselves to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 during the Amrit Kaal, describing collective efforts towards the country’s progress and prosperity as the most fitting tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.
“Let us dedicate ourselves to building a Viksit Bharat @ 2047 in this Amrit Kaal and work together for the progress and prosperity of our nation,” he said.
