Vijayawada August 15: Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan unveiled a 30-foot mural statue of Mahatma Gandhi and a plaque at the Freedom Fighters’ Building at a program organized by Sarvodaya Trust here on Sunday. The program was organized by Sarvodaya Trust on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence.
Speaking on the occasion,Governor Harichandan said he was happy to learn that the Sarvodaya Trust was established in 1995 to maintain Gandhi Vignana Mandiram and to develop the premises into a place of education and tourism attraction, and ever since it has been functioning with the active participation of family members of the freedom fighters and like-minded social activists and philanthropists and others. He appreciated the mission of the Krishna District Freedom Fighters Association to serve as a nerve center for Gandhian Philosophy and propagate the spirit of the National Freedom Movement in society for generations.
The Governor said that 75 years ago, India became free from British rule, on the historic day of August 15, 1947, as a culmination of several movements and struggles for freedom like the Paik Rebellion led by Buxi Jagabhandu in 1817, the First War of Independence of 1857, Non-cooperation movement of 1920, Dandi March of 1930, Quit India Movement of 1942 and so on. The hard-fought independence was achieved through the efforts of many revolutionary freedom fighters. He also said Mahatma Gandhiji is revered as Father of the Nation, for his immense contribution and sacrifice for India’s independence as he not only ushered the country towards freedom but also became an inspiration for many freedom struggles and rights movements across the world.
The Governor recalled the iconic call given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during his speech to members of the Indian National Army in Burma in 1944, saying that ‘Give me blood, I shall give you freedom and the unveil- ing of a hologram statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at India Gate by the Prime Minister, where his grand statue will be installed. He also mentioned the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of legendary freedom fighter, Alluri Sitaram Raju at Bhimavaram launched by the Prime Minister on July 4, 2022, and the unveiling of a 30-foot bronze statue of Sitarama Raju in Bhimavaram and that these measures complement the spirit of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and represent the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat – Shrestha Bharat’ uniting the country as one Nation.”
