Indian Independence Day Speech 2014

This Independence Day assumes special significance. Why? A new chapter has begun in
the history of the Telugus. Now that Telangana State has been formed, all out effort has to be
made by every one of us students, teachers and staff. All of us must exert to the best of our
ability, aiming to bring prosperity to the region in particular and the country in general.
India has maintained the democratic tradition without a break since independence. This
has not been possible for our neighbouring countries. Every Indian is proud of this great
achievement.
You are aware that several parts of the world are in turmoil. There is nonstop rocket
launching from Gaza into Israel and destruction caused by strong retaliation. The terrorist
organization Boko Haram has kidnapped and enslaved hundreds of school girls in Somalia.
Another terrorist organization calling itself as the Islamic State has captured power in several
regions of Iraq. Unrest continues in Syria, Egypt and Ukraine. On t he other hand, our great
country has remained by and large very peaceful throughout the 67 year period after
independence. This is enough reason for elation and celebration.
As usual, there have been several technological and other achievements the past one year.
India has boldly gone ahead with its Mars orbiter mission, Mangal yaan. India has become a
major player in launching satellites into space, competing with advanced nations. The latest
achievement was the launching of PSLV C23 from Sriharikota on June 30. Five foreign
satellites were successfully placed in geostationary orbits. Besides its primary payload of 714
kg French Earth Observation Satellite, PSLV C23 carried and placed in orbit a 14 kg German
satellite, two Canadian satellites each weighing 15 kg and one Singapore satellite of 7 kg.
Nirma Labs Ahmedabad have come up with a smart bandage that stops blood flow from
wounds. Indian Institute of Science Bangalore has developed a painless injection technique that
uses micro shock waves to deliver thin jets of drug. An Indian doctor has been using patches of
nylon mosquito net to keep gut in place after hernia operations in place of costly polypropylene
mesh being used elsewhere in the world. These are but a few example to show that India is a
land of innovation.
Indias performance at the recent Common wealth games at Glasgow has been
spectacular. You may be aware that the first place went to UK with 227 medals, the second
place to Australia (137) and the third place to Canada (82). India stood fourth among 53
countries with 64 medals in its kitty, which is by no means a mean achievement.
In the seminar on National Security recently held in our campus, the social activist
Arunkumarji made important points:

India is emerging as a super power. India has a geostrategic location. It has vast cultivable
land, rich biodiversity, unity in diversity, ability to accept challenge and change. But
unfortunately, we have not been a strategic society. Most of the people have been without a
vision, mission and ambition. There is no doubt that there is a strong urge for individual
progress to acquire a qualification, to get a job etc, but there is no urge for common good and
societal progress.

What can we do about such a pathetic situation? We can certainly do a lot. You and I can
make a beginning, however small it may be. Let us first begin by obeying rules and
conventions. Attend the independence day celebration happily without the need for a carrot or
stick. If you are a teacher, teach your subject in the class room in such a way that the student
will remember you for ever. For this you must have the patience to read, the patience to
contemplate and assimilate. The internet has brought all knowledge to our fingertips.
Collaborate with other teachers for synergy. Let the student not remember you for having used
the most feared weapons of your marking them absent and cutting marks. Treat your students
with affection and courtesy. We usually surround ourselves with people we like. At the work
place however, we must have the tact to win over and mobilise people whom we do not like in
addition to people whom we like, be they colleagues, superiors or subordinates, be they students
or staff members. There should be no question of setting aside people. If you are a student,
prevent a fellow student from breaking the electrical fittings and window panes. Prevent a
fellow student from teasing another student or from disturbing the class. Do not participate in
mass absenteeism. Maintain your individuality and do what your feel ir right. Do not just
become a sheep following your herd blindly.
Arrive on time at your work spot or exam centre. If you find the fans and lights on in a class
room that has no one inside, take the action of switching off. If you find the tap open in the
toilet with water going to the drain, close the tap, even if you have not opened it. If you find
paper strewn in the class room, there is nothing wrong in picking it up and depositing in the
trash bin. You need not wait for the sweeper to do it in the evening. If you do a good job, your
friends will do a good job.
So far we have seen what can be done at the college. Now let us see what can be done outside
the college.
Do not jump the queue whether you are at the railway reservation counter or e seva
counter or in the temple. Do not spit on the road, which has become a favourite pastime in this
country. Stop if there is red signal at the traffic junction even when the policeman is not around.
Help a blind or old person to cross the road. If you are driving a scooter or a car, stop and allow
the pedestrian to cross. Do not violate traffic rules and ensure that your vehicle has working
lights while travelling after dark. Make a donation for a building in your old school. Donate
wheat flour or rice to the orphanage in your locality. Help an accident victim. Help the
policemen on duty. There is nothing wrong in offering them a cup of tea while they are
patrolling in your colony. You can also make rounds in your colony and watch out for chain
snatchers, eve teasers and bullies. Take up voluntary duty. Represent to the authorities and write
letters to newspapers if some thing needs attention. There are a hundred thousand things that we
can do. I am told by a student that there is an ashram in Vanasthalipuram for young children
run by a small group of software engineers. A caretaker feeds and teaches the children. During
weekends, the engineers visit the place and spend time with the children.
Billy Mills said "Your life is a gift from the Creator. Your gift back to the Creator is what
you do with your life."

The earth is huge and people at different places have evolved different cultures over a
long period. Hence diversity is inevitable. We can not expect all people to fit into the same
mould. We must tolerate, accept and welcome the diversity existing today. But at the same time
each one of us must take steps to strengthen our unifying unique National culture. Each one of
us must feel that Nation first, religion next, Nation first, region next, Nation first, language
next. Nation first, myself next Jai Hind.
- Dr. Balakrishna Palanki