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Today we are discussing ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ which is very much in the news nowadays. In this article, will talk about what is Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, its launch with a special focus on Padyatra, activities, and the significance of this Mahotsav.
Table of Contents
What is Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav?- 75-week Celebrations of 75th year of Independence
‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ was launched on 12th March 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Mahotsav is to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence. ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ is a series of events to be organized by the Government of India. The launch of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ will be 75 weeks before 15 August 2020 and will continue till 15 August 2023. The Mahotsav will be celebrated as a Jan-Utsav in the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari. It is based on five pillars:
-Freedom Struggle,
-Ideas at 75,
-Achievements at 75,
-Actions at 75 and
-Resolves at 7
These pillars are a guiding force for moving forward keeping dreams and duties as inspiration.
Launch of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ with ‘Padyatra’
On 12th March 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the curtain-raiser activities of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The event took place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Mahotsav is being launched from places that were major centers of India’s freedom struggle, including Sabarmati Ashram, Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab, etc. ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ began with the PM flagging off Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram.
Highlights of Padyatra:
- It is a symbolic 386-km “Dandi March” from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi in the Navsari district of South Gujarat.
- The Padayatra is being undertaken by 81 marchers and will end after 25 days, on 5th April 2021.
- It has marked the 91st anniversary of the historic salt march led by Mahatma Gandhi.
- The march will follow the original route via Kochrab Ashram and Chandola Lake, followed by a night halt at Aslali
- Marchers will cover the route in memory of the 78 who accompanied Mahatma Gandhi. In 1930 they had marched from Ahmedabad to Dandi and two others had joined mid-route.
- Big events will be organized at six places associated with Gandhi. These include MK Gandhi’s birthplace Porbandar, along with Rajkot, Vadodara, Bardoli (Surat), Mandvi (Kutch), and Dandi (Navsari).
Historical ‘Dandi March’ by Mahatma Gandhi
The Dandi March or Salt March was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi. The march lasted from 12th March, 1930 to 6th April, 1930. It was a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly. On 12th March, Gandhiji started Dandi March from Sabarmati with 78 followers. They went on a 241-mile march to the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea. Gandhi and his supporters defied British policy by making salt from seawater.
Activities under ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’
- Curtain Raiser Initiatives under India@75: At the launching event curtain-raiser activities were inaugurated. These were planned under the theme India@75. Namely, a film, website, song, Aatmanirbhar Charkha and Aatmanirbhar Incubator.
- PM Modi launched a website for Amrit Mahotsav. Additionally an ‘Atmanirbhar Incubator’ was launched that seeks to support around 40,000 families involved in traditional craft.
- The Central Government has constituted a committee under Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The committee will outline policies and planning of various events to be taken as part of the celebrations.
- A five day long exhibition has been organised by the Regional Outreach Bureau in Rajasthan.
- In Madhya Pradesh, Amrit Mahotsav of independence is being organized at all 52 district headquarters of the state, including the sites associated with the Jana Nayaks and freedom movement including Alirajpur district, the birthplace of Chandrashekhar Azad, Orchha, Niwari district associated with Tatya Tope, Jabalpur with Rani Durgavati and many more.
- In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, cycle jatha, exhibitions, tree plantation and processions were organised to recall the freedom fighters.
- As a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’, a massive outreach campaign titled ‘Conservation to co-existence: The people connect’ has been taken up by the Central Zoo Authority in Mumbai. The campaign aims to generate awareness about the conservation of identified 75 wild animal species. Continued public engagement for 75 weeks, culminating on 15th August would help in achieving this.
Significance of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’
‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is organized to pay tribute to our freedom fighters and freedom movement. During the celebrations, the country will remember all the important milestones and important times during the freedom movement. Also, the country will gain new energy for the development of our future. Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav reflects the elixir of energy of freedom. It reflects inspiration from freedom fighters, new ideas, new resolutions, and self-reliance. It aims to encourage the youth and scholars to take the responsibility for fulfilling the efforts of the country in documenting the history of our freedom fighters. Also, it aims to showcase the achievements in the freedom movement to the world.
So, this was all about ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. In this article, we have extensively covered all the necessary information related to this topic. We hope you find it interesting and informative.
Thank you for reading!
