This year, while India was celebrating its 62nd Independence Day, the scenario was more festive in the Northeast. The citizens of the largest democracy in the world observed the day with fanfare, though the country was put under a high security alert because of militants’ threats. Except for a few explosions in the Northeast and demonstrations against New Delhi in Kashmir, the day passed off peacefully. Both these troubled regions witnessed the Independence Day boycott calls on August 15 from the separatist groups but the citizens largely ignored the diktats and joined the government and community celebrations in large numbers.

The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh hoisted the National flag in the national capital amidst warm applause from the dignitaries, children in colourful dresses and the proud citizens. Addressing the Nation from the Red Fort, Dr Singh remembered the sacrifice of the martyrs and freedom fighters, who, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi fought for India’s freedom from British colonial rule.

“India is today viewed with respect as one of the world’s fastest growing economies. People of Indian origin are engaged in diverse activities around the world and their capabilities are recognised the world over. Their achievements inspire us,” the Prime Minister commented.

Talking about India’s strengthening relationship with the ‘major powers, Latin American countries, Arab countries and African countries’, Dr Singh declared, “We will continue our efforts in this direction, keeping in view our national interests.” Revealing India’s goal in South Asia for a peaceful, stable and prosperous neighbourhood, he added, “We wish all our neighbours well. We welcome the strengthening of democratic forces in our neighbourhood, especially in Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan.”

However mentioning India’s present challenges, the Prime Minister pointed out that terrorism, extremism, communalism and fundamentalism’ had emerged as the greatest threats to the unity and integrity of the country. He urged ‘the state governments, all political parties, civil society groups and social and religious leaders to cooperate with the central government in rooting out terrorism from the country.

The trouble torn North East and Jammu & Kashmir were the other focus areas of his speech, where Dr Singh revealed that the country must pay special attention to the development of both the regions. Jammu & Kashmir and the North East region, he insisted, require an era of peace for them to catch up with the more developed parts of the country.

It may be mentioned here that both the regions, where secessionist groups called for Independence Day boycott as a mark of protest against the Union government of India, witnessed few unpleasing incidents during the day. In Jammu & Kashmir, when the Governor N N Vohra unfurled the Tricolour at Srinagar, protesters burned the effigies of Indian soldiers and hundreds waved black flags. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference called for a general strike on the day with an appeal to the people to observe August 15 as a black day and stay away from any observation.

In the North East too, four major armed groups called for a general strike throughout the region on August 15. The banned outfits namely Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF), Tripura Peoples Democratic Front (TPDF) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) issued a call to avoid and even prevent the Independence Day observations in the region.

The landlocked North East, which is surrounded by Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), Burma and Bangladesh, is home to more than 30 active armed groups, who have been fighting against New Delhi with demands ranging from sovereignty to self rule. Active among them, the ULFA was formed in 1979 and it continues fighting for a sovereign Assam. Thousands of people have already lost their lives due to insurgency in the region during the last few decades.

However, the spirit of Nationalism among the people of the North East never dried up and hence the diktat of militants could not deter them from participating in the celebrations. Like different other States of the mainland India, the alienated region also witnessed the government functions at various State capitals and district head quarters to observe the Independence Day. Moreover, the enthusiastic citizens organized community celebrations in many places.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu unfurled the National Tricolour at Itanagar. At the same time, a 300 member Chinese delegation joined the Independence Day celebration at Bumla, a 15,300 feet Indian Army post, where Brigadier Ashok Amre hoisted the National Flag. The visiting delegation, led by Colonel Yan Zi Jing of the People’s Liberation Army (of China), included military personnel and also civilians, who came across the border to witness the celebration following an invitation from the Indian Army.

In the Burma bordering Mizoram State, the Chief Minister Zoramthanga unfurled the Tricolour at Aizawl, where as the Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling hoisted the National flag in a function organized at Gangtok. In Nagaland, the Chief Minister Neiphu Rio saluted the National flag during the Independence Day celebration at Kohima, where various groups of police and paramilitary forces with NCC cadets and common people joined the occasion.

Similarly in the insurgency stricken Manipur, the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh hoisted the Tricolour at Imphal and addressing the gathering, Mr Singh appealed to the underground organizations to shun the violent path and participate in development programmes for the State. In Tripura too, the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar appealed to the armed groups to leave the path of violence soon after unfurling the Tricolor at Agartala.

In Meghalaya, where another banned armed group called for a daylong bandh, the Chief Minister Donkupar Roy led the gathering in hoisting the National flag at Shillong. Defying the diktat of Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, the people of Meghalaya participated in the celebration. The former Lok Sabha speaker, P A Sangma joined the Independence Day celebration in the Garo hills of the State and hoisted the Tricolour.

Assam showed an extraordinary example, where the citizens in general and journalists in particular came forward to defy the militants’ diktat. Besides the government programmes throughout the State, the common people have joined the community celebrations without any fear. The Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi unfurled the National flag in Guwahati, where the conscious citizens thronged at various community celebrations in the city to pay their respects to the Tricolour. The National flags flew high atop innumerable houses on the day.

The journalists in the city assembled at Guwahati Press Club to hoist the National flag and pay homage to the martyrs. They also took out a precession in the city streets. The veteran journalist Dhirendra Nath Chakrabarty hoisted the Tricolour and addressed the gathering with a brief outline of the freedom movement. Pointing his finger to the militants, he criticised their move to impose a diktat on celebration of the day. Rather, he commented, the cadres of the banned armed groups should come forward to join hands in making Assam a prosperous State.

The day however witnessed a series of explosions in lower Assam, where militants triggered three blasts in the Dhubri and Chirang districts. All the explosions took place near the parade grounds that had been made ready for the flag hoisting ceremony. Two persons received injuries in the explosions. The incidence simply reminded the people about the explosions masterminded by the militant outfits, which had taken place in the State prior to the Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations during the last few years.

But those explosions that even killed many people in the past did not deter the journalists of Assam to make plea to the people to celebrate both the days in a befitting manner every year. This time too, a group of journalists and columnists made a clarion call to the freedom loving people of the region to defy any kind of diktats by the militants and pay their gratitude in memory of the martyrs, hoisting the National Tricolour atop their houses and also organizing community celebrations in their respective localities.

In a statement, signed by Nirupama Borgohain (a Sahitya Academy awardee) and DN Chakrabarty (former editor of Dainik Asom) with Rupam Baruah, Ajit Patowary, Hiten Mahanta, Ranen Goswami etc, the group declared, “The great patriots like Kushal Konwar, Kanaklata, Mukunda Kakoti, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani and many brave hearts from Assam laid down their lives opposing the British colonial rulers. And the people of Assam have inherited the spirit of freedom from those patriots who made immense sacrifices to make India a free nation.”

One can only hope that Rimpi and thousands of other children will realize that strikes do not signify the celebration of the days, rather a threat to the patriots, and that they will never again need to ask such questions.

Nava Thakuria