‘Sadbhavna Sandhya’ by Flag Foundation on Martyr’s Day

OST Bureau
Angul, Jan 31:

On the occasion of Martyr’s day on Thursday, Flag Foundation of India organised an Evening – ‘Sadbhavna Sandhya- Mahatma Ke Path Par’ dedicated to the Father of the Nation, at Angul and several other locations in the country.

People from all walks of life joined the programme to observe a minute’s silence to honour the Mahatma, who sacrificed his life for the nation’s freedom struggle. The atmosphere was charged with patriotic fervour with over 15,000 people in Angul, 2000 at Tensa and more than 3000 at
Barbil joined crores of people in 55 cities and 7 metros across the nation to form a human chain chanting ‘Raghupati Raghav, Raja Ram’ in memory of the Father of the Nation.

They pledged to follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles – satya (truth) and ahimsa (non-violence) – in their life.
The Evening started with live telecast of National Programme, held at India Gate Lawn, New Delhi. The national programme compered by iconic television personality Annu Kapoor was telecast live across India and inspired crores of people to observe one-minute silence, human chain and chanting of ‘Raghupati Ragav, Raja Ram’ to honour the Mahatma.

Speaking on the occasion about the Mahatma, Naveen Jindal, President of Flag Foundation of India, said “Mahatma Gandhi has inspired people from across the world for generations. He embodies change that common people can bring when they get together. The Sadbhavna concert commemorates this great man, his ideals of non-violence and equality in a way that appeals to the younger generation. It is up to the youth to carry forth the values of our flag and ensure that the Tiranga flies high wherever Indians are making a mark”.

Rahul Gandhi, Gandhiji’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, cricketers Yuvraj Singh, surgeon Naresh Trehan, Olympians Sushil Kumar and Vijay Kumar, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, actor John Abraham, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Jitendra Singh, ace shooter Heena Sidhu, and many others paid their tribute to Mahatam Gandhi at the main event at India Gate in the national capital.

Among the dignitaries present in the evening at Angul were Rajanikant Singh, Minister for Steel & Mines, Khageswar Behera, MLA, Chhendipada and Akshaya Samant, Chairman, Angul Municipality.

The event began with a grand choir performance by over 200 students of O.P. Jindal School.

Celebrities from the world of entertainment in Odisha, including Anu Choudhury, Akash Dasmohapatra, and Kuna Tripathy; Ollywood singer Ira Mohanty, Sailabhama and Madhaav Das as well as Prince Dance Group, Sizzler Dance Group and others paid tribute with patriotic and spiritual performances.

The evening ‘Sadbhavna Sandhya- Mahatma Ke Path Par’ marked the culmination of the Flag Week Celebration organised by the Foundation on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the historic judgement by the Supreme Court o January 23, 2004, to a PIL filed by Naveen Jindal.

The Flag Week Celebration started with a monumental flag measuring 207 ft. at the National Military Memorial at Bengaluru.