Skip to content Skip to navigation

The Day of Glory for India

By editor |
On August 15 this year India will celebrate the 60 th Independence Day to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation on that day in 1947 . Sixty years ago on this day flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs took place in all the state capitals. In all the cities around India the flag hoisting ceremony was done by politicians belonging to that constituency.

In Assam, it was so arranged that India's national flag, which replaced the flag of the revolution, would be hoisted on behalf of the organ of revolution, the Indian National Congress and not the Government. So it came to pass that Maulana M. Tayyebulla, as the President of Assam Congress, ceremonially unfurled the national flag at Guwahati (then Gauhati), the headquarters of Congress in Assam, heralding the advent of freedom.

The Day of Glory for India, will remain the proudest day of my life because I can say that it was Maulana Tayyebulla, my father who hoisted the Indian national flag on the first indepedence day. How I wish every son or daughter could say that about his or her father!

On this great and auspicious occasion, while unfurling the flag, my father paid the nation's homage to the brave Kanaklatas of the country who by their blood streaking from the bullet-holes in their breasts gave to the nation this great ensign of freedom, and hundreds of Kushal Kunwars who gave their lives on the gallows and faced the bullet, and thousands who made immense sacrifices and suffered for the liberation of our Motherland – these martyrs and heroes of the land.

Compared to the glorious deeds of the martyrs and heroes, my father's jail-going (he suffered imprisonment first in 1921 then in 1931 and 1939 and finally in 1942) was like pale moon-shine before the blaze of the shiny orb. In the words of the Poet-Laureate Tagore: ' Amar matha nato kore dao he Prabhu' (O Lord, make my head bow low.)

One event of interest: Before the 'appointed day' of the Independence of India Act, 1947, the Governor of Assam, the late Sir Akbar Saleh Hydari 'before the appointed day' promulgated a Notification under the Act on August 14, 1947, inaugurating Joint Electorate as the system of voting – the first in India, pre-Constitution.

Tayyebulla was thus the first man in India to be elected in November 1947, by Joint-Electorate suffrage to the Legislature, to the Assam Legislative Assembly. The ancien regime 'devil' of separate electorate was at last cast away.

By non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi emancipated India in bondage to freedom. The British Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, coming soon after the Chruchillian Viceroy the Lord Linlithgow, became free India's own Quit-India Governor-General. Did not Loius quit the shore of India as India's best friend in the United Kingdom? What a miracle: Non-violent means had non-violent end! In Gandhian philosophy of non-violence, means and end are one and the same concept. As night follows the day, non-violent revolution, the means, led to the non-violent Quit India, the end. This is Gandhian doctrine having roots in the Law of Karma of Hindu-cum-Buddhist scriptures and in the biblical Law of Love, as was preached and practised by Jesus.

Non-violence of Gandhi bridged the wide gulf between India and Britain, and brought the two great countries closer together as never before. This is the legacy of Gandhi – the triumph of non-violence. Britain quit India and free India was born.

May the Republic of India - the 'Bharat Mata' of the Hindus, the 'Hindustan' of the Muslims and the 'India' of the Christians – established on the basis of Gandhian polity of non-violent socialism (call it 'Sarvodaya') and secularism grow from strength to strength year by year in every way. Jai Hind.

by Omar Luther King


OmarThe writer of this article Omar Luther King was born in Nowgong, Assam to a Muslim family of Indian national freedom fighters, Omar is now residing in Delhi with his wife Roma, and their sons Amit (25) and Aman (21). He is the son of Maulana M. Tayyebulla, the President of Assam Congress at the time of independence, the person who ceremonially unfurled the national flag at Guwahati (then Gauhati), the headquarters of Congress in Assam, heralding the advent of freedom.

After studying in Cotton College, Guwahati and passing out from Guwahati University, he worked in Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi as Research Assistant, in YMCA, Guwahati as the Secretary, in the Lok Sabha Secretariat as Research Assistant and in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat as Assistant Director. He is now serving the Lord fulltime as a missionary amongst the Muslims of Northeast India, Bangladesh and other Islamic countries. He has travelled widely in India as a government servant and outside India as a missionary.

His writings have appeared in several national dailies and periodicals, not to speak of Christian magazines. Author of “Indian Boy in Love – Essence of Religion” (1966), he has also written his autobiography, “My God, My India, My Family and Me”.

Comments

KUTTY R.K.'s picture

Submitted by KUTTY R.K. on Mon, 13/08/2007 - 04:47
Dear Bro. Omar, At the very out-set, I reciprocate your Good Wishes for the 60th Independence Day of our great nation with the same warmth with which you had wished me. How lucky are you that you are born of a father who shed his blood and sweat for gaining this freedom from the British brutalities. I feel jealous of you that your family's and your's contributions for the cause of this nation is too much. Nationhood is really a great feeling. One should be proud of his/her motherland. I for one belonging to the southernmost part of India too was born at a time when I could gain the knowledge of the sacrifices of our legendary freedom fighters through history books. I was born in 1952. Of course, my parents were ardent Indian National Congress supporters. They too injected that national spirit in me as well. Since you have worked closely with the highest power centres at Delhi and is now living there, you need hardly to be educated about the fruits of the physical Independence that India as a whole enjoy now after 60 long years. But I thank my Lord for you specifically since that day onwards when you start enjoying the spiritual Independence from the Lord (Galatians 5:1-2). And now, you as a family of the House of Lord, you are enjoying that freedom and travelling so far and wide in proclaiming it to many who are still in bondage. Millions of Indians are still unknown about it. We need to be filled with that spirit of the good old freedom fighters to redeem those who are still captived by the enemy, darkening their minds, so that the light of Crist's redemptive power won't shine on them. Wishing you all once-again a Very Happy Independence Day. All the Best Wishes. Yours truly in Him RK Kutty
NK Singh's picture

Submitted by NK Singh on Tue, 14/08/2007 - 06:37
King Saheb Yr flair and skill of writing has sharpened a great deal i must say after reading the piece. Regards NK Singh

Pages

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Assam beat Tripura in Ranji clash

Assam defeated Tripura by 10 wickets in their opening group league match in Ronji trophy at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Monday. The victory gave the host team a bonus point as they got seven points from the encounter. Ratra from Tripura gleaned 124 run before he was adjudged leg before wicket off pacer Arup Das and any hopes of saving the match was gone for Tripura. Ratra hit 18 boundaries during his 255-ball stay at the crease. He added 77 runs to his overnight score before becoming the ninth wicket to fall.

Major facelift for road and bridge

Encouraging news. A huge fund is in the pipeline to uplift the state’s roads and bridges. Courtesy World Bank. The Centre has signed the Loan and Project Agreements in New Delhi on Monday. The agreement was signed Prabodh Saxena, Joint Secretary with economic affairs department and Onno Ruhl, Country Director of World Bank. The Project Agreement was signed by Mohan Chandra Boro, Commissioner & Special Secretary, Public Works Road Department on behalf of the Government of Assam. The objective of the project is to enhance the road connectivity in Assam by assisting the Public Works Road Department to improve and effectively manage its road network.

Bhupendra Sangeet in English, Hindi

Bhupen Hazarika's song is out in English and Bengali translation. This was what the maestro’s younger brother Bolen Hazarika in Shillong on Monday. Hazarika said that the last song of his life had been translated into English by his UK-based brother Probin Hazarika. The song is yet to be out in the market.

Gogoi compares Bhupen with B’putra

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that Bhupen Hazarika's music will keep living as long as the mighty Brahmaputra flows. In a brief address at a function in Latasheel playground organize to remember the cultural doyen, Gogoi said that his works would inspire the youths to come through his rich legacy. Dr Amarjyoti Chaudhury recited a poem in presence of Dr Hazarika’s estrange wife Priyam and his son Tez.

Rich tribute to Bhupen Hazarika

Dr Bhupen Hazarika is still living in the hearts of millions of people across the north east if the rich tributes paid to the maestro on Monday is any indication. The Asom Ratna was remembered in the state on his first death anniversary with all-religion prayers, cultural shows and processions. From early in the morning his evergreen songs started filling the air. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi led the state to pay tribute to the legendary musician in several functions after he arrived in Guwahati from Delhi. Dr Hazarika’s family members organised a day-long event at their Nizarapar residence. The main function took place at Jalukbari. The All Assam Students' Union held lit 10,000...

Ranji: Assam on top with Dhiraj ton

Good news for Assam cricketers. Captain Dheeraj Jadhav led from the front with an unbeaten ton taking the host to 220 for five at stumps on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Group C match against Tripura in Guwahati on Friday. Jadhav held Assam`s innings together with a patient 127 off 280 balls. He claimed 17 boundaries during his knock. Assam: 220 for five in 90 overs.

Human chain to mark maestro anniv

Dr Bhupen Hazarika Cultural and Literary Forum is organizing a human chain and pledge t mark the first death anniversary of the music maestro in presence of Tez Hazarika. Tez will lead the human chain with members of the forum and people on November 5. The mother will also accompany him. The event will be led by Amarjyoti Choudhury, who is the president of the forum. The human chain will commence at Latasil.

Rockybul opens Pobitora for tourists

In a major relief for the tourists, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary opened on Friday. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain flagged off the first batch of more than 100 tourists, including nine foreigners for the jeep and elephant safari. Hussain said the state government was committed to providing improved facilities in the sanctuary in Morigaon district three months are it was severely affected by flood waves. Hussian further launched the eco-friendly solar cycle to enable people to move around the sanctuary. Manas National Park will open on November four.

Power tariff hiked for three months

Yet another blow awaits the common people. The state’s power distribution company is preparing to levy an extra charge of 27 paise per unit for the next three months. The new tariff has come into force from Thursday and it is expected to stay till January 31. The additional burden will be levied as Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment will by Rs 1.03 per unit. The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) had wanted a hike of 36 paise per unit in FPPA, which was rejected by Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission and settled at 27 paise per unit.

Tension along Indo-B’desh border

Tension is simmering along the Assam-Bangladesh border in Cachar district following reports of entering extremists from entering the district for creating law and order problem. The district administration has promulgated prohibitory orders to restrict extremist elements. The prohibitory orders have been enforced as a preventive measure. The district magistrate has directed that no person shall move within one km radius of the Indo-Bangladesh border between 8 pm and 5 in the morning.