Modi ministers in a rush to get into Independence Day mood

Union ministers will visit birthplaces of freedom fighters and border outposts across the country

Independence Day celebrations have begun early this year, even before the long-weekend leading to the national holiday.

Some 10 ministries are building the mood ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address from the ramparts of Red Fort. While the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is busy giving the final touches to the speech that will be heard by millions, ministers are ensuring citizens from all walks celebrate Independence Day like any other festival, rather than limiting it to a flag-hoisting ceremony.

Smriti Irani, recently shifted to textiles from the human resource development ministry, appears to be on top of it all through a “colours of independence” campaign. Irani’s tweets capture the pan-India spirit from Tirupur to Meerut and Kurukshetra to Mysuru. The week-long celebration culminating on August 15 is being organised in 70 cities to showcase the era from Quit India to Make In India. So, whether it is a park, a college or a shopping mall, people are being encouraged to express their thoughts on independence on a huge fabric panel.

In another twist, visits are being organised to border states for women ministers, who, including Irani, Nirmala Sitharaman and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, will tie rakhis on soldiers’ wrists on Raksha Bandhan Day, August 18. The defence ministry has identified four border points —Tenga and Baishaki in the Eastern Command and Baramulla and Kupwara in the Northern Command. Irani will travel to Siachen, Sitharaman to Dispu in Arunachal Pradesh and Badal to Wagah.

The home ministry is also organising special functions in border areas, where people in nearby areas will be invited. A concert by playback singers Asha Bhonsle and Kumar Sanu will be held at border camps.

The information and broadcasting ministry has arranged to play patriotic songs on All India Radio and Doordarshan over the next three days. Minister Venkaiah Naidu launched a freedom song on Friday and inaugurated a film festival on the theme of independence.

Social media will have its share of nationalism, as Twitter handles of most ministers already show. Video and audio clips of speeches of national icons will be prominent on social media, according to a government statement. Along with that will be clips from Modi’s speeches.

A theme song on the Tiranga Yatra is in place for all the trips ministers will make to various destinations. Among others who will criss-cross the country are Arun

Jaitley to Jalianwalah Bagh in Amritsar and Suresh Prabhu to the Dandi March spot in Gujarat.

Advisories have been sent to schools and colleges in the states and Union Territories on how to celebrate Aazadi 70. An advisory asks students to visit prominent statues and monuments. The celebrations will not end on August 15. A mass recitation of the national anthem by students in 1.5 million schools and 40,000 colleges has been planned for August 23.

Then there are the others. The micro, small and medium enterprises ministry is promoting use of khadi.

An Air India flight is being flagged off on the Ahmedabad-London route, where complimentary khadi jackets will be given to the crew, pilots and passengers.

The sports ministry will organise a candle-lit Tiranga March in 100 district headquarters. The culture and tourism ministry is trying to recapture historic events like Quit India Day, Hyderabad Liberation Day and Goa Liberation Day. It is also in charge of illuminating important monuments in tricolour. The urban development ministry will enable illumination of all government buildings in Delhi.