Amrit Mahotsav without Gandhi

As India celebrates its 75th anniversary, the most precious of its legacies are at risk of falling prey to the politics of the moment

We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of India’s independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Looking at the different themes that will be covered through various activities planned through the year, I scrolled through the commemorating activities under the theme, Freedom Struggle. It had no mention of the role played by Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom movement nor of Jawaharlal Nehru and some other important leaders. It seeks to “bring alive stories of unsung heroes whose sacrifices have made freedom a reality for us.” This is unexceptionable, but the only “unsung heroes” mentioned are Birsa Munda, the tribal leader, and Subhas