EMN
Dimapur, July 15
Independence Day is still several weeks away but functionaries of the state government are already preparing to celebrate the day “in a befitting manner”. Government functionaries of Dimapur and Kohima have been in meeting the past two days.
The government met on Wednesday, July 15, in the capital town Kohima, in a meeting convened by Home Commissioner, Neihu C Thur. Department officials attended the meeting that deliberated on details of the program and ‘work distribution’ to the state’s various departments.Some highlights of the program the officials discussed included the contingents for the ceremonial parade, presentation of awards, security arrangements, cultural programs, decoration of the rostrum and refreshments, maintenance of road and the afternoon program. The later events of the celebrations will include an exhibition football match between Commissioners-XI and Police Veteran-XI, a performance by the DGP brass band, Assam Rifles’ pipe band, Adolescence, and subsequently the ceremonial The Retreat.
Dimapur
A smiliar meeting was conducted in Dimapur by the district’s authorities as a part of preparations for Independence Day. To chalk out the program for the forthcoming Independence Day, a meeting was conducted in the conference hall of Dimapur’s deputy commissioner on July 14. The meeting was convened with all the heads of offices, nongovernmental organizations and the Assam Rifles.
Citizens’ Factfile: Did you know?
• The name ‘India’ is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.
• When India became independent on August 15, 1947 there was no National Anthem. Even though the Bengali invocation of Jana Gana Mana was written in 1911, it was not considered as national anthem till 1950.
• Mountbatten chose the day since Aug 15 as it also commemorated the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied Forces. North Korea, South Korea, Bahrain and Republic of the Congo share their independence day with India.
• On August 15, 1947, when India became free from the foreign rule, Mahatma Gandhi was in Calcutta. Gandhiji spent his day in prayers, fasting and spinning protesting the madness of communal hatred.
• Hindi is not India’s national language as many think or believe; it’s the official language. Article 343 of the Constitution states that Hindi in Devnagari script is the official language of India. But Hindi is the first official language of India and Hindi was declared the Official Language of the Union on September 14, 1949.
• India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Lal was featured in Vogue magazine. His unique dressing style, single-breasted jacket, became a fashion trend in the West. Nehru jacket was listed on Time list of ‘global fashion statement.’ Later, Nehru jacket was popularized by the Beatles and worn by such famous people as Johnny Carson and Sammy Davis Jr.
