HYDERABAD: The tricolour became a symbol of freedom and self-assertion for hundreds of girl children in neighbouring Ranga Reddy district, as Republic Day was celebrated with pomp and gaiety on Thursday.

Hundreds of girls from 200 villages hoisted the tricolour under the aegis of the M.V. Foundation, making history of sorts. Eighteen-year-old Buchchamma of Sarojini Balikala Yuvajana Sangham unfurled the tricolour in Ravulapally village of Shankarpally mandal, 50 km from here and marched through the village along with her group members, holding the tricolour aloft with great pride, their heads held high and a spring in their step.

Symbol of equality

"Everyone talks of equal rights for girls, but this is the first time I'm genuinely experiencing it," the matriculate said after unfurling the national flag, amid cheers by the other group members. "Hoisting the tricolour is their way of announcing to the village and the world that they had equal rights as enshrined in the Constitution, and that they cannot be ignored any longer," the foundation's coordinator R. Venkat Reddy said. "Every year it is only the boys who organise Republic Day celebrations in the village. This year we thought why not us? We approached the gram panchayat and sought space for the flag-hoisting ceremony, which was promptly allotted. We pooled in money and organised the event," she said, brimming with pride.

New chapter

The foundation's secretary trustee and Magasaysay awardee Shanta Sinha described the event as a new chapter in Indian history. "The girls have made history with their confidence and camaraderie," she affirmed.

"This is indeed a significant event in the true spirit of the Indian Constitution. The entire village too takes pride in the girls with the gram panchayat, youth associations and the women's groups also contributing towards the expenses of the flag hoisting function," Mr Reddy maintained. Former Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh also participated.

It was a momentous occasion for Mohammad, a mentally challenged person and a victim of the Bhopal gas tragedy undergoing treatment for the last 20 years in Thakur Hari Prasad Institute of Research and Rehabilitation, too as he unfurled the national flag amid joyous applause of the inmates. Donning the role of the chief guest, he even gave away prizes to the winners in sports, games and other competitions conducted by the institute.

"The entire event was a tribute by inmates to their indomitable spirit," the institute founder president Thakur V. Hari Prasad said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail