Bhopal, May 10: Governor Dr Balram Jakhar has said that younger generation should be made aware of realities of India's freedom struggle minutely so that they can imbibe spirit of nationalism and ethos of fraternity and amity. The Governor was addressing freedom fighters at a function held at Ravindra Bhawan here on Saturday to remember martyrs and on the occasion of 150th anniversary of India's first war of independence fought in 1857. The function was presided over by Culture and Public Relations Minister Laxmikant Sharma.

Governor Dr Jakhar said that freedom fighters did not dedicate their lives to freedom struggle for the sake of getting luxuries since service to nation is priceless and unparalleled. Paying tributes to known and unknown martyrs of freedom struggle, Dr Jakhar exhorted the people to keep the 'fire' of safeguarding the country burning in their heart and mind. People must give a befitting reply to those trying to divide the country on the basis of language, caste and region. He said that the preaching of various religions should be used for protection of humanity.

While paying tributes to martyrs on this occasion, Culture and Public Relations Minister Laxmikant Sharma said that Madhya Pradesh has played an invaluable role in India's first war of independence. Books are being published to preserve these memories in the history. Troupes are also being sent from village to village for kindling the spirit of safeguarding the country. Sharma informed that extension of benefits of Rajya Beemari Sahayata Yojana to freedom fighters is under consideration of the government.

At the outset, Governor Dr Jakhar garlanded the portrait of Veerangana Rani Laxmi Bai and lighted a lamp to inaugurate the function. Those who also addressed the function included trustee patron of Madhya Pradesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust and freedom fighter Dalchand Jain, Dr Lalta Prasad Khare and Mayor Sunil Sood.

Freedom fighters remembered

On the occasion of the 150 years of first freedom struggle the activists of nationalist organisations team of MP observed silence of 57 seconds in cell No.123 of 7th barrack in Cellular jail, Andman.

Earlier, BJP state vice president, Anil Madhav Dave in his address said that Veer Savarkar had faced most mental and physical torture in the history of Indian freedom struggle. The Cellular Jail is live example of inhuman activities of Britishers. It is pilgrimage of Indians who face pain and torture for their country and sacrificed their best for the nation.

Besides Dave, MLA, Lal Singh Arya, Rajendra Pandey, Brijendra Pratap Singh, Ajay Pratap Singh, Vipin Dixit, Dhruv Narayan Singh, Mohan Yadav, Dilip Shekhawat, Shailendra Jain, Shailendra Sharma, Vijesh Lunavat, Alok Sharma, Vishnu Khatri, Pushpendra Pathak, Rajnish Agrawal, Abhay Mahajan and Sudhir Sharma participated in this team.

Cong workers offer tribute to martyrs

The Congress workers under the leadership of former MLA, PC Sharma reached New Market and garlanded the statue of martyr Tatya Tope and remembering the martyrs of 1857 revolt and offered floral tribute to them.

State Congress president, Suresh Pachauri, addressing the meeting, said that Indian patriots and martyrs had sacrificed their best for the sake of Mother India and today it is needed that we should follow their path and give our contribution to develop the country.

Former MLA, PC Sharma said that freedom struggle of 1857 was a secular andolan against the Britishers. People belonging to all caste and communities had participated in it with enthusiasm.

Mayor, Sunil Sood, district Congress president, Zaheer Ahmed, Guddu Chouhan, Monu Saxena, Corporators duo Waheed Lashkari, Amit Sharma, Vasudev Goswami, Rajesh Gupta, Sushil Sharma, Pyare Khan, Atul Sharma, Vinod Giri, Khalid Khan, Dilip Lalwani, Manoj Goudar, Soud Khan, Rajesh Yadav, Rakesh Yadav, Dilip Nerkar, Manish Sajwan, Anoop Chouhan, Ram Sumer Chouhan and hundreds of party workers were present on the occasion.