On a sultry morning with the sun shining down in all its glory, uncharacteristic of 15th August when it usually rains, the Managing Committee (MC) laid out a red carpet for the residents and Chief Guest, Justice (Retd.) R C Chopra to celebrate India’s 78th Independence Day.
As shared in the welcome address by the MC’s Vice President Jasjit Singh, Justice Chopra got his law degree from Delhi University in 1966 and has had an illustrious law career that included joining the Delhi Judicial Services in 1971, and being elevated to the position of Delhi High Court Judge in 2000, from where he retired in 2005.
Mrs. and Justice Chopra were felicitated by MC members M/s Madhu Singh and Suman Chopra respectively. Justice Chopra then hoisted our national flag in the presence of MC members and the other colony residents. Col (Retd) Avneet Bedi gave the welcome address after the keynote.
In his speech, Justice Chopra reminded us of the history of pre-independence India. He highlighted the importance of familiarizing Generation-Next with the sacrifices of martyrs and freedom fighters like Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Mangal Pandey, Maharana Pratap, Shivaji, and Guru Govind Singh, to name some. He cautioned us to protect our homes and the nation against hooligans and those who continue to work against our national interest of security, sovereignty and prosperity. In the end, he brought to the attention of everyone the need to be compassionate for the poor.
The renovated Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) was also inaugurated, and invitees savored the wonderful spread including matar kulcha, quiche, sandwiches, pakodas, samosas, sweets, besides tea and coffee.
The function, which punctually began at 11 am and ended at 12:30 pm, and was attended by over a hundred people, was a success, but was also marked by a few shadows and improvement opportunities.
The absence of Vidya school students, who have been gracing the occasion for the last almost two decades, was possibly one of them. It seemed that some of the regular residents chose to be away, possibly to express their solidarity against this decision. A group of singers invited to perform, were unable to do so as the program was cut short, possibly because of the extreme heat outside. These incidents left an aftertaste that was not consistent with the message of compassion shared by our Chief Guest.
Those who attended the main function pointed out that they could hardly hear the speakers. The organizers may like to consider reducing the distance between the chairs and the flag hoisting point to make the event more compact, and to place more speakers, to help people feel engaged with the proceedings.
Wishing everyone a happy Independence Day. Be well. Jai Hind
