Independence Day 2020: Cerebrations on hold or online

NEW DELHI: On India's 74th Independence Day, the national flag was hoisted in empty school and university grounds with few staff-members and practically no students in attendance.

Some state governments had issued guidelines on Independence Day celebrations. Odisha did not allow students to participate and only “headmasters and teachers” attended flag-hoisting ceremonies.

In Uttar Pradesh, educational institutions celebrated Independence Day but students could participate only online. “Students must be told about the history of the Independence Movement and also about those martyred in it, in brief and online. Students will also be told about the various educational and social schemes run by the government,” said UP Government’s order on Independence Day celebrations. There was no gathering of people.

74th Independence Day: Muted or online

The COVID-19 outbreak ensured that the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 were either extremely muted or online

“We won’t have students but school heads are planning flag hoisting with limited staff,” the principal of a government school in Delhi had earlier told Careers360.

The Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS) Dera had a flag-hoisting and tree-plantation ceremony on August 14. On Saturday, August 15, the school met students online using the video conferencing application, Zoom, said a teacher. Children made flags of their own and teachers dressed in tricolour as well.

Some schools held online essay, drawing and quiz contests. Students of Babaji Vidhyashram School in Chennai had a Zoom meeting. ‘They will have motivational speeches, cultural events and virtual flag hoisting,” said a parent.

Sanskriti-The Gurukul, Guwahati, conducted an online assembly. The students gave speeches on Independence Day, followed by English, Assamese and Hindi recitation, quiz , musical performances.

Faculty members of Shashi Bhushan Balika Vidyalaya Degree College, Lucknow too had a flag hoisting followed by the National Anthem.

According to multiple reports, just 250 were invited to be physically present at Red Fort this year where prime minister Narendra Modi made his speech. Usually, 1,000 or more join every year.

Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMI) held a flag hoisting ceremony and announced a trilingual virtual poetry symposium, titled 'Mushaira Jashn-E- Azadi' online as part of 74th Independence Day celebrations.

Also read:

• Independence Day 2020 Quiz: How much do you know?
• No SC decision on final year exams today; next UGC hearing on Aug 18

Write to us at news@careers360.com