Sir — This refers to the forgotten heroes of the Indian freedom movement. It is good to see the Government recognising the efforts of our brave citizens who almost brought the British to their knees. We always tend to forget these men who did not make it till the end, but they were the pillars of our freedom movement. We may have taken a lot from the Western world to make our lives simple and happening, but what we also need to take from them is the respect they give to their soldiers. A soldier does not demand respect, but it is our duty to acknowledge his effort, so as to inspire coming generations to act whenever there is a threat.
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru may not have been present at the time when India gained independence. But they played a significant role in inspiring the youth and brought the concept of purna swaraj. The British feared these men more than they did anyone else. The sacrifice of these patriots does not demand the declaration of a holiday but observing the day as one of ‘national integration’, where every child of the country stands up to take an oath to be an Indian above all else. The legacy of fallen heroes must be taken forward.