Include history of Ashti’s freedom struggle in school curriculum, says Vijay Darda

 Media Coverage  |  03-08-2022

Tributes paid to martyrs at Martyrs’ Memorial Day prog

Ashti (Shaheed) (Wardha), Aug 2: An intense freedom struggle was launched in 1942 to free the country from British rule. After the call of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj, the struggle for freedom intensified in Ashti. This was a very crucial struggle.

Therefore, it should be included in the school curriculum to make the young generation aware of this phase of freedom struggle. Education can change lives and instill values and confidence among the students, said the chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda here on Tuesday.

He was speaking as the chief guest at Martyrs’ Memorial Day programme at Ashti. Dr Arvind Malpe, who is the son of a matyr, presided over the function while the legislator Dadarao Keche, director of Maha Orange Shridharrao Thakre, former president of Zilla Parishad Sarita Gakhre, municipal council president Anil Dhotre, president of Hutatma Smarak Samiti Prof Vinayak Pare, vice president Dr Kishor Ganjiwale, secretary Bharat Vanzara, joint secretary Vinayak Hole, treasurer Rajabhau Savvalakhe, director Shankar Nagpure, Arpit Malpe, principal S S Nimghare, principal S V Wankhede, head-mistress S S Dhole, police station officer Laxman Lokare and Rahul Thakre were present. Soon after they arrived in the Ashti city, Vijay Darda, Dadarao Keche and others paid tributes to the martyrs by laying wreaths at the Martyr’s Memorial.

Thereafter, the statues of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule were also garlanded. Darda also garlanded the statue of venerable Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj on the premises of Hutatma Rashtriya Vidyalaya where the 1942 freedom struggle was fought.

After that, tributes were paid to the martyrs at the statue of martyrs. A short film made on the freedom struggle of Ashti was shown to the dignitaries. During the programme, Devyani Ikhar, a student of Hutatma Rashtriya Vidyalaya, who topped SSC board examination from Vidarbha, was felicitated at the hands of Vijay Darda. Dr Mohan Kothe assistant teacher from Samudrapur who conducted a critical study of the Ashti freedom struggle and obtained a PhD, was also felicitated.

Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Darda said, “Lokmat began publication as a weekly from Yavatmal and it was launched at the hands of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj. While going to Amravati, we always visit Mojhri and have darshan of the Rashtrasant. I get a unique feel of energy from this place. Yavatmal was also witness to intense freedom struggle. At that time, my father Jawaharlal Darda alias Babuji went underground and took the initiative to hoist the tricolour by lowering the Union Jack on Azad Maidan. 11 revolutionary youths participated in it. Responding to Babuji’s appeal, they hoisted the tricolour. This history should be included in the school curriculum to ensure that it reached the students.”

‘Tricolour symbol of nationalism’

Vijay Darda said our national tricolour is not a piece of cloth but a symbol of nationalism. I had to struggle a lot to enter the Parliament sporting tricolour. After 17 years of struggle, Parliament had to change the British-era law in 2016. Now everyone in the country can always hoist the tricolour atop their homes and government offices. We learned a lot from Babuji. If there is a strong will to work, anything can be achieved. One has to keep fighting, he added. Prof Vinayak Pare made the introductory remarks while Prof Kalyani Mohod conducted the proceedings. Principal S V Wankhade proposed a vote of thanks.

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