This day, 70 years ago

This year we will usher in the 71st India Independence Day. The celebrations have already started and a sense of patriotism is in the atmosphere. The Hans India spoke to a few senior citizens, who witnessed the first Independence celebrations on August 15, 1947.

Turlapati Kutumba Rao, journalist and orator, hails from Vijayawada. Kutumba Rao was born on 1933 and started working as a scribe at the time of Indian Independence. He says, “I was 14 years old at the time of Indian Independence.

People were waiting for a long time to celebrate the freedom of India. On August 15, after the confirmation of Independence, everyone in the country felt like they achieved the best in their life. Many celebrated by making food items like ‘Burelu’, ‘Garelu’ and ‘Ariselu’.”

Kutumba Rao is the first journalist from the Telugu States to receive the Padma Shri award. He adds, “There were also some people, who thought that they do not have to pay taxes or purchase train tickets after the independence of India, as they lacked education and knowledge.

Only 23 per cent people were educated at the time of Independence. Women were not encouraged in the education system but today, they are achieving more compared to men.”

Chennupati Vidya, politician and social worker, was elected twice to the Lok Sabha, in 1980 and 1989. She was born in Vizianagaram on June 5, 1934. “I was 11 years old at the time of Independence. On August 15, happiness spread everywhere in the country.

Everyone including the children, parents, freedom fighters among others spent the entire day in celebrating and congratulating each other on the streets. The entire country was filled with Indian flags. Children chanted patriotic songs. The women made snacks and sweets and distributed to others,” Chennupati Vidya shares.

Speaking about the living conditions then, Vidya shares, “There was no caste and creed issues after the freedom and people shared everything with others irrespective of caste and creed. Everyone felt like they were Indians and anything else didn’t matter. And at that time people had less money and they exchanged products instead of money. I am very happy to be celebrating Independence for seven decades.”

Dr Vijayam was 10 years old at the time of Independence. He says, “Everyone in the country celebrated the Independence Day like a big festival. I was at Vijayawada with my family at the time of Independence. People believed that they will see the good days after the freedom and hoped for better future for their children.”

Talluri Kamaraju who retired from Navy, a resident of Gudimalkapur, Hyderabad, was in second form (seventh class) at the time of Independence. He says, “We were not so well off, and I do not recollect if we celebrated the day with great pomp. However, my father used to spin Khadi on Charkha. We would take turns to spin and mark how much yarn each of us made.

My mother and sister wore sarees woven in 120 counts on August 15, and it was a moment of great pride for all of us that I can never forget. Even I got to wear a shirt woven on his charkha later.”

The Navy man among his many achievements on field also remembers with great fondness when he was one of few selected to take part in the Independence Day parade many years later, in 1959, when Jawaharlal Nehru was our prime minister and for the Republic Day parade at Red Fort saluting to the then President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad.