A city school organised a fest in the run-up to Independence Day to uphold the values of liberty, equality and diversity and to teach students “the importance of freedom”.
“The students are born in a free India and the idea is to teach them to value freedom and understand the struggles of the freedom fighters,” said Apala Dutta, principal of Birla Bharati school.
Svatantryam (meaning freedom), the three-day fest organised by Birla Bharati school, saw the participation of girls and boys from 13 schools. The fest ended on Saturday.
“Freedom means freedom from oppression, not from responsibilities. Today the young are so busy in shaping their careers and enjoying their e-mode of living that many of them do not know the struggles and sacrifices made by our freedom fighters,” said Dutta.
She said the fest offered a learning opportunity to the participants as they had to research the pre-Independence era.
“They have to look at the present situation against the backdrop of what the country was. Many of them do not have grandparents. How will they know the stories of India’s Independence unless they explore and read?” said Dutta.
The students tried to represent the diversity that binds the country through a host of programmes, including a debate, an imaginary conversation between two historic personalities and a dance recital to India’s cuisines.
Writer Mousumi Sengupta, one of the judges, said: “Each and every contest was designed to bring out the creativity of the students, coupled with research.”
Among the participating schools were Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, Shri Shikshayatn School, Delhi Public School Ruby Park, Indus Valley World School and Birla High School.
“India’s diversity is so rich and it is this diversity of culture, religion, language and food that leads to unity. We as educators have to teach our children to appreciate the differences and not allow them to divide us,” Dutta said.