Diktat: PM expressed his wish that people across the nation should connect with the armed forces
The message came from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself who has understandably grown fascination for converting occasions into mega events.
Accordingly, the ministry of defence (MoD) had been gearing up for nearly two months to execute this; a mega Independence Day celebration. In the run up to August 15, hence, the defence forces are trying to reach out to people across 150 locations in the country ranging from Delhi University colleges to the remote Walong in Arunachal Pradesh where the Indian Army bore severe brunt of the Chinese aggression in 1962 to Bhuj in Gujarat.
Starting August 5, as part of 'Know Your Forces' initiative, the Army, Navy and the Air Force bands have begun performing at these places even as the wide ranging activities planned for celebrations include theme-based display of military assets and guided tours inside the military bases for civilians.
While the air force would bring on its colorful Sarang helicopter display performance, the Navy would open the doors for otherwise strictly prohibited submarines and warships for civilians.
The air force, said an official would allow civilians inside its bases at Chandigarh, Allahabad, Jodhpur, Hakimpet in Telangana, Tejpur in Assam and Ojhar in Nashik district. Navy would open up its bases at Mumbai, Vishakapatnam, Kochi, Porbander, Okha, Chennai and Karwar.
The idea! "This is PM's brain child. Almost two months back, he had expressed his wish for a grand celebration of the Independence Day that could help people across the length and breadth of India connect with the armed forces," is how a senior MoD official put it requesting anonymity.
An another senior officer, who has been part of the celebration planning said that such spread-out of events would also be occasions to motivate youth towards the armed forces that currently have a shortage of about 20 percent of its strength of officers.
We are going to widely advertise it in newspapers and on FM radio channels, said the officer.
In March earlier this year, Modi government organised a grand commemoration of 100 years of World War - I in which Indian soldiers fought for the British forces. The government has also asked the armed forces to organise a carnival from September 1 to September 23 to mark 50 years of the 1965 war with Pakistan.
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