Ties that bind

This Independence Day, youth clubs renew their commitment to the country

Tricolour kites in hand, the Shivalik range in the background and an open ground to themselves, a group of 30 happily “reaches out to the sky”. “This is our way of expressing our free spirit and celebrating our love for India this Independence Day,” says Rahul of Global Environment Concern, set to celebrate the day at Leisure Valley, Sector 10, with a kite-flying event.

Other youth clubs in the city have come up with their own plans for the day. “We are going to celebrate the day with the students of Hamari Kaksha in an effort to give back to society,” says Saloni Bajaj of Youth United. “We want to make the children aware of the history of India’s independence in an interesting way. To that end, we have organised a quiz on topics like freedom fighters, know your country and know your leaders,” she says. Other events include patriotic poem recitation competition and games like ‘Blow the Balloon’. Elsewhere, AIESEC Chandigarh plans to give international interns a feel of real India by instructing them on the development the country has witnessed in the 63 years since Independence. Participants are expected to wear ethnic Indian clothes for the event that will also include a short film on Indian freedom struggle and a skit on Indian culture and heritage.

Making blogs, taking out processions, performing skits and sporting the national colours — all this has become a way of expressing a sense of belongingness to the country. At YuvShaala, “it is the freedom to study that we want to celebrate,” says Kshitij Mehra, who tells us how they collect old books and distribute them to under-privileged children in Himachal Pradesh. “We have asked students to donate books on any subject, including those for preparation of entrance examinations. People can either send the books to House No 1519/1, Sector 43 B or can contact us on facebook or our website www.yuvshaala.com. We have also planned to hold career-guidance seminars in various school,” he says. The club has also floated a project Marg 2010 after they got permission from Himachal Board of Higher Education to hold counseling sessions in 12 districts of the state.

Meera Sharma, coordinator of Spirit India, another youth organisation, says “We have organised an introductory session for the students of SD College, Sector 32 through which we want to motivate the youth to involve themselves in various projects designed to channelise their resources in a productive manner, arousing a spirit of nationalism and patriotism”.

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