The Government of India Act 1935 was originally passed in August 1935 and is said to have been the longest act of British Parliament ever enacted by that time. The most significant aspect of this act was the grant of a large autonomy to the provinces of British India.
We salute the founding fathers of our country like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Azad for their sacrifices and struggles and our responsibility now is even greater, to be able to live up to their ideals and realize their dream.
Winston Churchill, the then British Prime Minister and Franklin D. Roosevelt the then USA President met on August 9 and 10, 1941, aboard the US Augusta in Placenta Bay Newfoundland, to discuss their respective war aims for the Second World War. Both countries were committed to support the restoration of self government for all the countries that had been occupied during the war and allowing people to chose their own form of government. The Charter served as an inspiration for colonial subjects throughout the third world from Algeria to Vietnam, as they fought for Independence.
Churchill with a heavy heart signed the Charter as without USA’s support Great Britain couldn’t fight against the strong German armies commanded by Adolf Hitler. As USA promised democracy will be supported, Churchill said the principal will not be applicable to India. India was a jewel in the crown of the British Empire. True to his personality Churchill doggedly opposed the principle and tried to pursue Roosevelt for the same. But thankfully Roosevelt didn’t flinch on his principles.
American Photo journalist Margaret Bourke White took the photographs of Gandhi ji at his spinning wheel and Mohammed Ali Jinnah upright in a chair. The photographs of B.R. Ambedkar were first published in Life magazine in USA by White.
Active support of world public opinion thus generated played a significant part in the liberation of India.
Thus we extend our salutations from our heroes to heroes of those far off lands like Philosophers Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, not to mention President Roosevelt for allowing us to breathe the air of liberty and equality.
Now after 67 years of Independence when we are celebrating 65 years of our own constitution, we have invited the 44th President of USA Mr. Barack Obama. We heartily welcome President Obama as our guest for the Republic Day Parade. The history of India has strong connections with the history of America. Very few people know that America during World War II influenced Indian Independence.
The visit of Mr. Obama will open new doors to strengthen Indian business relations with the world. Whether it is military, technology, business or human resources it will be the opening of new era. This 26 January it will not only be a celebration of the establishment of our own constitution but the togetherness and growth of two democratic worlds.
