Chandigarh [India], August 14 (ANI): Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria participated as the Chief Guest in the state-level 'Har Ghar Tiranga' program organised at Tagore Theatre on Thursday.

In his address, Governor Kataria said that the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign is not just a symbolic movement, but has become a powerful campaign of patriotism, public participation and national consciousness. He said that this tricolour is a symbol of our identity, our ideals and our self-respect.

Recalling the great heroes of India's freedom struggle, the Governor said that 'India's independence is not of a single day, but it is a glorious history written in blood from the spark lit by Mangal Pandey in 1857 to complete independence in 1947.'

He deeply recalled the contribution of Madanlal Dhingra, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi and Veer Savarkar and said that their sacrifices returned India's identity. In particular, he described the land of Punjab as the pioneer of the freedom struggle and recalled the pain of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

The Governor also said that the tragedy of Partition taught us that unity, brotherhood and tolerance are our greatest strengths. He described the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign as an effort to re-establish this national spirit.

Speaking on the current situation of the country, Governor Kataria said, 'Today's India is not the one that once suffered silently. This is the new India - self-reliant, aware and self-respecting. Which responded to cowardly terrorist attacks like Pahalgam with unity and emerged as a decisive power before the world.'

He said that now the time has come that every citizen should hoist the tricolour not only on the roofs but in their thoughts, behaviour and actions. True patriotism is that which is manifested through our actions.

Praising the schools of Chandigarh, the Governor said that the teachers and students here are playing a leading role not only in acquiring knowledge but also in value-building and strengthening the spirit of patriotism.

He said that today's event is not only cultural but also serves as a medium to ignite the nation's consciousness of building.

The program had started with a grand handicraft exhibition organised by the Department of Social Justice, the Department of Culture and the Department of School Education, which transformed the Tagore Theatre complex into a visual form of 'Developed India'. (ANI)