Released on: May 13, 2008, 5:18 am

Press Release Author: Deepak Gupta

Industry: Advertising

Press Release Summary: A year-long celebration of 150 years of India\'s first war of
Independence came to an end on May 10, 2008. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan as part of
the efforts of the union government to celebrate the 150th year of India\'s first war
of independence organized a national youth rally of more than 35,000 youth from all
the districts of India in May 2007 from Meerut to Delhi. The march symbolized the
march of sepoys, who revolted against the British imperialism in May 1857. Prior to
that in May 2006, a consultative meeting of historians was organized in which
eminent historians participated. The significance of 1857 for today\'s youth is that
it makes them realize that we all are one inspite of our diversity.

Press Release Body: A year-long celebration of 150 years of India\'s first war of
Independence came to an end on May 10, 2008. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan as part of
the efforts of the union government to celebrate the 150th year of India\'s first war
of independence organized a national youth rally of more than 35,000 youth from all
the districts of India in May 2007 from Meerut to Delhi. The march symbolized the
march of sepoys, who revolted against the British imperialism in May 1857. Prior to
that in May 2006, a consultative meeting of historians was organized in which
eminent historians participated. The significance of 1857 for today\'s youth is that
it makes them realize that we all are one inspite of our diversity.
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports, Govt. of India is the largest grass root level organization in the
Asia-Pacific Region, bringing together rural youth enrolled through village-based
organizations through Youth Clubs. It engages a large cross-section of society i.e.
rural youth, representatives of Panchayat and other CBO and social & cultural
activists through capacity building programmes. NYKS promotes leadership, character
development, community service, self-reliance, secularism, democracy and patriotism
as the essential features for national development.
A national convention to deliberate on the issues related to the commemoration of
150th anniversary of India\'s first freedom struggle of 1857 was organized in May
2006 at Talkatora stadium, New Delhi in which 8000 field functionaries of NYKS
participated. The concluding session of the convention was graced by Dr. Manmohan
Singh, Hon\'ble Prime Minister of India. The convention reached at an action agenda
for the implementation of the commemoration programme. This was followed by zonal
level convention of National Service Volunteers (NSV) and Nehru Yuva Sathis (NYS).
The commemoration programme was organized in befitting manner in 2006-2007 in
villages all over India with the help of village level youth organization, youth
clubs and mahila mandals. Variety of programmes and activities were organized in the
villages throughout the year. The National Youth Rally which started on May 7, 2007
from Meerut reached Red Fort, Delhi on May 11, 2007 where the participants were
addressed by the His Excellency the President, Vice-¬President, Prime Minister, Smt.
Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, UPA, Speaker Lok Sabha and the presence of entire union
cabinet on ramparts of Red Fort made the event memorable and remarkable.
The concluding programmes of commemoration of 150 years of India\'s first war of
independence celebrations was held as \'VIRASAT\' at Teen Murti house back lawns, New
Delhi May 10, 2008. The programme was graced by Shri. Arjun Singh, Hon\'ble Minister
for Human Resource Development as Chief Guest and presided over by Dr. M S Gill,
MOS, Youth Affairs and Sports. The programme had Photo and Press Clipping Exhibition
on 1857 programmes, screening of a documentary film and release of a book on \"150
years of first war of independence\" and speeches by all the eminent guests present.
Around 450 people who were associated with the implementation of a yearlong
celebration of 150 years of India\'s first war of independence were invited to be a
part of the celebration.
On this occasion Sh. Arjun Singh said, that the government has decided to build a
memorial for the heroes of 1857 uprising in the National Capital. Various cultural
programmes were also presented by several school kids. Eminent personalities from
various fields like Farukh Sheikh, Durga Jasraj, Shabnam Hashmi, Gauhar Raza, Bipin
Chandra etc. also graced the occasion.
Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Khan (DG, NYKS) thanked all the guests, delegates and participants
for their support and participation in this historical moment.


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