Freedom fighters recount historic day

For 91-year-old V Narayanan, a retired engineer from the Indian Railways, Independence is not a thing of the past. Recalling the collective passion of Indians to witness independence, he said that he was a student during the struggle and therefore did not participate directly in the freedom movement.

Narrating some of his experiences, he said, “Students from schools were taken to see Mahatma Gandhi, who was travelling in third class in a train, which was something very ordinary for a man of his stature. We were baffled by his simplicity and awestruck at his grit.”

An alumnus of Guindy Engineering College then, Narayanan said, “Independence Day has always been a day to reminisce the struggles of freedom fighters. The freedom we enjoy now is due to the untiring sacrifice of many leaders and even the common man,” he stated.

Paramasivan (85), from Kadalaiyur village near Ettayapuram in Thoothukudi district, was a 10-year-old boy when he had witnessed police shooting during Quit India movement in his village in which there was a death.

Recalling the same day seventy years ago, he said, “On August 15,1947, there was unexplained joy among the people. The people went on a rally to Kovilpatti and Ettayapuram from their village with Indian flag in her hands and shouting Vande mataram. Usually there would be police to stop them but on that day no one stopped them and they breathed air which was filled with independence.”

Paramasivam saw a large number of people at Kovilpatti and the atmosphere was electrified. “A section of people also marched to Bharathi house at Ettayapuram and shouted Vande Mataram in front of my house by distributing sweets,” he said.