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A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

Prologue: The history of the <keyword id="81273" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="British-Raj" source="Orion">British Raj</keyword> in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> is so vast and so full of life that no movie – be it the action-heavy RRR, a gamified Lagaan or even the many passionate Bhagat Singh movies – could scratch the surface of it. But an American and a Frenchman paired up to achieve this in their book ‘<keyword id="400044" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Freedom-at-Midnight" source="Orion">Freedom at Midnight</keyword>’. It’s the story of India that many Indians know little about. For years, I have regaled many with the unbelievable anecdotes from the book, which is soon to be made into a web series. As we complete <keyword id="2177193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="75-years-of-independence" source="Orion">75 years of independence</keyword>, I believe a brief summary of this epic is in order for we all need to know the history of how we got here today, breathing free in a country we can call our own. <div type="image" title="India at 75" msid="93508033" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;India at 75&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> A century and a half after Vasco da Gama discovered India, most of Europe had given up bland meals, and now pepper mills are on every dinner table. But India remained a free country only until the 1600s. That’s when Dutch traders decided to raise the rates of a pound of pepper by five shillings — a move that made a cartel of Englishmen receive an official sanction from Queen Elizabeth I to exclusively trade in all countries beyond the Cape of Good Hope. The company, called East India Company (EIC), also the world’s first company to issue equity shares – kickstarted a reign of evil, by a race which believed was ‘destined to govern and subdue’, according to Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre’s classic Freedom at Midnight. <div type="image" title="Freedom At Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre" msid="93508039" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Freedom At Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The wolf of this yet to be formed Wall Street was Captain William Hawkins, a seaman who was more of a pirate than an explorer. He soon found himself in the court of Jahangir, in an empire so vast and wealthy that his own Queen would have appeared to be the ruler of a provincial hamlet in contrast. Queen, Kipling and memsahibs EIC’s coffers filled but India, with its numerous territories and squabbles, would not let him hold on to their policy of ‘trade not territory’. But white supremacy is to prevail amongst ‘lesser breeds without law’ as Jungle Book writer Rudyard Kipling puts it. Even the British born writer believed that the right to rule Indians was placed on British soldiers by “the inscrutable decree of the providence”. The British shouldered it and region after region was lured by treasures if not treachery, weak and powerful kings won with weak enemies. The great Maratha Shivaji himself was known to have admired the British who fought for their honour, as he laid siege on Surat. Droves of young English men arrived in this strange land – with men in sagging dhotis and bare-armed women in sarees, and travelled the length and breadth of the country into villages with rations and letters that proclaimed their rights. And, they were all taught one principle - The English ran the country but they dwell apart. Memsahibs in India started running a very large version of Downton Abbey – with dinner parties that boasted of a servant per guest. They also set the tone for the Victorian era social seclusion – probably to keep their men away from the exotic temptations of the state. But it also made the British much different from many rulers that made India their home. Also, they were sending away taxes they collected from them back to the crown, as Indians starved. The British in India lived it up, served by coolies, and none were ‘better than Gunga Din’, a poetic character that saves an Englishman. They hunted tigers and killed ‘almost all’ cheetahs, the smallest of the big cats - which are now extinct in India, thanks to the Raj. They were having champagne in silver buckets and golfing, in style – golf arrived in India 30 years before New York. They also built the world’s highest golf course at 11,000 feet on the Himalayas. Almost a century after India became a British colony directly under the Queen’s rule, after the devastating Second World War, the country’s parliament voted to ‘leave the country’. George VI was sad that he had let go of a country he always wanted to visit but couldn’t. To ensure there was a smooth transfer of power that didn't lead to anarchy, he chose his handsome cousin, who was known as much for his charm as his military prowess. The former trait would serve Louis Mountbatten more than the latter, as he became the lord and the last viceroy of India, as he took over what his predecessor called, ‘Operation Madhouse’. <div type="image" title="Louis Mountbatten" msid="93508078" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Louis Mountbatten&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The new-age Buddha and Christ Elsewhere in another continent and another British colony, a young lawyer who was an utter failure in Bombay, landed in South Africa and to his own surprise found success. He profusely read Henry Thoreau and Leo Tolstoy and the Gujarati brain of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was working in wonderful ways. <div type="image" title="Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi" msid="93508085" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> When the British government irked him by closing Transvaal borders to India, he led a movement of Thoreau’s civil disobedience with over 2,000 people that included women and children. He added his own twist – non-violence and he brought it back to India. Now called Gandhigiri, his principles continue to inspire generations across continents. The man who took a vow of poverty, had held on to his Ingersoll watch for years until it was stolen when he was travelling in a train. He was moved to tears as he told this story with child-like pain to Lord Mountbatten, but his loss was short-lived. The man who stole it, returned it and begged his forgiveness – which was given with a hug and a chuckle. Gandhigiri had taken over India at the time of Mountbatten’s arrival. Mountbatten knew that this man who Winston Churchill sneered at, ‘as a half-naked fakir’ was not to be taken lightly. After all, Gandhi had already sent back Sir Richard Cripps without a deal, refusing UK’s offer during the war to rule India as a British dominion. Goat curd and surgical precision Mountbatten called it Operation Seduction and while he forged a great friendship with Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi was another soul altogether. He insisted on eating his own goat curd at the Viceroy House, took prayer breaks and insisted that India should remain one – keep the baby alive instead of cutting it into two. Jinnah, however, was all vanity, which was deeply hurt when he received fewer seats during the 1937 provincial elections. He demanded a Muslim state. India would be divided with surgical precision, he promised Mountbatten. The King’s cousin, the book says, dealt with him like a sailor rather than a statesman but Mountbatten knew that he could not move the unmoved, and most of Congress were in favour of two nations. Rooms full of rubies and a pen pistol But it took India’s iron man, Vallabhai Patel, to keep the rest of India intact and convince over 500 rajas, princes, nawabs and nizams as they called themselves to shift their allegiance from the crown to the nation. Stronger than the unity statue built in his honour, Patel continued summing up a case for the jury even after he was handed a note saying that his wife passed away. <div type="image" title="The Statue Of Unity" msid="93508178" hostid="261" sizebytes="162276" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Statue Of Unity&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Patel and the career bureaucrat, V.P. Menon, executed their operation seduction to gain control over men who were already seduced by sex, sport and the worst of all maladies - boredom. Most of them amused themselves with Lancaster pistols made of solid gold, rubies the size of pigeon eggs and working train sets on silver rails. The Jeff Bezos of that time, known to be the world’s richest, was the Nizam of Hyderabad, who had rooms full of precious stones eaten away by rats as the miser spent nothing and resorted to smoking the leftover cigarette butts of his departed guests! Most of the eccentric rajas sided with India – even Hari Singh of Kashmir, who wanted to be independent, was worn down by logic that a landlocked state would forever remain in a state of war. But the young Maharaja of Jodhpur, certain that his lavish life wouldn’t be approved by the Congress socialists, tried to go over to Jinnah’s side. But Menon’s watchful spies got wind of it, cornered him, and the Maharaja held a pen-pistol to the bureaucrat's forehead until Mountbatten confiscated it – and used it later to liven parties back home. Cursed by the stars Mountbatten was warned by the most popular astrologist of the time that August 15, 1947 was a ‘day cursed by stars’. He, however, chose sentiment over astrology – the date was the anniversary of the day Burma won against Japan, a war he was part of. It wasn’t just the viceroy, even Nehru and Jinnah did not see the bloodbath that followed. What stopped them from seeing what was to come was their own tolerance and atheism. Communal passions ran so high and so deep that right after the Union Jack came off the Viceroy house, Punjab and Bengal fell into a riotous rage – something a wily Gandhi always knew. That’s why the 78-year-old spent the midnight far away from the celebrations, spinning and lamenting the night India became independent, 75 years back. Before we let you go, here's what we like you to know-Innovaccer's solutions have been transforming the healthcare industry their unique approach to data analytics. Sandeep Gupta Co-Founder and COO, Innovaccer details this scion's growth as they continue to make healthcare data accessible, useful and transformative. Register Now: <a href="https://saasscions.com/" target="_blank">https://saasscions.com/</a> <div type="image" title="Business Insider India brings you SaaS Scions" msid="93508208" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Business Insider India brings you SaaS Scions&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

SIMPLY PUT: What happened before India got Freedom at Midnight

Indian independence was a result of a long struggle, in which thousands of people, majority of who remain unknown to date sacrificed their lives. The best way to pay homage to these people is to remember them in our daily lives, and watching <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> movies based on the <keyword id="29120" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Independence-Movement">Indian independence movement</keyword> is surely a good way to keep the spirit of independence alive. 
 
This independence day, we tell you about some of the best movies based on the Indian Independence struggle that would make you salute the unsung heroes.

#Independence Day special: 7 Movies based on India’s independence movement

<ul><li>Brands often leverage the occasion of Independence Day to mull over pertinent questions such as freedom from gender discrimination or plastic pollution.</li><li>With Independence Day around the corner, we look back at campaigns from the past five years that nudged us to question the status quo or took us down the memory lane.</li><li>So, here’s to the past that made us and the future in the making.</li></ul>Every year on 15th August, India celebrates its independence. This earmarked day brings along an opportunity to reminisce over our past, remember the struggles of our forefathers, be grateful for today and set new goals for the future. As India completes its 75th year of independence, the levels of pride and excitement is high across the country. This year, brands have united to bring our attention to issues that we are still not independent from like racism, gender inequality, ignorance and power play, that we encounter everyday and choose to ignore. They are also using this opportunity to thank our frontline warriors, who have held the country on their shoulders for the past two years. Tricolor is already splashed all over the digital media with patriotic gusto riding through people’s hearts. Last year, the theme for Independence Day 2020 celebrations was 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' or self-reliant India. As a result, brands dedicated 2020’s Independence Day to our indigenous artisans and karigars who have been affected due to the pandemic and health workers’ resilient spirit. This year, the theme of Independence Day celebrations will be 'Nation First, Always First.’ We bring to you a list of advertisements from the past five years that celebrate the heroic sacrifices of our armed forces to tales of unity today: Tata Tea | 2021 TATA Tea Premium celebrates this Independence Day by bringing out a unique <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/deshkakulhad?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__%5b0%5d=AZX1hEgfv7TRbIexWSPxxUMn5vkbLYu_DwjWCPnzxisjYWTgqZ9lBKAktvBvCbZ2eh7UOVA-wuj8R9e9GMmM3fWDJ-mCAULDLtP0mb8QXeQboHNiXqTKvs9hfMq1jwTTRQsNrivPHRZKiagHhn-VAVu7SDSVvd2gtwmjBgx-wPJZnw&amp;__tn__=*NK-y-R">#DeshKaKulhad</a> collection in partnership with Rare Planet - a startup that promotes the work of local Indian artisans. The proceeds of the sale of these exquisite hand painted Kulhads will help to lend support to the artisan community that has been severely impacted by the current times. <div type="Youtube" id="VlKZgxB53r0" title="Desh Ka Kulhad – Celebrating India’s rich diversity | Extended" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VlKZgxB53r0/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Cadbury Unity Bar 2020 In 2020, Mondelez India’s special limited-edition Cadbury Unity Bar caught everyone’s attention. This very special Cadbury bar – a combination of dark, blended, milk and white chocolate united in one bar, epitomized the common sweetness that defines us in India, even during the not so sweet and difficult times. It celebrates our Unity in Adversity – showcasing the inherent sweetness in every Indian that has united us during these tough times. <div type="image" title="Product shot - Cadbury Unity Bar" msid="85273725" hostid="261"></div> Tata Salt | 2020 Tata Salt urges the nation to unite with the same fiery patriotism as shown during the Indian Independence movement to take efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The spirit is brought alive through an emotional digital film using the premise of the original poem, ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’ by Ramprasad Bismal, featuring a veteran of the 1971 war. The brand appeals to the nation to employ healthy practices such as wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining social distance. <div type="Youtube" id="9Rb429CNELs" title="A Retd. LT. Colonel asks you to join the new fight for freedom" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9Rb429CNELs/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Liberty Shoes | 2019 Liberty Shoes partnered with Piyush Mishra to mirror the reality of today’s world in 2019. It came up with an action rather than a solution to evoke the sense of urgency and seriousness amongst the audience. They took examples from everyday life like racism, gender inequality, disrespectful behaviour towards women that we encounter and choose to ignore. It’s not the actions we blame, but also the mindset we carry. <div type="Youtube" id="HUgFTKGsh7Q" title="#InTheNameOfLiberty" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HUgFTKGsh7Q/mqdefault.jpg"></div> United Colours of Benetton | 2019 This campaign showcases how a simple act of compassion and mutual understanding can allow a nation as diverse as India, to co-exist in harmony and peace. <div type="Youtube" id="G2kMVgMzEzI" title="#UnitedByHarmony" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G2kMVgMzEzI/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Bajaj Allianz | 2018 Created by WATConsult, the campaign expresses a ‘special emotion’ of freedom embraced by the LGBTQAI+ community on Independence Day. The video highlights this community coming together, cherishing and celebrating their true freedom to love, highlighting the sentiment of Independence Day that resonates with every Indian. <div type="Youtube" id="kg8GABxUOpM" title="Pyaar Ki Azaadi - An Independence Day Film" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kg8GABxUOpM/mqdefault.jpg"></div> United Colours of Benetton | 2018 This social experiment #UnitedByHope, featured older India where people talk about the importance of religion and the importance of accessories associated with religion like kada (bangle), pagdi (turban), rosary, burkha etc and compares it with younger India. It highlighted how kids can subtly lead the older generation along the path of unity irrespective of religion or caste, and slowly but surely paving the way for a united future. <div type="Youtube" id="fNOpZvXI8eM" title="#UnitedByHope: A social experiment conducted in India" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fNOpZvXI8eM/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Vivo | 2018 Made by advertising agency Bang in the Middle, the video features a young woman driving on a highway when her car breaks down. It portrays her innate fear of being around unknown men at an odd hour of the night. The subtle message embedded in the film is revealed at the end. Even a harmless helping hand induces apprehension in an Indian woman instead of a sense of comfort. With this campaign, Vivo asked an important question: do women feel safe in today’s Independent India? <div type="Youtube" id="BIFjHEJa954" title="Happy Independence Night" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BIFjHEJa954/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Parle G | 2018 The digital campaign was created by an agency called Thought Blurb, and was marketed under the hashtag ‘#YouAreMyParleG’. The emotionally provoking film not only details on the real-life life of Ankit Singh behind enemy lines but also gives sentimental insights about his familial ties. The micro-movie ends with the message that some people turn into the whole nation’s packet of Parle-G. The final message makes a fitting end that also encapsulates the spirit of the hashtag ‘#YouAreMyParleG’. <div type="Youtube" id="yPgpLV9VIcU" title="Parle-G | Armed Forces Film" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yPgpLV9VIcU/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Airtel | 2018 Two days before India’s 72nd Independence Day, Airtel India gave the country a new rendition of our beloved national anthem <div type="Youtube" id="vH1jLzINhqY" title="EXCLUSIVE: National Anthem by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan &amp; Ayaan Ali Bangash" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vH1jLzINhqY/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Bajaj Avenger | 2017 On the occasion of Independence day, Bajaj Avengers released their communication titled #RideyourIndependence which equates freedom of our country with women liberation. It ends with a powerful message from Mahatma Gandhi, ‘The day a woman can walk freely on the roads at night, that day we can say that India has achieved independence’. The film had clocked more than 7.2 million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours. <div type="Youtube" id="BtPpnOKDo4g" title="#RideYourIndependence - Bajaj Avenger Independence day Film" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BtPpnOKDo4g/mqdefault.jpg"></div> iD Fresh Foods | 2017 This campaign intended to spread awareness around the plight of the families of our army martyrs, encouraging the public to pledge their support to the well-being of these families. It highlighted the hardships that a martyr’s family undergoes. <div type="Youtube" id="qVPReTYAlkE" title="#iDPledge - iD Independence Day" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qVPReTYAlkE/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

Top Independence Day ads from the last five years

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An Indian government official was involved in an attempted assassination on US soil, the Justice Department says.</li><li>The official also appeared to be involved in the earlier killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada, according to the indictment.</li></ul>A member of the Indian government directed a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen on American soil, according to a newly unsealed federal indictment.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-charges-connection-foiled-plot-assassinate-us-citizen-new-york">indictment</a>, brought by federal prosecutors in Manhattan Wednesday, identifies the Indian official only as "CC-1" and describes them as a "Senior Field Employee" within India's government with responsibilities in "Intelligence."The allegations are included in an updated criminal indictment against Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who, according to a previous indictment first filed in June, hired a hitman for the assassination plot.The victim in the plot was meant to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/29/india-us-assassination-plot-sikh-pannun/">according to the Washington Post</a>. Pannum, a lawyer and citizen in the US and Canada, is a leader of a Sikh separatist movement that calls for an independent Sikh state in Punjab.In May, the Indian government employee recruited Gupta to orchestrate the plot to kill Pannum, according to the Justice Department indictment. The two met in person in New Delhi at the time, prosecutors say.Gupta, in turn, contacted another person to broker a deal with a hitman to carry out the plot in New York City, according to prosecutors. The two found another person who agreed to accept $100,000 to kill Pannum, the indictment says.The Indian government employee also said he had another "target" in California, according to the indictment."We will hit our all Targets," Gupta responded, according to prosecutors.The Indian government official appeared to be in a rush. On June 3, Gupta urged the assassin to finish the job, according to messages obtained by prosecutors."finish him brother, finish him, don't take too much time ... push these guys, push these guys .. . , finish the job," he told him over a phone call, according to prosecutors.On June 9, the Indian government employee arranged to deliver $15,000 in cash to the hired assassin in Manhattan as an advance for Pannum's murder, prosecutors say. The Indian government official also sent "the Victim's home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the Victim, and details about the Victim's day-to-day conduct" to Gupta, who passed them along to the hired assassin, according to the indictment, and asked for "regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot."As it turned out, the assassin and broker were both working with US law enforcement, the indictment says.Prosecutors brought their first set of charges against Gupta on June 13 in <a target="_blank" href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.600440/gov.uscourts.nysd.600440.3.0.pdf">a short, three-page indictment</a>. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 as part of an extradition treaty.<div type="image" title="Biden Modi" height="5264" width="7896" msid="105602147" hostid="261" sizebytes="1190018"></div><h2>Biden wants to court India. The assassination plots complicate things.</h2>The assassination plot has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/66809c9a-1a0d-4e88-adbf-5b2baece6aac">created a wedge between India and the United States</a>, which seeks to create deeper ties with the country as a counterweight to China.President Joe Biden personally raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in September, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/54721d57-fe1b-4d28-ab9b-a664f110770b">according to the Financial Times</a>. Earlier this year, CIA Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines each flew to India to pressure its government to investigate the plots, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/29/india-us-assassination-plot-sikh-pannun/">according to the Washington Post</a>.India categorized Pannum as a terrorist in 2020 for his Sikh separatist activism and has outlawed Sikhs for Justice, the secessionist organization he works for, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/66809c9a-1a0d-4e88-adbf-5b2baece6aac">according to the Financial Times</a>.Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist leader and friend of Pannum's, was killed in Surrey on June 18. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-indian-government-nijjar-1.6970498">accused India's government of being involved in the attack</a>."Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Trudeau told members of Canada's parliament at the time. "Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty."<div type="image" title="Biden Modi" height="2666" width="4000" msid="105602148" hostid="261" sizebytes="386134"></div>Contact information for Gupta's attorney was not immediately available. Representatives for the White House and India's Ministry of External Affairs didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.Wednesday's 15-page indictment suggests the Indian government official was also involved in Nijjar's death.The official sent Gupta "a video clip showing Nijjar's bloody body slumped in his vehicle" just hours after the killing, the indictment says."GUPTA replied that he wished he had personally conducted the killing and asked CC-1 for permission to 'go to the field,'" the indictment says. "CC-1 responded that 'secrecy [is] important,' and 'it's better you do not get involved in action.'"An hour later, the government official sent Gupta Pannum's address, which Gupta forwarded to the undercover US law enforcement employee who had been hired for the assassination, the indictment says. Gupta told the undercover law enforcement employee that Nijjar "was also the target" but that he was only "#4, #3" on the list, according to the indictment."We have so many targets," Gupta told him, according to the indictment.<div type="image" title="Biden Modi" height="5264" width="7896" msid="105602147" hostid="261" sizebytes="1190018"></div>In the wake of the Canadian killing, Gupta told the undercover law enforcement employee to kill other people if they got in the way of assassinating Punnam, the indictment says."If he is not alone, [if] there are two guys with him in the meeting or something . . . put everyone down, put everyone down," Gupta said, according to the indictment.Gupta and the Indian government employee appeared to have plans to carry out more killings, according to prosecutors.In their communications, they appeared to indicate that they were organized, well-resourced, and methodological with their plans.In one video call with Gupta, the undercover law enforcement official saw three other men in the room "wearing business attire, sitting around a conference table," the indictment says."We are all counting on you," Gupta told him in the call.Gupta said they planned to hire the supposed assassin for more jobs in the United States and Canada if they could pull off Pannum's killing."we will give more bigger job more, more job every month," Gupta told the undercover law enforcement official in one call, according to the indictment. "every month 2-3 job."

An Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate a Sikh US citizen on American soil, feds say — and more attempts were planned

<ul><li>The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, had proclaimed that a country is truly free when a woman will be able to safely walk the streets at midnight. </li><li>The ‘protectors’ of women in India come in many forms -- the <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manoj-tiwari-calls-for-formation-of-anti-romeo-squads-in-delhi-youngsters-divided-1558797-2019-06-29">anti-Romeo squad</a>, the agitators against ‘Love Jihad’, those who slap women on Valentine’s Day, and many more. </li><li>India’s 73rd Independence Day may be a momentous occasion for the women of the country to claim their freedom from bias, misogyny, and the image of being the weaker sex. </li></ul> This year, India will be celebrating <keyword id="6385850" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raksha-Bandhan">Raksha Bandhan</keyword> or <keyword id="6373020" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="rakhi">Rakhi</keyword> along with Independence Day- in a rare yet ironic coincidence. The festival of Rakhi is intended to celebrate the bond between siblings and in practice, it’s the day when the brother renews his vow to ‘protect’ the sister and showers her with gifts. The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, had proclaimed that a country is truly free when a woman will be able to safely walk the streets at midnight. By the Mahatma’s standard, India is not yet independent as crime against women is<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/gurgaon-fbd-top-list-of-crimes-against-women/articleshow/70544472.cms"> on the rise</a>, men still make way more money for the same job, and the freedom of choice is still a luxury that only a few women in the country enjoy. While it is imperative for India to renew its promise of ‘raksha’ or safety for all its women, India’s 73rd Independence Day may be a momentous occasion for the women of the country to claim their freedom from bias, misogyny, and the image of being the weaker sex. And all eyes will be on the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement on the safety and empowerment of women at his Red Fort speech tomorrow as the festival of rakhi coincides with the celebration of freedom. The first step could be an acknowledgement of the problem by releasing a <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/crime-up-by-6-in-2018-slight-dip-in-crime-against-women/article25954302.ece">country-wide data </a>on crime against women-- something that has been awaited. Freedom of choice Many of the hurdles in the path of women in India are the same as they are elsewhere. The #MeToo movement erupted around the same time in India as it did in Hollywood-- and it was just as widespread and the system was just as rotten. But as in any other case, India has its own quirks. The ‘protectors’ of women in India come in many forms -- the <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manoj-tiwari-calls-for-formation-of-anti-romeo-squads-in-delhi-youngsters-divided-1558797-2019-06-29">anti-Romeo squad</a>, the agitators against ‘Love Jihad’, those who slap women on Valentine’s Day, and brothers/fathers who would rather see the girl dead than be married to someone outside the caste or religion. The anti-Romeo squads and the agitators against ‘Love Jihad’, in their own construct, try to protect women from ‘predators’-- mostly men from another religion-- luring them with ‘love’. While thrashing the couple or forcing them out of their embrace, no one asks the woman if she is in the relationship by her own will. The attackers have state support, sometimes overt and tacit at other times. Love in the times of nationalism ‘Love’ in India can be overwhelming in its own way. Mothers feed you more than you need, fathers guide you more than you can take, and often, brothers stalk you more than other boys-- all with the best intent. They feel obliged to have a hawk eye on the girl of the family because the world out there can be brutal. Therefore, the family, with the best interest of the girl in mind, decides what she should eat, wear, study, feel and where she should work, irrespective of her own desires and aspirations. While the brother is obsessed with caring for the sister, a stolen video clip of an unsuspecting girl, naked in the shower, will land on WhatsApp and that will be duly forwarded to other groups for a good laugh.

‘Freedom of choice’ will be a good gift for sisters celebrating Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan

As India celebrates its 69th <keyword id="28240" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Independence-day">Independence Day</keyword>, the digital world is floating with offers upto its brim. From #AzadikeFayde to Swadeshi Movement, start-ups are making everyone realise the true meaning of being free with their special offers. 
 
(Image credits: Indiatimes)

#Independence Day Special: Know what Indian startups have in store for you this Independence day

In a new trend that indicates the utilization of blockchain technology in the music industry, Hindi Rock giant <keyword id="19787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="euphoria" source="Orion">Euphoria</keyword> is set to launch its latest album titled 'SALE', in the form of a Non-Fungible Token (<a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite&amp;is_retargeting=false&amp;shortlink=BI&amp;c=site&amp;pid=Business%20Insider&amp;af_click_lookback=7d&amp;af_channel=Business%20Insider&amp;af_adset=article&amp;af_force_deeplink=true">NFT</a>). The band will drop the music album NFT and nine behind-the-scene photographs on the invite-only NFT project Token Runway, after which it will be auctioned before its public release. The auction commenced on September 9 and culminates on September 12, subsequent to which, the album will be released on September 14. The album 'SALE' is the 8th one by Euphoria, composed of 7 songs that will take listeners on a ride across genres, sounds, styles, emotions and life experiences. Written at various points of time in Euphoria Founder Singer-Writer Palash Sen's career, each song stands for a real-life story witnessed or felt by him and the band. The album essentially is 17 years of hard work and passion condensed into 7 soulful tracks. Talking about the music NFT drop by Euphoria, Priyank Mahajan, Co-Founder, Token Runway says, "After decades of experience in the field of entertainment and media monetization we are excited to embark on this blockchain powered journey with Token Runway. The system is built in a manner which guarantees trust amongst sellers and buyers, which lets the creators focus on their craft. We are excited to be able to work with Euphoria on our first NFT as the band being a legend has a history of many firsts, and will keep striving to bring exclusive and rare NFTs to our community." Explaining the rationale behind slipping into the NFT trend, Euphoria Founder &amp; Singer Palash Sen says, "We believe that it is important to take our music to all communities. This will widen the outreach of our work to the global blockchain community and we certainly are looking forward to it. As seasoned musicians, we think it is essential for us to be a part of this movement. We come from a time when it was impossible to release an album without a label or a rich dad. NFTs offer a whole new distribution mechanism without affecting the artist's other revenue streams." In the music space, an NFT can be stated as a piece of creative work that is stored on a <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite&amp;is_retargeting=false&amp;shortlink=BI&amp;c=site&amp;pid=Business%20Insider&amp;af_click_lookback=7d&amp;af_channel=Business%20Insider&amp;af_adset=article&amp;af_force_deeplink=true">digital ledger</a>. Artists and musicians can create NFTs to auction off various forms of digital media to their fans. This marks the beginning of an era when artists are able to do business directly to fans and sell their NFTs like they used to with self-produced CDs. NFTs operate on a blockchain, which is a publicly accessible and transparent network -- meaning anyone can see the details of any NFT transaction. Computers involved in the transactions become part of the network, which keeps updating and can't be hacked. These NFTs or digital tokens have gone mainstream in the last year, as many international musicians sought out additional revenue streams in the digital audio distribution of the pandemic. The release of the album as an NFT by Euphoria will also be the first of many other NFTs by the band with Token Runway over the coming years as they see a massive potential for growth via this new trend. "In the long run, fans will have access to exclusive work from the musicians and will bring back the concept of ownership of music like in the case of CDs, cassettes and records. For the musicians it will provide new reasons and challenges to better their craft," said Palash. Speaking to IANSlife about the future plans, Palash says: "After the release of SALE as an NFT, we are also going to be working on creating a year long calender or a roadmap to release further content, memorabilia, Euphoria demos, and several other special things relating to the band's journey. It is definitely exciting as it helps us connect with an audience that is interested in and seeks off beat collectibles. Being an independent artist, our options are limited. But then, the sky is the limit." "We have been working on this album for over 17 years, it was not till recently we thought of doing an exclusive pre-release SALE as an NFT. It so happened that we were in the process of releasing the album when the NFT trend set in. As we had the album almost ready we decided to take the plunge with it, mainly to test waters and gauge the response from our audience. We are very happy to have collaborated with Token Runway for our very first NFT project. It has been truly euphoric to work with them." <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite&amp;is_retargeting=false&amp;shortlink=BI&amp;c=site&amp;pid=Business%20Insider&amp;af_click_lookback=7d&amp;af_channel=Business%20Insider&amp;af_adset=article&amp;af_force_deeplink=true"></a><a href="https://forum.businessinsider.in/">For a more in-depth discussion, come on over to Business Insider Cryptosphere</a> — a forum where users can deep dive into all things crypto, engage in interesting discussions and stay ahead of the curve. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/opensea-is-still-reeling-from-the-crypto-flash-crash-value-of-cryptopunks-slashed-in-half/articleshow/86068443.cms">The biggest NFT platform in the world is still reeling from the crypto flash crash — value of CryptoPunks slashed in half</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indian-crypto-start-up-plans-to-do-for-solana-what-alchemy-did-for-ethereum-with-1-5-million/articleshow/86057583.cms">INTERVIEW: Here's how SolRazr plans to do for Solana what Alchemy did for Ethereum with $1.5 million in its pocket</a>

Indian rock band Euphoria set to launch its next album as an NFT

A tube is attached to her nose, from where a calculated dose of food is inserted into her stomach forcefully, in order to keep her breathing and her vital organs alive. Despite her frail structure, which has developed from this condition, <keyword id="768247" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Irom-Chanu-Sharmila">Irom Chanu Sharmila</keyword> continues to be a tough nut for the 13th successive year. The reason she is on fast is her demand that the <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian government</keyword> should repeal the draconian law that accords the <keyword id="3790" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Armed-forces">armed forces</keyword> absolute power in troubled areas. 
 Her picturesque state Manipur, with most friendly people and rain forests rich in timber and herbs, could have been a picture of peace if not for the simmering conflict between <keyword id="6500558" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indigenous">indigenous</keyword> people and the government. Like all other places that witness <keyword id="1952107" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Separatist-insurgency">separatist insurgency</keyword>, in which case the government tries to overpower the locals with generous use of force and laws to support it, Manipur has been the hotbed of conflicts since the last five decades, with peace being an intermittently occurring phenomenon. <keyword id="1172406" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Draconian-Laws">Draconian laws</keyword> have been revoked in Manipur ever since. 
 The incident that made Irom Chanu Sharmila both a legend and a victim of the government’s conspiracies occurred just before the new millennium completed a year. On November 2, 2000, armed forces killed 10 innocent civilians who were waiting for a bus in Malon, a town close to the capital city of <keyword id="45774" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Imphal">Imphal</keyword>. 
 Sharmila, also known as Mengoubi (a fair girl), was onto her regular fasting routine when the news trickled in. She used to go on a day-long fast every Thursday. But that Thursday was going to be historical. Protesting the killings, she continued her fast into the next day, the day after and many days following November 2. Her vital signs deteriorated and the news that she was fasting to force the government to revoke <keyword id="60149" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="AFSPA">AFSPA</keyword> (Armed Forces [Special Powers] Act). She was admitted to hospital and a <keyword id="1952110" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nasogastric-intubation">nasogastric intubation</keyword> was forced down her windpipe to keep her breathing, while under arrest. 
 Sensing trouble with the growing support to Irom Sharmila, the government charged her with ‘attempted suicide’ and ensured her days were split between hospital and legal institutions. But what had to happen transpired like droplets of water trickling into a solid rock. With her silence, resilience and consistent efforts, the frail woman had made a dent, and a solid one at that. This poetess with shy eyes and silken skin had turned into a <keyword id="235269" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="political-activist">political activist</keyword>, a human rights activist and also a fighter for <keyword id="97526" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Civil-rights">civil rights</keyword>. 
 And when she completed 500 weeks of <keyword id="1952116" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Continuous-fasting">continuous fasting</keyword>, Sharmila even overtook <keyword id="6355532" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mahatma-Gandhi">Mahatma Gandhi</keyword>, the undisputed protagonist of the <keyword id="363965" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Indian-national-movement">Indian National Movement</keyword> and the global icon who stood for peace and non-violence, with her fasting credits. All of 41 years of age, she has been fasting for over 13 years of her life! But her struggle has never been daunted, affected or lost sheen and grit in the absence of food. She has been consistently writing letters to the Indian government and international agencies to press for the <keyword id="1952112" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Revoking-of-AFSPA">revoking of AFSPA</keyword>, which gives the <keyword id="15350" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Army">army</keyword> absolute power, which has mostly been misused to silence the voices that are demanding a separate state. 
 AFSPA, the legal provision that has turned Armed forces (read <keyword id="6362743" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Assam-Rifles">Assam Rifles</keyword>) from messiah to maniac, was framed before India became independent. The British had created this act to discourage the citizens of the country from participating in the famous <keyword id="122191" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Quit-India-movement">Quit India Movement</keyword>. But that was way back in 1942. 
 The act was modified a bit in 1958 and amended in 1972, in order to accommodate six sections that accord absolute power to the army, in areas of <keyword id="570941" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="civil-disobedience">civil disobedience</keyword>. Thus was born the monster, which only created mayhem. Armed forces, in order to ‘discipline’ the citizens who were into <keyword id="761056" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Activism">activism</keyword>, used it to snuff out lives indiscriminately, anywhere and everywhere. 
 
Having seen the bloodshed and the temporariness of life, Sharmila decided somebody had to take the lead. And she did. Much to the relief of the people of Manipur, the news travelled far and wide, and national and international organisations began to meet up with her. Her story has become a glowing reference to peaceful activism, globally. Awards soon followed – both from within the country and outside India. There is even a play written on her life that continues to touch the audience throughout the country. 
 It is a noteworthy fact that Manipur shares its border with <keyword id="6356970" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Myanmar">Myanmar</keyword> from where comes another story of <keyword id="1952115" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Political-resilience">political resilience</keyword> in the form of another soft-looking yet <keyword id="1952102" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="tough-woman-leader">tough woman leader</keyword> – <keyword id="56335" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aung-San-Suu-Kyi">Aung San Suu Kyi</keyword>. 
 
Maybe, just maybe, it’s in the DNA of the people in this region. They are not the ones to accept a raw deal, be it from the government or the armed forces. 
 
Image: Indiatimes

Irom Chanu Sharmila –
The Iron Lady Of Manipur: 13 Years On, Her Activism Continues To Be A Legend

So much has been written about <keyword id="6355532" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahatma-Gandhi">Mahatma Gandhi</keyword> – <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>’s peace crusader. The man who led India’s independence struggle to free the country from the clutches of British rule of 200 years, turned into a phenomenon with the way he led his life. Generations after, people in India continue to emulate him, try to inculcate some of the principles he lived-and-preached; even as the world leaders seem enamored by him. 
 
Some of the simplest things he said were deeply philosophical, societal and always for the larger good. His words are timeless, and go beyond geographical limitations since they are applicable for any country that wants to achieve a social equilibrium through reforms. 
 
The journey of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi was highly challenging. During the course of his life, Gandhi sought to resolve the constant plaguing of self-doubt helped him put his truths and beliefs through tough tests of realities that helped him see an issue from different dimensions and perspectives. 
 
The ‘take away’ factors from his life are many. And the more one reads him, the lessons from his life increase with the number of interpretations you can make from the text. Read between the lines, if you must, when you read Gandhi and the essence of his life (and ours, too) increases by manifold to the reader. 
 
Here are a few key lessons he left behind in the most significant life he led, for his country, his people and rest of the world. 
1. Humanity and faith 
Gandhi said: “Have faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the whole ocean does not become dirty”. His faith in the basic ‘goodness’ of people remained undeterred throughout his life, which remained largely in the midst of followers and opponents. 
2. Be the change 
While Gandhi turned an unlikely leader of something as massive as a freedom movement, it didn’t happen overnight. The man he turned out to be, was a result of constant introspection and clarity that emerged from the process. He remained open to both sides of any argument and faced everything with a smile. No matter what the challenge was, his goal of ‘Indian independence’ remained clear. Like he said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” And what a change he was! 
3. Preserving the self 
Gandhi firmly believed he was in control of his emotions. Even during most disturbing occasions when an argument went awry with his supporters, or his friends, he would quietly retreat and revisit the discussion after having thought through. His friends vouched for this quality of his. He ensured the goal was in sight. And that ego wouldn’t rule the roost. He often said: “no one can hurt me without my permission”. 
4. Forgive 
He had imbibed the best of Indian philosophy. Non-violence was his strongest weapon, and so was forgiveness. He told the world often that forgiving was the quality of the strong, and not the weak. He didn’t approve of those who wanted to avenge any injustice or crime. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” he said and liberated his fellow men from anger. 
5. Practice what you preach 
Advice is more easily available land or air today. Even a stranger is capable of telling a fellow passenger how to lead a life that the former may have never known. But, Gandhi firmly believed actions speak louder than words. He remained in control of both his actions and words. “An ounce of practice is worth a thousand words” is what he lived by. 
6. Now is all that you have 
An English adage says ‘cross the bridge when it comes’. Gandhi lived by the essence of ‘today’ and not what fate would befall on him tomorrow. With the goal clearly before him, he would often look at what could be done now, than later. “God has given me no control over the following moment. I am concerned about taking care of the present” was his opinion. 
7. Never say Never 
He was well aware of the possibilities and limitations of human beings. He was magnanimous about all the people who came to him confessing their errors. He said once “It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.” 
8. Stay on; don’t give up 
Challenges often encouraged him to go that extra mile, put in that extra effort and reach further clarity on how things were to be executed for the goal to be reached. Self-doubt often made him stronger and he came back renewed, rejuvenated and with bigger dreams than before for the country. “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win” he would say when asked if the challenges didn’t bog him down. 
9. Keep away the evil 
Look for best qualities in people and grow with every person you meet. Taking stock of someone’s lacunae will only make you poorer. Gandhi was aware that he wasn’t faultless himself. “I will not probe into the faults of others. I only look for goodness in them” he reiterated often. 
10. Coherence in thought and action 
Happiness is where there is no conflict within self about what is preached and followed. There are no different rules for self and the world. Happiness is when your thoughts, actions and words align – this was something that he firmly believed in all his life.

You Searched For "Indian Independence Movement" and got 10 results

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