The Ministry of Culture commemorated Samvidhan Hatya Diwas through a special programme organised by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry, at its campus in New Delhi. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat graced the event as the chief guest. The event marked the completion of fifty years of the Emergency imposed in 1975 and sought to reinforce public awareness about the importance of democracy, constitutional values and citizens’ rights.

While addressing the event Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that  democracy is in the DNA of India, and this  event was an occasion to honor the unsung heroes of freedom. He observed that this occasion stands as a marker of the longevity and resilience of India's democracy, despite the challenges it has faced over the years. The Minister emphasized that democracy is not merely electoral politics — it is the freedom of expression and dissent, a free media, the dignity of citizens, and the supremacy of the Constitution. He further remarked that the Emergency, in hindsight, gave us the occasion to reflect upon and truly appreciate the strength and the price of democracy, freedom, and the Constitution.

The event was graced by  Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, President, IGNCA,  Shri Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Shri K. K. Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; and Dr. Vinod Narayan Indurkar, Chairman, CCRT.

The programme commenced with a walkthrough of the exhibition “Long Live Democracy”, which highlighted the impact of the Emergency and underscored the significance of safeguarding democratic institutions and constitutional freedoms and exhibition on “Digital District Repository”: An attempt to discover and document stories of people, events, and places linked to the freedom struggle of India at the micro level of the district has led to the creation of a Digital District Repository (DDR), during the commemoration 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' (AKAM).

 The exhibition was inaugurated on 24 June 2026 by Dr. Vinod Narayan Indurkar, Chairman, CCRT, and witnessed the participation of more than one thousand students from various schools and NGOs. A short film on Samvidhan Hatya Diwas was also screened on the occasion.

A special cultural presentation titled “Musical Tribute to the Spirit of Democracy – From Silence to Voice, From Darkness to Dawn” was performed by CCRT scholars under the direction of renowned flautist Pandit Chetan Joshi, paying tribute to the resilience of Indian democracy.

Eminent journalist and author Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, who was imprisoned during the Emergency, delivered a special address reflecting on the challenges faced by the nation during that period and the enduring strength of democratic institutions in India.

The programme also featured the Digital District Repository (DDR) Felicitation Ceremony. The Digital District Repository is a national initiative aimed at documenting and preserving district-level stories, events, personalities and places associated with India’s freedom struggle. CCRT has contributed significantly to the initiative through the collection and documentation of numerous local narratives connected with the freedom movement.

During the ceremony, veteran freedom fighters and living legends Shri Sheshrao Laxmanrao Khot and Shri Yeddula Suryanarayana Reddy, along with their family members, were honoured for their contributions to the nation. Teachers, researchers and institutions that have contributed to the enrichment of the repository were also felicitated. An exhibition based on the Digital District Repository, documentary screenings and artist-led sketch presentations inspired by repository narratives formed part of the programme.

A special exhibition showcasing artworks created during the Ministry of Culture’s nationwide Seva Parv initiative was displayed during the programme. Organised under the theme “Viksit Bharat ke Rang, Kala ke Sang”, the initiative promoted cultural pride, creativity and social responsibility through artistic engagement across the country.

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M Annadurai

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