1.48 crore children saluted the tricolour, joined in collective singing of the national anthem and Vande Mataram
Daughters of Kasturba Gandhi schools delivered the message of nation-building; Independence Day becomes a festival of public participation
Lucknow: Under the leadership of the Yogi government, the Basic Education Department celebrated Independence Day as a grand festival of patriotism and public participation. Chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” echoed simultaneously across more than 1.32 lakh council schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in the state. On Independence Day 2026, nearly 1.48 crore children saluted the tricolour and took part in the collective singing of the national anthem and Vande Mataram.
School campuses were awash in patriotic colours from early morning. Amid tricolours, flowers and vibrant decorations, children remembered the sacrifice and dedication of the immortal heroes of freedom through songs, poems, dance, drama and tricolour rallies. Various schools organised debates and sports competitions to connect children with the history of the freedom struggle, national values and their responsibility towards the nation. Performances by children on school grounds turned Independence Day into a celebration of learning, participation and patriotism.
On the occasion, Director General of School Education Monika Rani and Director of Education (Basic) Anil Bhushan Chaturvedi jointly hoisted the flag at the camp office of the Director General of School Education and State Project Director/Director of Education (Basic). A message from Sandeep Singh, Minister of State for Basic Education (Independent Charge), was read out on the occasion, underscoring the resolve to build a bright, capable and responsible future for children by making education a powerful medium of nation-building.
Ganesh Kumar, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), and Dr Mukesh Chandra, Director of the State Institute of Educational Technology, hoisted the flag and paid homage to the national flag. In the presence of Joint Director Dr Pawan Sachan and Administrative Officer Lav Kumar, heartfelt tributes were paid to immortal martyrs, and a renewed commitment was made towards the nation’s unity, integrity and progress.
Students at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas across the state celebrated Independence Day with special enthusiasm. Through songs, poems and theatrical performances, they recalled the valour and sacrifice of freedom fighters. The girls’ presentations conveyed the message that daughters are playing their part at the forefront of education, self-reliance and nation-building.
Parents and villagers also participated enthusiastically alongside children in the Independence Day celebrations, turning school programmes into community festivities. From villages to cities, the message of unity, brotherhood, love and patriotism resonated beneath the tricolour on school campuses. These events also reinforced the resolve that a new generation empowered by education will lay the strong foundation for a developed, united and self-reliant India.
