New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday said the Delhi Assembly building has been a witness to the legacy of noble souls who contributed uniquely to India's struggle for independence.
Speaking at a session of the All India Speakers' Conference, Shekhawat said that sitting inside the assembly hall gave him a "divine experience", as it is a place where elected representatives in the freedom movement once stood up to global challenges.
"Every stone of the chamber (Delhi Assembly) bore the legacy of noble souls who contributed uniquely to India's struggle for independence," Shekhawat said as he spoke on the topic "Role of Nationalist Leaders of the Pre-Independence Central Legislatures, Freedom Movement and Social Reforms" on the first day of the conference.
Shekhawat paid tributes to the nationalist leaders of the pre-independence Central Legislatures for their unparalleled role in India's freedom movement and social reforms.
Drawing a powerful parallel between the Assembly chamber and a centuries-old temple, Shekhawat described the hall as a living witness to the courage, sacrifice and moral strength of leaders who faced immense challenges to ignite the flame of freedom across the nation.
Recalling the democratic traditions of India dating back to the Vedic era, the minister highlighted historical references to institutions such as Sabha and Samiti, people-centric governance during the Maurya and Gupta periods, and the democratic spirit reflected in the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Ashoka's edicts. He also noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's declaration at the United Nations in 2021 that India is the "Mother of Democracy".
Marking the centenary of Vithalbhai Patel's election as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925, Shekhawat urged that a dedicated session be held to discuss Patel's invaluable contributions. He underscored how Patel and his contemporaries used the Assembly as a platform to inspire the freedom struggle even under the most adverse conditions.
Tracing the evolution of the Assembly from the colonial Governor-General's Council to the Constituent Assembly and ultimately to the present-day Parliament, Shekhawat stressed the need to honour the vision of the nation's forefathers by working towards building the India of their dreams.