India has launched a website to serve as a platform for connecting Indians all over the world for the country’s coming 75th Independence Day celebrations.

The website, conceived by the Defence Ministry, would provide all information regarding activity related to the celebrations and live stream the main event from Delhi’s Red Fort on I-Day, August 15. Other key features include a gallery, interactive filters, e-books and blogs.
 
The platform is freely accessible and would enable the estimated 30 million Indian diaspora to be a part of the celebrations concerning the historic event.

The platform, which attempts to engage people of all ages, especially the youth, would live stream the program at the Red Fort in virtual reality 360-degree format. People can use this feature with or without VR Gadget.
 
The platform’s various features would portray deeds of gallantry, celebrate 50 years of the 1971 victory against Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War, as also contain blogs on the freedom movement, wars and war memorials.

Netizens can log on to know the information related to the Independence Day event at the Red Fort including minute-to-minute program, route map, parking details and snapshots of other activities. The program calendar for all initiatives taken by various ministries to mark the occasion is also available on the platform.
 
Around 40 events are being organized across the country by the Armed Forces and various other segments of the Ministry of Defense, including Border Roads Organization (BRO), National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
 
Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar said the platform aims to imbibe the culture of togetherness among the masses so that they can celebrate this landmark occasion and unite under the common identity of being Indians.

He said the activities planned in the run-up to Independence Day include an all-women mountaineering expedition to Mount Manirang, as also 75 Medical Camps being organized by BRO and statue cleaning activities to be carried by NCC cadets at 75 places across the country.
 
Kumar added that people will soon be able to pay online tribute to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial (NWM) in New Delhi. Interactive kiosks are being set up at NWM where people can pay homage to the brave hearts through digital means.

Motivational talks with gallantry awardees or their next-to-kin and Veer Naris (war-widows) are also being organized as part of the I-Day celebrations.
 
(The writer is a former spokesperson, Ministry of Defence and Indian Army. He can be contacted at wordsword02@gmail.com)

(SAM)