When I see the youngsters who have come to march from Meerut to New Delhi from all over India, my heart is filled with joy.
I want to tell all those old people who feel that young Indians don't care much for our martyrs and freedom-fighters, look at these youngsters. They are our future and hope.
There is so much enthusiasm in them and they have a never-say-die spirit.
They are ready to brave the heat and walk from Meerut to Delhi just the way our soldiers of the First War of Independence revolted against the British on May 10, 1857, and reached New Delhi on May 11, thus capturing it from the Britishers.
My message to all these youngsters regarding the First War of Indian Independence would be, don't forget your past and history.
If you forget your history your future will be in the dark.
The significance of 1857 for today's youth is that it makes you realise that we all are one people in spite of our diversity.
The freedom-fighters who revolted against the British in 1857 were mostly Hindus in Meerut. After disobeying their British superiors they went straight to the Mughal king, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and made him their king.
They had no ill-feeling for the Mughal king though he was a Muslim. This is the kind of secular bonding these soldiers had in them.
Our young generation must remember that united we stand, and though we are a diverse people we have to maintain our unity. That is what the message of 1857 was to all Indians.
Bahadur Shah Zafar too knew it. After the revolt when these freedom-fighters captured