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Independence Day schedule

India's celebrations for its 51st year of Independence will begin with the hoisting of the national flag by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The prime minister will then address the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort and inspect a guard of honour. Accompanied by the defence minister, the defence secretary and the GOC, Delhi area, Vajpayee will move to the ramparts through a lift, where he will be received by the three service chiefs.

Later, at a special session of Parliament, speeches of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will once again reverberate in the portals of the gigantic Central Hall, as parliamentarians meet to mark the end of the year-long, golden jubilee celebrations of India's Independence. President K R Narayanan will be the only speaker at the function. Commencing at 1130 hours, the programme will be telecast live on Doordarshan's National Network, Metro Channel and DD International.

Vocalist Pandit Jasraj will render Vande Mataram, while singer Anuradha Poudwal will sing Saare Jahan Se Achha. An audiovisual display of India's achievements in the past fifty years will be presented by the department of science and technology.

Before the inauguration of the another function by the prime minister at 2100 hours at Vijay Chowk, over 2000 achievers from various fields will march in a procession from the National Stadium. They will be led by Indo Tibetan Border Police's Santosh Yadav -- the lone woman to scale Mount Everest twice.

The marchers, clad in the three colours of the national flag, will produce the effect of a gigantic tricolour across the Rajpath.

The march is aimed at symbolising the will and determination of the youth to achieve the goals of Independent India.

The prime minister will receive a torch at the conclusion of the march at Vijay Chowk. This will be followed by the singing of Vande Mataram and Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja and other patriotic songs in various languages. The ''drums of freedom'' will be played by well known artistes from across the country.

As a part of the Independence day programme, television viewers across the country can witness a mix of folk music and dances performed by leading artistes. Four giant screens and interactive computers have been installed at Rajpath to televise the event from 1900 to 2100 hours.

The programme at the India Gate, organised by the Delhi government, will be telecast live on Doordarshan. A running commentary will be broadcast on All India Radio.

Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma said the participants would take a pledge on the occasion to maintain unity, integrity and cultural affinity of the country at all costs.

An exhibition of India's vision for the future will be held at the National Stadium. The exhibition will focus on the achievements in the last 50 years and future programmes in the fields of science, technology, education and environment.

The National Research Development Corporation has announced the Independence Day cash awards worth Rs 220,000 for five innovative inventions and two gold medal awards.

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