Welham Girls' School

The 78th Independence Day celebrations in Welham Girls' School began with the unfurling of the Indian flag by the Principal, followed by the choir singing patriotic songs that deeply resonated with the audience. In their speeches, both the School Captain Vanshi Agarwal and Principal, Mrs Vibha Kapoor, stressed upon the fact that freedom, especially for women, must not just be lip service but ensured and enforced. Vanshi said Independence Day is about celebrating the "principle of freedom and the only way to be truly independent is to ensure liberty and justice for all, to create a society where every individual, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive." Mrs Kapoor drew the interest of the audience towards the innumerable heroes of the state of Uttarakhand who participated in the freedom fight and were integral to the independence of India. She ended her speech by urging the students to "pledge to uphold the values hundreds and thousands of Indians fought for and work towards a brighter future for our nation". She said our freedom was hard-earned, and it is our duty to preserve and cherish it. The programme concluded with the echoes of National Anthem and Vande Matram reverberating in the auditorium. Jai Hind!