India fought a long and difficult struggle for freedom from the British Empire, known as the Indian Independence Movement. The struggle lasted 90 years, and began with a large-scale Indian uprising in 1857 against the British East India Company in the north and central parts of the country. For the next decades, the Mahatma Gandhi movement, lovingly known as the “Father of the Nation”, led a successful strategy of nonviolent protests against British rule.
India declared its independence from Great Britain on August 15, 1947, and in November 1949 the Constitution of the country was adopted, which entered into force on January 26, 1950. The preamble to the Constitution defines India as a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic state.
Every year on this day, the whole country, every state and city celebrates a major event with the participation of the Indian National Army and the raising of the national flag.
His Excellency Mr. Partha Satpathi, Ambassador of India to Ukraine, once said: “Indians and Ukrainians have shared cultural kinship for centuries. The similarity between Sanskrit and Ukrainian is a clear example of the historical closeness of our two peoples. The warmth and closeness of our ties has been further strengthened since Ukraine’s independence in 1991, with India being one of the first countries to recognize Ukraine as a sovereign independent country and to establish diplomatic relations in January 1992. India has broad bilateral relations with Ukraine, covering all areas of cooperation”.
We, Ukrainians, know the cost of independence and the importance of this event. We share the love of our land, the desire for freedom and have a similar spiritual worldview.
Today there is a great interest among the population in Chernivtsi in Indian culture, including various aspects such as Ayurveda, dance, philosophy and spirituality, because the Indian community is the largest at Bukovinian State Medical University among students and the fastest growing.
Happy Republic Day of India and all the Blessings!
The information was prepared by Olena Zalyavska, Chief Curator of the Medical Faculty №3
