Final Rehearsal on August 13; Schools Failing to Feature National Anthem and National Song Will Face Strict Action
Kahalgaon (Correspondent): Administrative preparations are in full swing to celebrate the upcoming 79th Independence Day with historic grandeur, discipline, and absolute dignity. In this context, administrative strictness was witnessed in the Kahalgaon sub-division of the Bhagalpur district. A high-level review meeting chaired by Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Krishna Chandra Gupta was convened to evaluate preparations and arrangements for Independence Day. It was made explicitly clear during the meeting that no laxity whatsoever will be tolerated during the national festival. The administration announced that a full-dress final rehearsal will be held at the main venue on August 13, and the rendition of the national anthem and national song will be mandatory during the main Independence Day program. Strict legal action (filing of an FIR) will be initiated against any associated schools that ignore rules or fail to organize the national anthem and national song.
Main Ceremony to Be Held at Sharda Pathshala Ground; Flag Hoisting Time Fixed
During the review meeting, the framework for the August 15 main event was discussed in detail, and responsibilities were assigned to officials:
Main Venue: This year, Kahalgaon's main Independence Day celebration will be held at the historic Sharda Pathshala sports ground.
Flag Hoisting Time: As per the scheduled program, the Sub-Divisional Officer will hoist the flag at the main venue precisely at 9:30 AM. Additionally, timings and protocols for flag hoisting have been fixed for other government, semi-government offices, and educational institutions across the region.
Cultural and Parade Programs: To make the ceremony engaging, cultural presentations, parades, and PT shows will be performed by local school children, the rehearsals of which will be monitored by administrative officials.
Final Rehearsal on August 13: Security and Arrangements to Be Tested
To ensure the smooth execution of the main ceremony, the administration has finalized the date for the rehearsal:
Full Dress Rehearsal: The full dress final rehearsal will be conducted at the main venue on August 13. During this session, student participants from all participating schools, scouts and guides, and security personnel will present their drills.
Directives to Rectify Shortcomings: The SDO instructed officials of the respective departments to meticulously inspect all arrangements—such as stage decoration, seating, loudspeakers, drinking water, and cleanliness—during the August 13 rehearsal itself, ensuring no inconvenience arises on August 15.
Strict Directives Regarding National Anthem and National Song: Direct Action on Lapses
The strictest and most significant part of the meeting pertained to the honoring of national symbols and songs in schools:
Mandatory Rendition: The administration issued strict warnings to all government, non-government, and private schools in the region that the collective singing of the national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) and the national song (Vande Mataram) must be made mandatory following flag hoisting on Independence Day.
Warning of FIR and Legal Action: SDO Krishna Chandra Gupta warned in unequivocal terms that school managements or institutions where the national anthem and national song are found missing on Independence Day will not be spared. An immediate FIR will be registered and strict legal action will be pursued against such institutions. This stern directive has created a stir among school managers and operators across the region.
Special Focus on Security, Cleanliness, and Traffic
In view of Independence Day, robust arrangements are also being put in place regarding law and order and traffic control in the town:
Traffic Diversions: Entry of heavy vehicles will be restricted in congested zones during the main celebration, and police forces will be deployed to keep traffic running smoothly.
Sanitation Drive: The municipal administration has been instructed to launch a special cleanliness drive on the ceremony venue and its surrounding routes.
This step taken by the Kahalgaon administration makes it clear that no compromise will be made with the dignity, discipline, and regulations of national festivals. While all preparations will be finalized through the final rehearsal on August 13, the strict directives regarding the mandatory status of the national anthem and national song have fully alerted educational institutions to their responsibilities. This initiative will further strengthen discipline and patriotic fervor during national celebrations in the days to come.
