On August 15, 2024, Vivekananda Vidya Kendra celebrated Independence Day with a series of vibrant and meaningful cultural performances. The students passionately engaged in dances, songs, and skits that highlighted key moments from India’s freedom struggle, spanning from Shivaji Maharaj’s time to the resistance against the Nizam in Hyderabad. One of the most memorable performances was a skit depicting the life of Veer Savarkar, which was executed with exceptional dedication and brought the audience closer to understanding the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters.
Inspiring Speech by Hema Yellapragada: The event was graced by chief guest Hema Yellapragada, District Councillor, Warwickshire District, United Kingdom, who delivered an insightful speech on "The Broader Sense of Swatantrya." She emphasized that despite achieving political freedom, remnants of British influence persist in our laws, education system, and other areas. She encouraged the students to actively participate in society by writing articles and raising their voices against injustice. She also urged them to reflect daily on their contributions to the nation and their dharma, asking, "Have I done anything useful for my Desham and for my Dharmam today?"
Another esteemed guest, Santhosh Manduva, founder, Sulakshya Seva Samithi reminded the students of their privilege to access diverse learning opportunities at Vivekananda Vidya Kendra, where they can cultivate skills in dance, sports, yoga, patriotism, devotion, and academics all in one place.
