In what is perceived as a giant leap to promote patriotic fervour among the denizens, the national anthem will be played every day at 8 a.m. at a small town in Chittoor district to let the denizens sing along, from August 15.
Punganur with a population of 65,000 will become the first town in Andhra Pradesh to do so, an achievement made already by Jammikunta town in Telangana.
The ‘Jana Gana Mana committee’ formed by a local advocate P.N.S. Prakash in association with his friends P. Ayub Khan and V. Deepak has taken the lead in giving a shape to the town’s ‘dream initiative.’
Marking Independence Day this year, students, traders, employees and teachers will congregate at 8 am and sing the national anthem in chorus when it is broadcast through the series of loudspeakers arranged across the town.
The venue chosen for the programme is the arterial Madras Bombay Trunk (MBT) Road, housing the twin statues of NT Rama Rao and former MP Nuthanakalva Ramakrishna Reddy (father of Minister N. Amarnatha Reddy). From the next day, the people will stand up and sing along, wherever they are or at the place of their convenience.
Nationalism
“At a time when the present generation is not aware of the contributions of our great leaders who brought us Independence, this is a small idea to let the spirit of nationalism pervade the town,” Mr. Prakash told The Hindu .
Loudspeakers in place
The municipality has shouldered the responsibility of airing the national anthem. A minute-long beep at 7.59 am will alert the residents, after which the anthem will be broadcast for 56 seconds. “Microphone sets are in place and loudspeakers have been installed at NTR Circle, Ambedkar Circle, Indira Gandhi Circle, Thoorpu Mogasala and other prominent junctions,” says Municipal Commissioner K.L. Varma, adding that Rotary Club, Lions Club and other organisations have been roped in to ensure its continuance. YSRCP MLA P. Rama-chandra Reddy and TDP in-charge Venkataramana Raju are also expected to participate in this apolitical event.
