As we gather once more under the fluttering Tricolour, my heart is filled with both pride and humility. Seventy-eight years ago, our beloved nation broke free from the shackles of colonial subjugation and feudal exploitation. That victory was not merely the transfer of power, it was the awakening of a people, long suppressed, who dared to dream of dignity, equality, and self-governance.

Independence did not come to us as a gift, it was wrested through generations of sacrifice by the fearless revolutionaries who challenged imperial might, by the progressive thinkers who dismantled the walls of ignorance and superstition, and by the rationalists who lit the torch of reason and modernity. They imagined an India where justice would not be a privilege but a birthright, where opportunity would not be reserved for the few but extended to every citizen.

This day is not only a commemoration of our political liberation, it is a reminder of the unfinished journey towards deeper, truer Independence. True freedom is realised when no child is denied education, when no family sleeps hungry, when the farmer’s toil is honoured with fair reward, when women walk without fear, and when every Indian, regardless of caste, creed, gender, or region, has the ability to dream and the means to achieve.

It was with this vision that the architects of modern India gave us a Constitution rooted in liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice. These values are not mere words on parchment, they are the living promises we must uphold, protect, and renew with every generation. In an age of rapid technological transformation, we must also nurture the scientific temper our freedom fighters cherished, ensuring that progress serves humanity and strengthens the bonds of our unity.

In Karnataka, we have sought to carry forward that mission of true independence through our transformative Guarantee Schemes. By ensuring food security, financial support for women, free bus travel for our sisters, uninterrupted electricity for homes, and direct assistance for youth, we are removing the everyday barriers that prevent people from realising their aspirations. Economic hardship, social discrimination, and identity-based exclusion must never be chains that bind our people. Our goal is to create a society where every citizen, irrespective of their birth, background, or beliefs, can walk forward with confidence, dignity, and equal opportunity.

Independence Day must inspire in us not complacency, but commitment and a resolve to confront inequality, to heal divisions, and to build an India where prosperity is shared, the environment is cherished, and every voice is heard. The task before us is immense, but so is the strength of our people.

On this sacred day, I extend my warmest greetings to the people of Karnataka and to the team at The Hindu, whose service in upholding democratic discourse and the spirit of inquiry honours the legacy of our freedom struggle. We should pledge to keep alive the ideals for which countless lives were given, and to pass on to future generations a nation more just, more compassionate, and more vibrant than the one we inherited.

Jai Hind.

Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister of Karnataka.