Recognizing the patriotism of a group of schoolchildren in Kerala, the Indian Navy gave them a guided tour of a warship and naval artillery school. Videos of the children celebrating India’s Republic Day and flying the flag outside their huts went viral. In the video, one of the children’s grandmothers raises the tricolor flag on a stick before she leads the children in raising the patriotic slogan “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Long Live Mother India). Children put up flags outside their cabins due to COVID-19 restrictions and school closures. The children belong to a very ordinary family, and their parents are daily wage workers in Cherpu village, Trisur district, Kerala state.
Students at CNN Government School, accompanied by guardians and parents, were brought to Kochi from Trisur by the Navy. First, they visited the INS Magar, a ship used for amphibious warfare, currently stationed in Kochi. Later, they were taken to the Indian Naval Maritime Museum and the Naval Artillery Training Institute INS Dronacharya. The children also received gifts and souvenirs, in addition to serving a traditional Kerala lunch, known as “sadhya”.
According to INS Dronacharya Commander Commodore VZ Job, hosting the children and their guardians was the Navy’s way of acknowledging the children’s enthusiasm and grandmother’s patriotism. On the sidelines of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahosav” (75 years of Independence of India), we wanted to organize a visit that would inspire the children and be an unforgettable experience, he said. He also added that it is great to have such patriotic young people that the children will join the Indian Armed Forces when the time comes.
The ship’s commander, Commander Hemant Salunke, welcomed visitors on INS Magar and praised the indomitable spirit of Aminiyamma (the old man seen in the video) and his grandchildren and other children. He also expressed his pleasure to welcome teachers and principals from the CNN School to visit the ship.
“Seeing the video of the children and grandmother raising the flag, I was really touched by their heartfelt patriotism. Seeing their living conditions and thatched huts, I reached out to assure their families that the funds helped build a suitable home. I then learned that the children belonged to two such houses. After pooling my resources and through an online fundraiser, we raised up to Rs 1.6 lakh which will be used to build two new homes for these families Housing. Construction will start tomorrow (Feb 10) and is expected to be completed around mid-May ahead of the monsoon in Kerala,” Major Ravi (Retd) told WION. A retired military officer and ex-NSG commando, Major Ravi is a two-time Presidential Medal of Valor and a well-known director of military-themed commercial films in India.
Complete News Source : DNA
