Indra Mohan Pandey: ‘Panditji just passed by us... I could see him clearly’

Independence Day celebrations marked the 80th anniversary of India's freedom in four districts, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai, on Saturday. Events unfolded with formal ceremonies, honors for freedom fighters, and recognition of government employees' contributions. In Vellore, Collector P.S. Leela Alex unfurled the national flag at Nethaji Stadium and reviewed the Guard of Honour. She also honored 66 family members of freedom fighters and presented appreciation certificates to 241 government staff. Earlier in the day, she hoisted the tricolour atop Vellore Fort and laid floral tributes at the Mahatma Gandhi statue located at the entrance of the fort complex. A variety of officials attended the events in Vellore, including District Revenue Officer D. Suresh, Superintendent of Police N.U. Sivaraman, project director of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Jayasudha, and Vellore Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar. At the Academy of Prison and Correctional Administration (APCA) in Thorapadi, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Vellore Corporation, the 80th Independence Day was celebrated with participation from B. Pradeep, Director of APCA, P. Govindarajan, Deputy Director, and others, including professors, staff, and trainee officers. In Tiruvannamalai, Collector Vandana Garg hoisted the national flag and awarded merit certificates to 552 government workers, NGO representatives, and employees. She also recognized freedom fighters and their families. Present at the event were Superintendent of Police D. Uthayakumar, K. Sudhakar, District Forest Officer A. Siva Subramanian, District Revenue Officer P. Kanchana, and project officer of DRDA. Meanwhile, in Ranipet, Collector Priya Ravichandran distributed government welfare assistance totaling ₹1.03 crore to 26 beneficiaries as part of the Independence Day celebrations. She also gave merit certificates to 388 government staff for their performance. Those present included Superintendent of Police P. Sibin, N. Saravanan, District Revenue Officer (DRO) and S. Selvarani, project officer of DRDA. In Tirupattur, Collector G. Ravikumar hoisted the national flag at the district police parade ground in Pachal village near Jolarpet town. He also distributed government welfare assistance to beneficiaries and gave merit certificates to 344 government staff across various departments. Security arrangements for these events involved more than 2,500 police personnel deployed across all four districts to ensure safety and order. The significance of Independence Day extends beyond contemporary celebrations, as reflected in personal recollections of historical moments. Indra Mohan Pandey, who was 11 years old in 1958, witnessed Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during a visit to the Red Fort. This experience, shared by many children from Delhi schools at the time, highlighted the close connection between the nation's leadership and its citizens. Pandey, now a retired professor from IIM-Ahmedabad, recalls how politics and national security were central topics of discussion in Delhi during the 1962 Indo-China war. Born on August 25, 1947, in Pant Gaon, a village near Devprayag Sangam in present-day Uttarakhand, Pandey's early life was shaped by a tradition of Sanskrit scholarship. His family relocated to Delhi to provide him with access to modern education. Growing up in Bhagirath Palace near Chandni Chowk, a neighborhood now known for its wholesale markets, Pandey navigated a period of transition in Indian history. Despite limited resources, he pursued higher education, earning a B.Com (Honours) degree from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in 1963. At SRCC, Pandey engaged actively in student societies such as the History and Political Science Society and the Literature Society. These platforms allowed him to interact with notable political figures, including Ram Manohar Lohia, V.K. Krishna Menon, and Balraj Madhok. During the Kamaraj Plan in 1963, when several senior Congress leaders resigned from ministerial posts, Pandey and his peers seized the opportunity to invite prominent politicians like Lal Bahadur Shastri to speak at their college. Financial constraints necessitated creative solutions for Pandey to fund his education. With a monthly fee of ₹15 at SRCC and his father's salary of approximately ₹100, he secured scholarships to support his studies. His father, initially a teacher, later worked at an Ayurvedic clinic and encouraged Pandey to pursue a career outside of teaching. Pandey eventually chose to become a chartered accountant, reflecting both his academic aspirations and the evolving landscape of Indian education and professional opportunities.